IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW RED BARN TO THE MATTER OF PRISON PLANNING (FROM CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COLLOQUIUM ON CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES PLANNING, NOVEMBER 1977, BY NORA HARLOW - SEE NCJ-46915)

• NCJ Number: 46918
• Author(s): W G NAGEL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: American Justice Institute; California State Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A SUMMARY OF A STUDY OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITY DESIGN, REPORTED IN THE NEW RED BARN (NAGEL, 1973), IS PRESENTED, AND SOCIOECOLOGICAL RESPONSES, RATHER THAN INCARCERATION, ARE RECOMMENDED FOR CRIME CONTROL.

Abstract

THE STUDY, PERFORMED AT THE REQUEST OF LEAA, INVOLVED THE ONSITE OBSERVATION, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EVALUATION, AND EXTENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHING OF OVER 100 CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THESE FACILITIES INCLUDED JAILS, PRISONS, REFORMATORIES, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTERS, AND FACILITIES SERVING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. THIS STUDY CONSISTS OF THREE PARTS: A HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF PRISONS IN AMERICA, THE STATE OF CURRENT CORRECTIONS AS OBSERVED, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN CORRECTIONS AND FACILITY DESIGN. ON THE BASIS OF THE STUDY, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT TRADITIONAL, RADICAL, PANOPTICAN, AND TELEPHONE-TYPE DESIGNS TEND TO REDUCE THE PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE RESIDENTS, REMOVE HUMAN REFERENTS, AND RESULT IN TOO NARROWLY DEFINED DECISIONS, SPACES, AND MOVEMENT. CAMPUS-TYPE OR CENTRAL COURTYARD DESIGNS WERE FOUND TO BE PREFERABLE BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED GREATER MOVEMENT, SENSORY STIMULATION, AND PERSONAL CHOICE. WHILE MOST PRISONS ARE RURAL, RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE RURAL LOCATION RESULTS IN A PAUCITY OF UTILIZABLE SERVICE, MANPOWER, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. FURTHER, PREDOMINANTLY URBAN MINORITY-GROUP INMATES ARE CUT OFF FROM SOCIOCULTURAL TIES AND PLACED UNDER PREDOMINANTLY RURAL, WHITE, AND UNSYMPATHETIC PRISON PERSONNEL. THREE FACTORS WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE SIZE OF A FACILITY ARE THAT: ITS SIZE SHOULD NOT EXCEED THE LOCAL POTENTIAL INMATE POPULATION; IT SHOULD BE SMALL ENOUGH TO PERMIT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SUPERVISOR AND THE INMATES; AND ITS SIZE SHOULD BE A FUNCTION OF THE FACILITY'S PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. CONSIDERING THE INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME RESIDENTS SPEND IN THE FACILITY, LIVING UNITS SHOULD BE SECURE BUT COMFORTABLE AND SHOULD PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION, AS WELL AS A DEGREE OF PRIVACY. THE MAJOR THRUST OF DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THAT FORM SHOULD FOLLOW FUNCTION. A PROCESS OF TOTAL SYSTEMS PLANNING IS OUTLINED WHICH EMPHASIZES A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT INCARCERATION IS COSTLY AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AND A MORATORIUM ON PRISON CONSTRUCTION IS URGED. INCARCERATION IS A METHOD OF ATTACKING ONLY THE SYMPTOM WHILE LEAVING THE PROBLEM UNRESOLVED. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL CRIME IS TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT AND THUS EQUALITY. (JAP)