Prison and Prison System Design

Prison Cell design concept

The prison cell is central to the housing of an inmate and makes up the core of a prison’s architecture. Changes to the prison cell can enable significant changes to the prison systems. The cell detailed here has focus to enable different prisoners to be able to have different schedules, to manage themselves while improving security and enabling more efficient prison management.

This prison cell design is based around an access tag system that enables prisoners to lock and unlock their own cell, this would of course be over-ridden by prison staff. Prisoners can tag-in to their cells at certain times set for them – enabling them to conform with a system and show intent towards good behavior and to gain further flexibility over their schedule and control over their cell features.

The cell includes a large window, toilet, lighting, basin, chair and bed and provides the ability for a prisoner to manage their own day, lock their own cell and for the prison management to allow ‘upgrades’ to individual prisoners cells – through allowing more control over their environment and schedule.

The angles of all components enable near total viewing from the front of the cell. A reduction in corners means cleaning is easier and the general form makes it hard to hide anything.

The cell maximises the use of moulded-in features reduces raw materials for the creation weapons or other devices.

Studies have shown that prisoners housed singly tended to fare better despite having the least space in square feet ²⁵ and the cell design takes these findings onboard but aims to also maximise the space allowable by reducing wasted footprint.

Cell design features & benefits: Prisoners are able to lock their door with a small lock themselves keeping out other prisoners and giving them some personal (‘safe’) space

• Simple control panel if activated: Includes radio for head phones and lighting levels step based controls
• Every part of the cell is visible from the front for continuous or switch-on CCTV management for general control or suicide risk monitoring.
• Cell is as simple as possible with many items moulded in using concrete, such as the chair and the bed.
• Use of sleeping area as a separate bunk system makes cell space efficient but while still giving prisoners suitable space for living.
• Toughened glass fronts giving protection for prisoners while they sleep and giving a feel of a lighter and less imposing structure.
• Toilet and wash basin unit with one secured access panel for maintenance.
• Glass panels have LCD laminate to allow the turning on of a privacy screen over the door and sleeping area.
• Horizontal bars, rather than vertical gives a better feeling of freedom as it fits better with landscapes and does not interfere so harshly with visual effect.

Beds and bedding

The bed is designed with space saving and prisoner wellbeing in mind. Studies have shown that prisoners get on better when they are by themselves even if their cell area is less. It is constructed using reinforced concrete and in each bed area has an inset mattress area to contain the mattress. The raised bed has indented foot grips to make it easier to ascend.

Access

The doors have a RFID swipe system for prisoner tags, and prison officer keys allowing prisoners to lock their own door.

Door hand port

To enable the cuffing or prisoners reducing the risk to prison officers from prisoners pulling their hands or arms into the cell.

Window & Ventilation

The window is designed to minimise misuse, allow good natural light in to the cell and provide adequate ventilation. The window itself does not open, but at the base of the window is a mechanism that allows the opening of an exterior panel which allows air flow through the stainless steel mesh.

Shelf & Bedding

The shelf provided is simple and robust, it is also moulded into the cell structure. The mattress, (which can be made using various materials including transparent PVC for security) sits inside a recess in on the raised sleeping area.

Cell bars; Window & Door

The bars are generally horizontal as this is aesthetically better; they are less harshly interruptive to sight lines than vertical bars. The bars are not accessible from the inside of the cell to prevent the attachment of ligatures. (Design renders to be updated for this aspect)

Glass panel

The glass panel uses toughened glass. This allows easy frontal surveillance of cells and thanks to the cell’s front facing design means that there is little scope for hiding items from view. The glass panel enables light from the cells and outside the cells to reach inside.

There is the opportunity for the insertion of a layer of liquid crystal laminate between the glass making the glass opaque with an absence of electrical current. This could be split between the top and bottom half allowing visibility to be turned on or off depending on an prisoner’s liberty status. Likewise if prisoners are considered to be ‘at risk’ and require monitoring their glass panel can simply be switched on allowing full cell visibility

“ In designing the physical aspects of security, a balance needs to be found between the best way of achieving the required security level with the need to respect the dignity of the individual. For example it is possible to use architectural designs which meet the need for cell and dormitory windows to be secure while, at the same time, meeting the standards for access to natural light and fresh air. Physical aids to security such as cameras, monitoring and alarm systems by definition intrude on personal privacy. In making decisions about where they have to be placed, there needs to be a balance between legitimate security requirements and obligation to respect individual privacy” ¹ .. . “The safety of individual prisoners must also be borne in mind. The design of many prisons leads to the creation of places in which prisoners may congregate unobserved. This may be a source of potential threat both to the security of the prison and to the safety of individual prisoners. “ ¹

Andrew Cole’s ‘A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management’

Although there are implications caused by reduced privacy within a prison a lack of privacy can be a simple way to make prison less comfortable for prisoners, provide prisoners with the ability to earn increased privacy while creating a safer environment.

Flooring

The flooring is a resin based – enabling a thin, cleanable and robust method of introducing colour, grip and sound dampening. The reduction of noise within prison wings should be seen as a design specification key aspect and will help to reduce how stressful it is as an environment. This will apply to dampening sound caused by walking, the opening and closing of doors and of talking.

Lighting

The cell has a one­­ fluorescent light. The tube is changed through from the outside and the light housing is slid into the concrete housing. Its concrete and Perspex light housing arrangement makes it very difficult to use the light to hold ligatures to. The robustness of the system makes the light very resistant to damage.

The bulb can be changed from the outside of the cell through the central column, as can the Perspex cover which slides in to the moulded in features making the light very resistant to damage.

The light itself can have variable brightness settings allowing variable lighting choice for prisoners depending on their access levels.

Chair and table

The chair on both sides is cast from concrete and is in a position facing a table which can swivel up and down to allow better access to the sink area. The pivot for the table is held within the wall and has a strong pivot to prevent damage. The table swivels to allow better access to the sink.

Toilet & Washing facilities

This aspect of the cell is designed to prevent misuse and dis-assembly. Moving parts are at a minimum and access is difficult. Maintenance is carried out through access to one main panel.

Cell window external detail

Further cell window renderings to come with design updates.