Human dignity and prison design
The architecture and design of a facility have a significant impact on the people working and living within its walls. A range of factors—light, color, air quality, and acoustics, among others—can impact people’s mental and physical well-being and, thus, their dignity.
A prison system that prioritizes human dignity could renovate existing spaces or design new facilities to include some of the features below.
- Private, individual rooms that have adjoining private bathrooms, with doors to which prison residents hold the key. These should also provide
- clear (rather than opaque) windows that open to allow for natural airflow;
- light switches that allow incarcerated people to control artificial light; and
- space for incarcerated people to display and store photographs and other personal possessions.
- A temperate environment that is adequately warm in the winter and safely cool in the summer, including working heat and air conditioning.
- A variety of room types for a full range of activities, including
- an adequate numbers of classrooms, computer labs, libraries, and workshops;
- quiet group spaces for studying, letter writing, and reading; and
- private rooms for behavioral and mental health counseling, religious counseling, legal discussions, and phone calls.
For a vision of how to bring these architectural and design features to life, see an example of an American prison as reimagined by MASS Design Group, at www.vera.org/reimagining-prison#mass-design-group.
*There is no citation for this footnote in original text
a See generally James Krueger and John A. Macallister, “How to Design a Prison that Actually Comforts and Rehabilitates Inmates,” Fast Company, April 30, 2015, https://perma.cc/W4G5-6E8T.