NCJ Number
165409
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 21 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1996) Pages: 1-5
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
An architect discusses issues that should be considered in the design of women's correctional facilities and describes the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Shakopee.
Abstract
The development of women's facilities requires an understanding of the history of the handling of female offenders and a sensitivity to women and their needs in a correctional setting. Equality means equal opportunity based on the needs of the population and not sameness. A multidisciplinary planning and programming team is crucial and should include both central office personnel and senior staff from existing women's programs. Prevention and intervention considerations indicate the need for small residential programs for women, along with parity and gender-sensitive policies and programs and services for drug abuse, medical care, and other related needs. Nursery areas should be a consideration. Women store more personal care items and clothes in lockers than do men. Women's needs for emergency and health services also differ from men's due to greater demand and different examinations and tests. California's correctional system emphasizes nontraditional jobs and vocational programming to give inmates self-esteem by developing practical vocational skills. The Shakopee facility addresses issues such as privacy concerns, overnight visits by children, the need to house all security levels, mental health concerns, and physical disability accommodations. The goal of individual and small group programming at Shakopee is self-sufficiency.