Designing Prisons with Humans in Mind

Published June 20, 2009 @ 04:46AM PT

Can a shiny new prison with floor-to-ceiling windows and private inmate balconies reduce recidivism? Would it fly with the public? A new prison in Leoben, Austria, is searching for these answers – and in the meantime taking a bold step in architecture and corrections policy.

Jim Lewis profiled the prison's architect, Josef Hohensinn, in a fascinating New York Times Magazine piece last week, and through an exploration of design he found some interesting truths about prison policy. An important piece of prison reform lies in architecture, because you can’t end the warehousing of human lives if prisons still look and feel like warehouses.

At the heart of Hohensinn’s vision for the building are some forward-thinking ideas about human interaction, crime and space. Carved on the concrete wall around the perimeter is a line from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (which the United States signed and ratified) that reads: “All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.” (It's sad to consider that forward-thinking, but I think it's fair to say in this country)

Lewis writes:

I asked Hohensinn what he would do if, contrary to fact, it were conclusively proved that prisons like his encouraged crime rather than diminished it. Would he renounce the design? He shook his head. “The prisoners’ dignity is all I really care about,” he told me.

I think he’s really saying that he doesn’t believe anyone would commit crime knowing they would be deprived of their freedom. But statements like that might fly in the prison-happy US of A. Maybe Leoben and Hohensinn are too far over the cutting edge for us. The prison is only four years old, too soon to tell if it reduces recidivism. With a 70% recidivism rate in the U.S., however, we should be ready to try anything, and maybe we are. Some of the most revealing comments in Davis’ piece came from those in charge of American prisons. Perhaps this recession, this political climate and the increased awareness of our overflowing prisons are finally having an impact.

No institutional architecture can be expected to consistently manifest the clarity and elegance of Hohensinn’s design.

More to the point, it’s unlikely that anything even remotely like it will be built in this country anytime soon. John Baldwin, the director of the Iowa Department of Corrections, looked at pictures of the Leoben design and, like many people, found it both intriguing and a bit much. “We’re more focused on putting our money into mental-health and re-entry treatment units,” he told me. “I didn’t see a great deal of treatment space, or the kind of classroom space where you can teach job skills. Nice views, great basketball court, but I didn’t think Iowans want to put their money into that sort of thing.

“Still,” he said with atypical enthusiasm, “architecture is huge.” Iowa is in the process of building new facilities for both men and women. To that end, the state held a design competition and received 17 entries. While the winning submissions are not as luxurious as the Leoben prison, they do share certain principles: a smaller number of cells in each unit, more sunlight, security made deliberately unobtrusive. Other states may soon be joining Iowa, if not because they want to then because they have to. Earlier this year, federal judges in California tentatively ruled that the state release almost a third of its prisoners because the conditions in which they’re kept amount to cruel and unusual punishment. If the ruling holds up on appeal, it’s quite likely that other states will face similar sanctions. And then what?

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A Garden Behind Jail Walls

Comments (16)

This looks like a really cool idea but, (pessimistic me) I cannot see this flying anytime soon in the U.S. Still, perhaps the commission that Senator Webb is championing will be able to look at this approach and make a case for it.

Posted by Ted Nunn on 06/20/2009 @ 07:00AM PT
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Unfortunately the US is still way too closed-minded regarding punishment and rehabilitation for them to entertain anything different than what is the status quo. It seems like a good idea in theory, because currently our system is doing nothing but teaching criminals (dangerous or not) how to become better, more effective crooks. Rehabilitation seems to be a big word that our system likes to tout around, yet never practice.

I'll be interested in following-up on this new prison in a few years and seeing what recidivism rates are. We've got to hand it to Austria -- at least they're trying something different.

I'll be interested in following-up on this new prison in a few years and seeing what recidivism rates are. We've got to hand it to Austria -- at least they're trying something different.

Posted by Carrie Lachapelle on 06/20/2009 @ 09:29AM PT
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Double last paragraph, sorry guys.

Posted by Carrie Lachapelle on 06/20/2009 @ 09:29AM PT
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INCARCERATING PEOPLE "FOR PROFIT" IS IN A WORD....WRONG!

Even if one does not ask or pretends not to see the rope and the flashing red flag draped around the philosophical question standing solemnly at attention in the middle of the room, it remains apparent that the mere presence of a private “for profit” driven prison business in our country undermines the U.S Constitution and subsequently the credibility of the American criminal justice system. In fact, until all private prisons in America have been abolished and outlawed, “the promise” of fairness and justice at every level of this country’s judicial system will remain unattainable. We must restore the principles and the vacant promise of our judicial system. Our government cannot continue to "job-out" its obligation and neglect its duty to the individuals confined in the correctional and rehabilitation facilities throughout this nation, nor can it ignore the will of the people that it was designed to serve and protect. There is urgent need for the good people of this country to emerge from the shadows of indifference, apathy, cynicism, fear, and those other dark places that we migrate to when we are overwhelmed by frustration and the loss of hope.

My hope is that you will support the National Public Service Council To Abolish Private Prisons (NPSCTAPP) with a show of solidarity by signing "The Single Voice Petition"

http://www.petitiononline.com/gufree2/petition.html

Please visit our website for further information: http://www.npsctapp.blogspot.com

–Ahma Daeus

"Practicing Humanity Without A License"...

Posted by William Thomas on 06/20/2009 @ 12:32PM PT
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I believe prisons should be about reforming the prisoner. This building design has my vote but I fear many in the US are too backwards in their thinking for this to happen. Maybe crime would go down if they knew prison was going to be work, hard work. I dont mean physical labor, I mean work on themselves, as human beings. A very intense, structured program.

Posted by Graham Smith on 06/20/2009 @ 04:50PM PT
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Totally agree with you. The whole point of prison is to rehabilitate the prisoner. Americans would never be able to grasp the concept of this style of prison. For some reason, most Americans believe that if your in prison you should be caged and treated as an animal. The prison system and justice system for that matter in the US has done far little for the rehabilitation of its occupants. which is sad. he gives the years of his life for a crime and we give him ways to be a better criminal. Now, on the other hand, I have seen some prisoners use their time to read, educate themselves and in some cases even pick up a trade or college education. I think if ALL prison systems had a intense structured program of rehabilitation and education then yes, it might make things easier for not only the prisoners but also for the staff that watches them. not to mention society.

Posted by David Jones on 06/21/2009 @ 08:43AM PT
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It seems like a good idea in a way but arnt prisons supposed to be punishments. We dont want them to start feeling like resorts. I know two people who have gone to prison. One went to a really nice one and the other went to a really crappy one. The guy that got sent to the nice one is still dealing drugs and doesnt seem at all scared to be thrown back in prison yet the other who went to the crappy one said he NEVER wanted to have to live in "hell" again and straightend his ass out.

If people arnt afraid to go to jail they wont care so much about obeying laws.

Anyways im kinda 50/50 on the idea. It has its goods and bads.

Posted by amanda goodwin on 06/21/2009 @ 09:58AM PT
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Amanda,

I see your point. I understand that prisons are supposed to be punishment for the crime they committed, but I also believe that a lot of people commit crime because they feel they have few options in life and have spent very little time reflecting on who they are, and what they can become with a little work. Many of the people who commit non-aggressive felonies come from poverty, and they are on a downhill path in life that teaches them very little life strategy.

Prisons should be punishment -- absolutely. But our prison system doesn't focus on rehabilitation. I'm talking hard core rehabilitation. The kind that forces prisoners to evaluate their poor choices that got them in to the situation they're in; therapy to address their demons. Options to pull them out of the mess they've known for years; education to open the door for options upon their release.

I believe their release should be conditional upon felons serving some time, and completing a structured program. Their release should be partial - say, a halfway house, but on a larger scale. They have freedom to work, but they need to continue to attend support groups at the facility, report for curfew, and maintain their therapy sessions. In other words, they're still in a very structured program, but they have the freedom to do "normal" things to help ease them back in to society.

Many prisoners are good people with no options and little support. Those are the people we should be focusing on and trying to equip with tools to be successful. If they've "passed" the structured program and upon release they reoffend, then throw them to the wolves (IE: traditional prisons). But I guarantee most will not reoffend if they aren't treated like sub-human individuals and are given tools to better themselves.

As I said in my previous post -- it is certainly worth a shot! Our current system doesn't work.

Posted by Carrie Lachapelle on 06/21/2009 @ 10:38AM PT
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I think the most important thing is whether this actually helps reduce crime. If so, go for it, if not, then stay away from it. I don't care about punishing people or rehabilitating people, I just want less crime.

Posted by Jake Stevens on 06/21/2009 @ 10:38AM PT
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The punishment is supposed to be to go to prison -- not to be punished IN prison. Ironically, nations that understand this concept have a lower recidivism rate than America. It seems contrary to logic that the better prisoners are treated, the better they respond, but that is how it is.

Prisoners must be educated in order to have a chance at supporting themselves and their families without having to resort to crime. Too many people WILL turn to crime if there is no 'easy' way to support themselves. The solution seems obvious then: educate prisoners, treat them with dignity, and face the reality that they ARE going to get out. The better our system is, then, the safer it will be for all of us later.

Posted by Nita Ostroff on 06/21/2009 @ 08:21PM PT
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Well said, Nita.

Posted by william newmiller on 06/22/2009 @ 07:31AM PT
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I think the point of this particular thread is to discuss prisons and prison design. There are other threads here that would be a better place for Jersey Gal's reply.

Posted by Nita Ostroff on 06/23/2009 @ 03:25PM PT
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The US is more like a third world country regarding its barbaric prison system. Any potential positive outcome is greatly obliterated by privatization, warehousing, and maintaining an exaggerated version of the sickest parts of this culture. Part of real change and hope is humanizing our nation. Let's see what we can learn from the Austrian prison. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

Posted by Rev Bookburn on 06/23/2009 @ 05:26PM PT
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We can only hope this type of Prison comes about.This country treats our prisoners like animals and wondres why they don't change.More kindness would go a long way towards rehabilitating Prisoners.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 06/24/2009 @ 09:30AM PT
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I think this will be an interesting idea. I do believe that prisons are designed to be the home of prisoners. And prisoners are also human being with value and dignity. Only that they committed a crime against the law. We should not forsake them. Maybe some of them are worthy of this prisons architectural improvement.

Posted by Marty Rodriguez on 06/26/2009 @ 07:56PM PT
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Thinking outside of the box prison...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcnBjew9Fxo

Posted by Charles Hancock on 06/27/2009 @ 08:07PM PT
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Matt has worked and volunteered in various capacities in criminal justice reform for several years. When he's not blogging, he works as the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project. Views expressed here are Matt's, and don't represent the positions of the Innocence Project.