Correctional Architecture -- Can We See the future?

During the latest period of dynamic growth in the justice system, new demands have been placed on those designing and building correctional facilities. Due to this demand, corrections, professionals, consumers, contractors, architects, construction personnel and suppliers have developed new and dynamic partnerships. Both architecture and construction professional have learned what corrections practitioners do and how to help them do it more effectively. This has become more challenging due to the rapid changes in technology, which now drives both the design and function of facilities.

Billions of dollars are spend in the design and construction of correctional facilities at all levels every year, primarily due to the 1990s' "get tough on crime" approach. Many of use in the profession understand that you cannot build your way into a solution. However, if we are given the resources to build these facilities, we have an obligation to make them as secure and functional as possible.

Correctional philosophies and functions have changed may times throughout history. We have trended between striving for reform and striving for retribution of offenders. As we enter the 21st century, we hopefully are ending a period of the rapidly expanding prison population. But just as we do, there is a new issue that again changes the dynamics of the correctional population: Inmates now are serving significantly longer sentences. This has resulted in increasing demands, to deal with geriatric and disabled inmates. Not so long ago, these issues received little attention. Today, they are both a major expense and a problem that must be addressed. Another example is the growing demand for, and reliance on, technology. This has led to increased security that, at the same time, makes the facilities more livable for both staff and inmates.

Anyone who has worked in or developed a new facility knows it can be an extremely daunting task -- I know this from personal experience. Corrections professionals must meet the demands of security and programmatic needs of a new facility with the public pressure to keep costs low and have the facility delivered on time. Architects and construction personnel must understand these often-conflicting demands and meet them as well.

The majority of corrections professional have worked in older facilities and most likely have complained about the design and lack of foresight of their predecessors. If your have an opportunity to design a new facility, just remember that sometime in the future, your successors will have the same complaints about you. It is extremely difficult to predict future issues in the correctional system. One needs only to look at the current inmate population -- youthful offenders, the increasing female population, older inmates, sex offenders, the mentally ill -- and its special needs to see how difficult this prediction is. The question is: What next? Can we meet future demands?

It is especially difficult for correctional architects to understand that their designs are expected to last a long time. Corrections professionals do not have the luxury of tearing down a facility and starting over. Once a facility is designed and built, it is likely to be used for decades to come. That means that in designing today's facilities, architects must take into account changes that are likely to occur in the future. What if the size or makeup of the population changes? What if technology changes? Can the facility be adapted to meet these future demands and capabilities? These are the types of questions that must be considered whenever a facility is designed. If not asked, costly changes will be necessary and second guesses will be made.

The partnerships between corrections professionals, architects and builders must continue to be developed and cultivated. Only by working together can we achieve our ultimate goal -- a facility that is secure and functional, yet flexible enough to meet future needs.