NCJ Number
52402
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: (DEC 1977) Pages: 34-38
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
CONSIDERATIONS IN ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS IN PRISONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE OF A VITAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE QUALITY OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF ANY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND THE INSTITUTION'S ADMINISTRATION. THE DESIGN AND CONDITION OF THE PHYSICAL PLANT -- TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, LIGHTING, NOISE LEVELS, QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF FOOD SERVED, HOUSEKEEPING, CLEANLINESS -- CAN INFLUENCE THE BEHAVIOR OF INMATES AS WELL AS THE MANNER IN WHICH CORRECTIONAL STAFF CARRIES OUT ITS DUTIES. MOST CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ASSIGN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES TO CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, WHO OFTEN DO AN ADEQUATE JOB OF CONDUCTING MONTHLY CHECKS FOR BROKEN WINDOWS, PLUMBING FAILURES, AND SIMILAR DEFECTS. THE COMPLEXITY OF INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, HOWEVER, DICTATES AGAINST THEIR BEING THE PART-TIME RESPONSIBILITY OF PERSONNEL WITH NO SPECIAL TRAINING. THERE IS A NEED FOR THE DIRECT SERVICES OF PERSONNEL WITH EXPERTISE IN BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DISCIPLINES. THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION SHOULD FUNCTION IN A STAFF CAPACITY AND SHOULD HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OR WARDEN TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS. BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR ALL CORRECTIONAL STAFF IS ALSO NEEDED. ALTHOUGH THOROUGH AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF BUILDING PLANS WILL MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFICIENCIES, PLANNING MUST BE COMPLEMENTED BY CONTINUOUS SURVEILLANCE TO RECOGNIZE AND EVALUATE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND TO DEVELOP CORRECTIVE MEASURES. A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE DEVELOPED ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS AND REGULATORY SCHEMES FOR JAILS AND PRISONS. ALTHOUGH SPECIFICATIONS MAY VARY, ALL OF THE STANDARDS RECOGNIZE THAT THE CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT MUST MEET INMATES' FUNDAMENTAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS, AS WELL AS THEIR NEEDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ACCIDENTAL INJURIES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE. STANDARDS SPECIFYING SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR INMATES HAVE GENERATED CONSIDERABLE DEBATE AND MAY NOT BE AS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA AS ARE OTHER STANDARDS. YET FEW STUDENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES QUESTION THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONGESTION, CROWDING, AND ISOLATION TO HEALTH. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CORRECTIONAL AUTHORITIES HAVE A CLEAR HEALTH SERVICES RESPONSIBILITY THAT EXTENDS BEYOND TREATMENT OF INJURIES AND DISEASES TO INCLUDE PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, OF WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT. IT IS FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT FUNDS ALLOCATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ARE AN INVESTMENT, NOT AN EXPENDITURE.