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Royal Institute of British Architects Makes Recommendations for Research on Prison Design
Following disturbances in the spring of 1989 at some British correctional institutions, including
Strangeways Prison, an enquiry into Britain's prison system was commissioned. This enquiry was conducted
by Lord Justice Woolf. As part of the study process, he requested a report from the Royal Institute of
British Architects (RIBA) on prison architecture and on the process of design and construction for new
and renovated correctional institutions.
The report of the RIBA, prepared in November 1990 by a panel of consultant architects experienced in
prison design, addresses many issues related to institutional design, including research and
communication; procurement and processes; briefing and consultation; design and development; resources
and costs; staff training and motivation; and the phasing out of some existing correctional
institutions.
A host of recommendations respond to each of these issues. For this brief article, however, we have
chosen to highlight only those recommendations that deal with research and communication in prison
design. This section of the report deplores the lack of research, monitoring, feedback and communication
on the operation, design and effectiveness of correctional institutions.
Recommendations The RIBA has recommended that action be taken with respect to:
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the lack of fundamental research, monitoring of results and application of those results to the
design of new prisons;
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the lack of effective communication between the Home Office and correctional workers through to
external architects and consultants; and
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the limited base of knowledge on such important issues as:
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How much does the success of correctional institutions depend on policy and management, and
how much on design?
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How should "success" be defined and measured?
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How do different prison designs affect the behaviour (and misbehaviour) of inmates and
correctional officers?
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What is the underlying logic behind changes in design during the last decade?
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Why is the ideal housing group size thought to be 50 inmates?
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What is the sociology of imprisonment and of prisoner-family relationships, and what are the
related implications for the location and design of correctional institutions?
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What is the relationship between the design and management of prisons and recidivism?
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What have the correctional accomplishments and failures of other jurisdictions (not just the
United States) been?
The RIBA has further recommended that:
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there be increased feedback on the performance of prisons feedback is still the exception rather
than the rule and errors in design are therefore perpetuated;
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input and feedback from the users of new designs be solicited before and after these designs are
used;
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architects working on different correctional institutions be encouraged to compare and exchange
experiences;
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the long-term results of the guidelines in the Prison Design Briefing System of the Home Office, a
first step in the improvement of design standards, be examined;
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the effects of the design of correctional institutions in the United Kingdom and in other
jurisdictions be continuously observed and evaluated;
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a more extensive public debate over, and involvement in, the design and management of correctional
institutions (i.e., seminars and conferences) be encouraged; and
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the United Kingdom be encouraged to participate more fully in information exchanges with other
jurisdictions.
"Report on Prison Design by the Royal Institute of British
Architects for Lord Justice Woolf." Report prepared by the Royal Institute
of British Architects, November 1990. |
