Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
ON
URBAN PRISON
SUBMITTED BY:
SUHANI SINHA
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
IPS ACADEMY, INDORE
Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya
(UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY OF MADHYA PRADESH)
DECLARATION:
I hereby declare that the Thesis Design Project Titled “URBAN PRISON” submitted by me in partial fulfillment for the
award of degree of BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE of Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya ,Bhopal, India is
a record of my own work. The matter embodied in this project has not been submitted for the award of any other degree or
diploma.
SUHANI SINHA
This is to certify that the above declaration of MS. SUHANI SINHA is true to the best of my knowledge and that she has
worked for one semester for preparing this Thesis Design Project.
I must first express my deep gratitude towards our Principal Prof. (Ar.) Manita Saxena ma’am , for providing us with
proper guidance and every possible support for the completion of my thesis Project.
I am grateful to my thesis Guide Ar. Pranjali Shirdhonkar for guiding me all through the semester for the proper
methodology of the Thesis, putting me on the right track from time to time and constant encouragement in accomplishing
the work. I must also thank all my faculty members for their support and guidance in the Thesis Project.
SUHANI SINHA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1.1 Definitions
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Need
1.6 Methodology
CHAPTER 2 : GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF CRIME, PRISONS AND PRISONERS
7.1 Typologies.
7.2 Concept.
CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Throughout the course of human history, there have always been those who, whether by inner compulsion or extenuating circumstances,
break the rules of society. When these infractions are severe or occur numerous times, it becomes necessary to separate those who cannot or will
not function within the bounds of society from those who can. Those people who exhibit deviant behavior are contained within what are called
correctional facilities.
A complete study of psychology of prisoners, impact of imprisonment on them and finally correctional system that can be applied on them is a
compound design with five major purposes in mind.
1. The first is punishment, with the prison itself intended to “‘cure’ the former (prisoner) of and frighten the latter (general public) from,
criminal behavior.”
2. The second purpose is protecting the general public from those who would wish to do harm.
3. Third is the aspect of reform of the prisoner. This means that the building or buildings that make up the complex have space allocated for
education, solitary confinement and social training.
4.The fourth purpose is to attempt to cure the prisoner in terms of mental afflictions that may drive his or her deviant behavior through therapy
or group activities.
5. The final purpose a correctional facility can serve is to provide “a public statement of moral, political, and social virtue.
Architecture is the most powerful tools helping to solve problems of culture, crime and community disorganization. For architecture,
when conceived and executed in relationship with community, opens a space for civic reinvention by acting as both catalyst and symbol of
shared community value.
If offender's attitude are to be changed, as they must be if prisons are going to be effective, then we should start with the environment in
which this is to happen. This must itself be positive both for prisoners and those who work in prisons.
2. Genes control the blueprints for the design and structure of the brain.
For a while imagine that someone locked you in a room, then what kind of mental status you will carry ? You will get disturb, you will try to
come out, you will find a reason for locking you, you may harm yourself due to unanswered questions or loneliness. This kind of feeling may
carry by you for while till you locked behind the doors. But this kind of feeling carries by prisoners for years and years during their
imprisonment.
In some circumstances prison disturbances have also been an expression of frustration or desperation by prisoners in response to their
environment. Therefore, an analysis of prison disturbances requires a broad examination of the structure, policy and internal dynamics of the
prison.
Earlier during classical age between mid 17th century to the end of 18th century crime was accepted as a physical and personal assault in
order to demolish sovereign’s authority. The corporal execution carried out in front of public was the repair of damage given to power and the
proof of power’s superiority.
At the end of 18th century, punishment was no longer a show of violence and an open public activity that struck terror into the hearts of
people. With the new age called Modern Age, a new form of punishment was appropriated in terms of function and technique. The basis of this
new punishment type was to keep the criminal in a closed space named as prison. Prison, as a concept, was not a new development that emerged
in this period. In fact, it was serving to a new function in terms of form and purpose and became an institution. The aim of the punishment was
not to restore the given damage of sovereignty with corporal torture; it was the correction of individual’s behavior by using imprisonment
method.
This new system, wanted to be brought about with modernity, obliges the necessity of a spatial and structural solution for the application of
imprisonment. As a result, a prison requires an architectural solution just like a residence, a school, a factory or a museum. However, prison
architecture is different from all the other buildings’ architecture. It is not a space where definite hours of a day are spent; it is a space where all
twenty-four hours of a
day are spent. Furthermore, it is such a space that whoever stays in that place never wants to live in it and wants to get out of it as soon as
possible because there is not any relation between the space and the preferences of a person staying in it.
1.1.1 Definitions.
Crime concept has been highly differentiated through the communities and ages. Hence it is hard to find an action to be described as a crime
universally. During the Middle Ages and
beginning of the Modern Ages, crime has been considered as a devilish action, its occurrence has been related with the effects of evil souls and
actions, which are contrary to the society’s accepted behavior standards. Definition of crime is easier than the actions, which are not universal
and could be changed through the ages. Crime can be defined as “an illegal
action, which is considered harmful and dangerous for the society and be punished by the law regulations” (Ana Britannica, 1994, pg. 370).
Abstraction of the people who committed a crime for some reason from society and coercing them to live under specific conditions in a specific
time period to prevent the repetition of same action and to set an example to the other people constituted the execution of the sanction.
“We call punishment as the reaction of society to the criminals. Punishment applied to the criminal is a degradation or an action damaging his or
her personality.” (Bruhl, 1984, pg. 289 from Özkan, 1998, pg. 15).
Conditions commonly considered necessary properly to describe an action as punishment are that:-
1. it is imposed by an authority,
2. it involves some loss to the supposed offender,
3. it is in response to an offence and
4. the person (or animal) to whom the loss is imposed should be deemed at least somewhat responsible for the offence.
A prison also known as gaol or jail is a place in which people are physically confined and usually deprived of a range of personal
freedoms.[3]Or as the Online Oxford English dictionary defines prison as, “A building to which people are legally committed as a punishment
for a crime or while awaiting trial."[4]. Prison is a public institution and thus it should perform their function as per by the law. The law prescribes
simply that if a man is convicted to crime he shall be placed on probation, fine, or undergo a sentence of imprisonment.
The recent tendency now is, of course, that prison system is meant for reformation of the prisoners that they may return to society as useful
members and this function of the prison is now termed as discipline.
1.2 Aim
1. To study and investigate the psychological impacts of imprisonment and to categorize the prisoners into different types, according to the
crime they have committed to know better about the mental state each one of them is carrying and the type of environment that can help
them heal for better community living.
2. To investigate the role of architecture plays in both causing and ameliorating cycles of crime and punishment, by studying the prison system
that currently exists and the philosophical and physical change it must go in order to actually meet the goals of reducing crime and improving
community health for which it was intended.
3. To create a vision of an imprisonment facility that uses architecture as a vehicle to instrumentalize the key emotion that defines
imprisonment- how to escape from it-in order to reconcile prisoners back to the communities they have offended.
1.3 Objectives
To accomplish the task, the study includes all the philosophical, sociological, physical and architectural parameters that has been into
practice of imprisonment and correctional system. The thesis can be divided into four sections:-
3. Architectural methodology.
4. Conclusions
1.4 Need
There are number of critical and important problems that exists between institutionalization and prisonization of massive number of persons who
will soon return to their home or society. Normal adaptations to the atypical and abnormal nature of prison life create many problematic ways of
thinking, feeling and acting. These Adaptations are normal, natural, inevitable and forced on prisoners by the very circumstances under which
they live.
There must be some ideology or program in the correctional system to ease the transition from prison to home or to minimize the negative
impact of imprisonment on the families, children and the society of the incarcerated taking into account the nature and consequences of
institutionalization.
Architecture is viewed as an essential, albeit underutilized tool in the reestablishment and maintenance of healthy communities, as well battle
against crime and disorder. We need a new beginning and a better start with the buildings in which the prisoners are incarcerated. We all,
including prisoners, react to the setting which we live in. It can have a negative or positive effect and as quoted above changes in the
environment can bring the change, this change is most needed for better living conditions of all including prisoners.
This study covers the special needs of groups of prisoners, which have a particularly vulnerable status in prisons. The focus of the study is on
prisoners. However, it must be emphasized that the social reintegration of most offenders with special needs is much better served in the
community, rather than in prisons, where their requirements can rarely be met and where their situation is likely to deteriorate.
1.6 Methodology.
There are six parameters with questions that covers the whole study of psychology and correctional system which will help in accomplishing the
task as per the study.
"The Six Pathways" Used as benchmarks for this type of compound design are as follows:-
1. ACCOMODATION- to what extent does/will the prison effectively ensures that prisoners are suitably accommodated respecting issues of
privacy and taking into account their human rights?
2.EDUCATION,TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT- are the spaces provided for education adequate? do they take into account the full
range of modes of teaching that may be employed? is space set aside for training able to respond to industrial developments in the world
outside?
3.HEALTH- is health catered for adequately to avoid taking out inmates to the local hospital for relatively routine treatments?
4.DRUGS AND ALCOHOL-Are there spaces for drugs and alcohol treatment regimes? Do these allow for both group and one-to-one
counseling?
5.CHILDREN AND FAMILIES- Is there adequate space for prisoners to inter-relate with family and children and for the fostering of these
relationship.
6.ATTITUDE,THINKING AND BEHAVIOUR- Is there provision for the development of models of citizenship, through interactive forums
in such a way to encourage pro-social thinking and sense of social responsibility.
CHAPTER 2: GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF CRIME, PRISONS AND PRISONERS
Criminal Science
According to Donald Taft (1958)1 - “Criminology is the Scientific analysis and observation of Crimes and Criminals; whereas Penology is
concerned with the punishments and treatment of offenders. In his view, the development of criminology has been much later than that of
penology because in early periods the emphasis was on treatment of Criminals rather than scientific investigation into the causation of Crime.”
The simplest classification of crime may be based upon two distinct natures of origins. There are crimes caused by circumstances, and
there are crimes of impulse, and both portions of the dichotomy require different treatment. Crimes of circumstances include offences that are
the result of stress and pressure of environment, while crimes of impulse are in the main the result of some defect or abnormality in the mental
make-up of the offender. In a few cases a person possessing a normal degree of self-control loses his mental equilibrium under some
extraordinary provocation. It is as well to remember in dealing with crimes of circumstances that the majority of people would probably fall
beneath a similar or equal amount of environmental pressure. With crimes of impulse it is often the case that personal – that is to the commission
of acts which, to the ordinary person, would appear impossible.
The simple and practical classification, as given by Parmelee(1949), consists of the following classes :
The occasional criminal, as the term implies, commits one or two crimes through force of circumstances. However, some of these will
ultimately become habitual criminals. This class includes the criminal arose by passion, who is not feeble minded, but who possesses a
somewhat excitable temperament. Such persons commit offences against the person, on what appears to the normal individual to be the slightest
provocation. They could not be induces to commit an offence under any other circumstances, and are not criminals in the true sense of the term.
The second class comprises all those who make crime their profession, such as the criminal tribes of India – the poisoners, dacoits, and
thugs – and most habitual of different classifications. Some of this class may be normal and highly intelligent persons, others may be feeble-
minded. Some make huge profits by their criminal career, others go on committing petty thefts eking out a precarious existence thereby. This
class comprises the masterminds who have chosen a criminal life, as also those who have drifted into it by force of circumstances.
There is no such thing as a physical criminal type, nor is there such a person as a 'born criminal' . But amongst criminal persons are found
those who are congenitally feeble-minded. Though all feeble-minded persons do not take to a life of crime, some unfortunate persons contribute
a good deal to the criminal statistics of every country. It is necessary to recognize this type, for it is often blamed for actions over which it has no
control.
The fourth type needs no elaboration. A person who is insane at the time of the commission of the offence is rightly not held responsible for
the act and is treated in a mental hospital.
A prison also known as gaol or jail is a place in which people are physically confined and usually deprived of a range of personal
freedoms.[3]Or as the Online Oxford English dictionary defines prison as, “A building to which people are legally committed as a punishment
for a crime or while awaiting trial." Prison is a public institution and thus it should perform their function as per by the law. The law prescribes
simply that if a man is convicted to crime he shall be placed on probation, fine, or undergo a sentence of imprisonment.
The recent tendency now is, of course, that prison system is meant for reformation of the prisoners that they may return to society as useful
members and this function of the prison is now termed as discipline.
2.2.1 Importance of Prison
In every society, prison has a unique role as a formal agency of the criminal justice system. The purpose of imprisonment as a punishment is
plain enough - the person who has committed a wrong must suffer in return. Prison serves three main purposes i.e. custodial, coercive and
correctional. Custodial is when a person is kept in custody until he is tried and found guilty punished. The coercive function means that
imprisonment may be used to persuade a person to comply with an order made by the court of law, whether civil or criminal; if he complies, he
is released. The correctional systems include the rehabilitation programs to bring out the better person from the offenders.
The types of prisons are categorized by the type of crime, power, age and period of sentencing, which are as follows:-
1 Juvenile.
3. Psychiatric.
4. Military.
5. Federal v State
6. Jail v Prison.
An individual under the age of 18 is considered a juvenile. Anyone who is not of a legal age is never locked up in a general prison with
adults. They are instead placed in a facility that is designed exclusively for juveniles.
Minimum security prisons are usually reserved for white collar criminals who have committed acts such as embezzlement or fraud.
Although these are serious crimes, they are non-violent in nature and therefore the perpetrators are not considered to be a risk for violence. These
perpetrators are sent to facilities that offer a dormitory-type living environment, fewer guards, and more personal freedoms.
Medium security prisons are the standard facilities used to house most criminals. They feature cage-style housing, armed guards, and a
much more regimented daily routine than minimum security.
High security prisons are reserved for the most violent and dangerous offenders. These prisons include far more guards than both minimum
and medium security, and very little freedom. Each person confined to such a prison is considered to be a high-risk individual.
Law-breakers who are deemed to be mentally unfit are sent to psychiatric prisons that are designed with resemblances to hospitals. Once
there, the inmates, or patients, receive psychiatric help for their mental disorders. As with any prison that pursues methods of rehabilitation,
psychiatric prisons are intended to try and help people as opposed to just confining them as a means of punishment.
Every branch of military has its own prison facilities that are used specifically for military personnel who have broken laws that affect
national security, or to house prisoners of war. The treatment of these prisoners has been a subject of much debate in recent times, and the
definition of torture for enemy combatants has become a controversial and often discussed topic.
Federal prisons are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a subsidiary of the Department of Justice. If the crime
the prisoner committed is federal, they will likely end up in federal prison. The exception is violent crimes, which are usually dealt with by state
prisons. The main difference besides offence between state and federal prison is the amount time served of a sentence. Federal prisons prohibit
parole, so the amount of time served is significantly higher than the average time served in a state prison.
Jail is a locally-operated, short term facility where as prison is a state or federally operated, long term facility. Jails are mainly used for
detaining inmates awaiting trial or sentencing. They can also house inmates who have been sentenced for less than a year. This will vary
depending on the state. Prisons are long term facilities used after sentencing, where felons and inmates are housed for more than a year.
Prison establishments in India comprise seven categories of jails. The most common and standard jail institutions are
1.Central Jails
2. District Jails
3. Sub Jails
4. Women Jails
5. Borstal Schools
6. Open Jails
7. Special Jails.
2.2.4 Types of Prisoners
Prisoners with mental health care needs comprise a particularly vulnerable group in prisons and have a complex set of needs relating to the
protection of their human rights, including provision of appropriate mental health care.
The large majority of prison systems worldwide fail to provide an environment which does not harm the mental well-being of its inhabitants.
Isolation from society, poor prison conditions, overcrowding and lack of safety induce distress, depression and anxiety in most prisoners, which
may develop into more serious mental disabilities.
Poor prison conditions, overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, heat and lack of stimulation can have an adverse affect on the mental well-being
of all prisoners and exacerbate existing mental disabilities. All prisoners, but especially those with mental health care needs should therefore be
housed in an environment that is conducive to mental well-being.
Prisoners with disabilities should be allocated to accommodation suitable to their needs. Adaptations to accommodation should be made if
necessary to help them cope with their new environment. For example, handrails can be provided in their cells, steps can be painted in bright
colors and marked to make them visible for those with visual disabilities, portable ramps can be used to facilitate the access of those using
wheelchairs. Health care services should be easily accessible.
differ from the majority due to their ethnicity, race and descent, among others, which is reflected in different ethnic, religious and cultural
practices and languages.
The term, foreign national prisoners, refers to prisoners who do not carry the passport of the country in which they are imprisoned. This term
therefore covers prisoners who have lived for extended periods in the country of imprisonment, but who have not been naturalized, as well as
those who have recently arrived. To classify foreign national prisoners and allocate them to an appropriate security level based on a risk
assessment to be undertaken on entry to prison, similar to all other prisoners.
Sexual orientation is understood to refer to each person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to, and intimate
and sexual relations with, individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender.
6. Older prisoners.
In demographic analysis, age 60 is typically taken as the dividing line between older and younger cohorts of the population. There are
potential difficulties associated with the prison layout and conditions for older persons. These include stairs, difficulties in accessing sanitary
facilities, overcrowding, excessive heat or cold, as well as many architectural features that may hinder those with physical disabilities from
satisfying their most basic needs. Older prisoners may, for example, be housed in a separate wing or dormitory of the general building. The
accommodation should be secure and easily accessible, protecting older prisoners from physical injuries. For example, dormitories or cells
should be on the ground floor, minimizing the need to use steps and there should be easy access to sanitary facilities; single tier beds rather than
bunk beds should be used and the distance between the accommodation and areas where prison activities take place should not be too large.
Terminal illness refers to a situation in which there is no reasonable medical possibility that a patient’s condition will not continue to
degenerate and result in death.
The term prisoners under sentence of death covers all prisoners who have been sentenced to death by a court of law and who are held in prison
awaiting execution, pending a decision by the higher courts confi rming or commuting the sentence, or pending a decision by legislators to
abolish the death penalty.
CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE STUDIES
In 1791, English philosopher Jeremy Bentham proposed an architectural conception designed the prototype, which called Panopticon or
inspector house, for a multi-purpose building, primarily intended as a prison. The Panopticon had a circular plan with outer individual cells.
Solid walls between the cells would prevent any communication between inmates, and a small window in the back of the cell would allow in
light to illuminate the contents. Custodians who are placed in observation tower at the center of
ring cells see into all cells, which were arranged around it in a circular arrangement like spokes on
a wheel. The main concept was the visibility of the cells would make it easier for guards to
manage and watch the inmates all the time. This place seeing everywhere was designed to obtain
complete observation of every prisoner. While Bentham had been working on the Panopticon
design, he used the following principles; systematic inspection, abolition of fees, secure and
sanitary conditions, and a reformatory regime.
The Panopticon had a circular plan with outside individual cells. Solid walls between the cells
would prevent any communication between inmates, and a small window in the back of the cell
would allow in light to illuminate the contents. Custodians who placed observation tower at the
center of ring cells see into all cells, which were arranged around it in a circular arrangement like
spokes on a wheel. The main concept was the visibility of the cells would make it easier for guards
to manage and watch the inmates all the time. This place seeing everywhere was designed to obtain complete observation of every prisoner.
3.2 EASTERN STATE PENTENTIARY, CHERRYHILL PENNSYLVANIA
The Pennsylvania System brought new and forth ideas about correctional philosophy and prison management. The Eastern Penitentiary, a 63
large walled prison, was the first example of physical plant and architectural pattern. The basic idea design of Eastern Penitentiary was the
separate confinement of all convicted felons at hard labor. Hence the Eastern Penitentiary became the model and primary exponent of the
separate system or Pennsylvania.
This prison was built somewhat like a square wheel, with the cellblocks arranged radial
like spokes around the central rotunda or the hub. The Eastern State Penitentiary had
seven radial structures, which one of the spokes being more than one story high, within
the secluded rectangle of prison walls. Every one of the each radial wings were a cell
house that was designed outside cells to get solitary confinement, silence, and hard labor
and the separation of each inmate from the others and every cell house having a central
corridor which gave access to the long rows of cells on either site. Each cell had a
private exercise yard where the inmates had two brief exercise periods daily. Haviland’s
original prison plan had seven outside cell houses. These cell blocks have thirty cells
each which was twenty, eight, and ten feet diameters.
Except for one-hour of exercise time the prisoners were spending not only all their time but also their working days in their own cells. As a
matter of fact, separation and solitude were enforced for exercise. The alternate yards were being used to prevent offender communication over
the dividing walls. This stable and complete solitary of detention of all inmates led the Pennsylvania system to be known as the “solitary
system”.
CHAPTER 4 : CASE STUDIES
State of Art chakkar is the name of the watch tower,with meditation hall, video conferencing, painting and tailoring room, computer
rooms, Library and watch tower to keep in control of the prisoners.
Radial planning of the watch tower makes it easy and it is the best way to ensure survilliance in prison.
This central watch tower with multipurpose function makes it easy for prisoners to access rehabilitation programs and functions with
control
Security : cctv cameras are installed in every dormitory corridors, special security cells, high security cells and surroundings.
34 watch towers in jail complex
No electrical fixture inside the dormitories to prevent the risk factor of inmates
Air cooling ducts are provided
Lights provided from outside.
CHAPTER 5: DATA COLLECTION
Latrines
1. Each barrack used for sleeping will have sufficient number of attached WCs, urinals and wash places. The ratio of such WCs will be one unit
per 10 prisoners. The ratio of the WCs which can be used during day time will be one unit per six prisoners.
2. Latrines will be of the sanitary type with arrangements for flushing. They will be placed on an impermeable base which will be higher than
the surrounding ground and will be so built that the sun’s rays can easily enter the latrines and rain is kept out. The partitions separating the
latrines will be high enough to provide a reasonable degree of privacy. Latrines will be so designed that all excreta and wash materials will get
into the receptacles without fouling the sites. Every seat will be provided with foot rests with an impermeable surface which will be in the
right position and not too far apart. The inside walls of latrine will be fitted with glazed ceramic tiles up to the height of 1 mtr from the floor
level, as far as possible.
CHAPTER 6: SITE ANALYSIS
Located on the famed Grand Trunk Road, Narela is situated 14 km (8.7 miles) south of Sonipat, 42 km (26.3 miles) northwest of
central Delhi, 100 km (62.2 miles) south of Karnal and 225 km(140 miles) southwest of Chandigarh.
The Singhu Border is just 4 km (2.5 miles) away from Narela. Narela (NUR) is a station of Indian Railways.
The nearest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), in Delhi at the distance of 42.2 km.
The jahangir puri station of Delhi Metro rail is the nearest station, though Narela sub city is part of the Delhi Metro's Master Plan
Phase IV, currently underway.
CHAPTER 7 : CONNCEPT AND TYPOLOGIES
5.2 CONCEPT- Freedom of Movement
THE BASIC IDEA :- If the inmates are treated as autonomus and responsible human beings, they will be more likey to act accordingly.
“REMOVING PEOPLE’S FREEDOM IS ENOUGH OF A PUNISHMENT "
A decentralized approach to the design:- Different programes spread across campus connected by pedestrian movement pathways giving
inmates a sense of freedom by movement around the campus.
Balance of Safety and security with independence by minimizing physical and psychological barriers best allowing clear sight lines,
making supervision easy. Unlike traditional prisons where most services are housed centrally in enclosed
enviornments with little natural light or outdoor space, the campus is broken down into different zones namely-
1. Administrative.
2.Communal.
3. Programmatic.
4. Housing Connected by central Quad or green village intended for recreational activities.
Changes in the interior planning, playing with the mental condition of the prisoners
1. Prison yards - high trees across the security walls that surrounds the perimeter, in order to minimize institutional feel basically
providing more of nature and less of physical barriers with security.
2. Light color palette, soft and varied materials, natural light have shown to have positive impact on the emotional states most prevalent
amongst inmates and staffs like anger, stress, anxiety, sadness and depression.
3. Building healing enviornment to promote well being and prevent further psychological deterioration in inmates. This can have a
significant impact on well being and human performance.
4. Open Air theatre, outdoor meeting spaces, walking paths, public art and extensive landscape as a part of their vocational education
program.
This normalized enviornment of prison can be acheived only when the rights of the prisoners can be preserved both
architecturally and psychologically. The rights with present conditions are as follows:-
1. Right to humanity.
2. Freedom of expression.
3. Right to communication.
4. Right to basic human needs.
CHAPTER 8 : CONCLUSION
Indeed, it is imperative that prison planners realize that the total impact of the penal experience is a product of a number of aspects
taken together with the type of housing and the architectural environment in general. Physical elements of housing must be regarded in
conjunction with program, staffing, security, and a great many nonphysical considerations. In short: a correctional institution's
acceptability, and therefore its impact on the residents, is a function of the psychological and sociological attitudes in addition to the
physical facilities involved. A prisondesign is only as good as the personnel and programs entailed.
The full context of the correctional process must be carefully scrutinized in order to arrive at conclusions which may improve
today's prisons: one must penetrate the surface of an attractive facade and examine its workings (Nagel 1973:80). If the goal of
imprisonment is to prepare the criminal for reentry into society, it is obvious that this can only begin to be achieved by attempting to
alleviate the problems that caused the criminality in the first place. Here, the assumption is that crime is symptomatic of a maladjustment
of some sort; the prison must try to resolve the maladjustment. Architecture may be adapted to aid this problem-solving process, says
Gill, by providing the most normal environment possible without undue emphasis on
any specific programs---educational, vocational, or industrial. This is not to say such programs would be forsaken; rather, they would be
no different from programs available to average citizens, thus giving prisoners no significant advantage in these areas.
A very basic problem, probably unnoticed by most of those in positions of influence, is the failure to take an institution's treatment
program into consideration during the physical planning stage. The result is the development of a program which must be adjusted to
conform to the facility's physical accommodations . Clearly. this is a backward way of managing a prison; in a total institution, physical
plant and treatment program are inextricably entwined and must be regarded as such from the 140. earliest stage of design. There is an
urgent need for greater communication and cooperation between prison administrators and prison planners or prison renovators if more
satisfactory facilities are to be developed. After all, a correctional facility is merely the setting for administering treatment, which is the
absolute basis of the penal philosophy of today.
The community prison would be appropriate for most minimum-security and many medium-security individuals. For other
medium- and maximum-security offenders, a more custodial prisons such as that discussed by Gill would serve the purpose of removing
the offender from society as necessitated by the nature of his or her crime. Careful consideration of individual inmate personality and
history characteristics will be instrumental to the success of this correctional system. Whatever the custody rating, all institutions must
have individual-occupancy rooms, with no exceptions. In admissions centers where the new inmates may be experiencing a particularly
low ebb in psyche due to the anticipation of what will happen in prison, I propose a private room with some manner of windows on the
side walls providing a certain amount of interaction with the inmates to either side. In this way, the individual will not feel as completely
alone in the frightening situation and will therefore be less likely to attempt suicide, which is a common reaction to admission to jailor
prison.
Aside from all concrete design proposals, there is a strong need for further research in the field of corrections as to the types of
institutional designs which will cease to promote violence and other pathologies. Prisons can no longer be ignored by the public; we must
expose, inspect, and improve the conditions which we continue to employ for the incarceration of certain members of the society. The
more that is understood, the better the possibilities for the creation of a more humane and effective system of correct ions.