NCJ Number
65622
Date Published
Unknown
Length
25 pages
Annotation
EXTENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHS AND A BRIEF NARRATIVE FOCUSING ON THE NEW MAXIMUM SECURITY UNIT OF GRADY, ARKANSAS, ARE PRESENTED; INMATE ROOMS, CORRIDORS, CONTROL AREA, AND PROJECT GOALS OF CONSTRUCTION ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE NEW FACILITY AT GRADY WAS CONSTRUCTED TO HOUSE INMATES WHO ARE UNABLE TO LIVE HARMONIOUSLY WITH THE GENERAL PRISON POPULATION. IT REPLACED AN OLDER ISOLATION UNIT WHICH WAS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN 1970 DUE TO LACK OF SECURITY, OVERCROWDING, AND SUBSTANDARD SANITARY CONDITIONS. THE PROJECT REQUIRED SEPARATED HOUSING FOR THREE TYPES OF INMATES INCLUDING THOSE WHO COULD NOT LIVE SAFELY IN THE GENERAL POPULATION FOR FEAR OF PERSONAL SAFETY, THOSE WHO PRESENTED A THREAR TO OTHER INMATES, AND THOSE SEPERATED FOR A PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF TIME FOR DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS. THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WAS TO BE NONPUNITIVE BUT SECURE; LARGER ROOMS, COLORFUL INTERIORS, AND OPEN VISUAL SPACE WERE EMPHASIZED. THE PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION FEATURED DURABLE MATERIALS, A REPETITIVE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM, AND GOOD VENTILATION AND LIGHTING. THE PRIMARY GENERATOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION PLAN WAS THE PROBLEM OF SEPARATION AND CONTROL OF INMATES UNDER THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INCARCERATION. THE DESIGN SOLUTION WAS TO GROUP EACH OF THE THREE MODULES AROUND A CENTRAL CONTROL CENTER. FROM THESE REQUIREMENTS A BASIC PHYSICAL UNIT WAS DETERMINED FOR THE STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. THE EXTERIOR IS CONSTRUCTED OF TEXTURED CONCRETE. THE CONTROL CENTER FEATURES MEANS TO OBSERVE ALL ENTRANCES AS WELL AS EACH MODULE. DIRECT ACCESS TO THE ACTIVITY AREAS IS PROVIDED FROM EACH MODULE. THIS AREA IS USED FOR TELEVISION VIEWING AND READING. A COUNSELING OFFICE IS PROVIDED FOR USE OF THE UNIT CHAPLINS AND STAFF WHEN THEY CONFER WITH INMATES. EACH INMATE ROOM IS PROVIDED WITH A METAL DESK AND SEAT, A BED, STORAGE SHELF, BOWL AND TOIET. TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST WAS $546,411. PHOTOGRAPHS ABD SKETCHES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BOOKLET. (LWM)