Modern Prisons, Essay Example

Modern prisons that have been built in the last decade are far cry from the old prisons like Yuma, San Quentin and Alcatraz.  An example of modern architecture being that of the Leoben  justice and detention center in Austria.  Designed by the architect Joseph Hohensinn.  It’s a masterpiece of modern architecture with its individual inmate cells having windows, TV sets, built-in shelves, a notice board and a desk and bed.  “The prisoners have access to outdoor courtyards and designated exercise yards.”  (Anon).

The improvement in modern architectural design of prisons is a reflection of the changing attitude of society towards crime and punishment.  Prior to 1800 prisons in the north American colonists were designed for short-term detention.  This was based on the strong box design of a cell with Windows and bars. ” In Toronto a new municipal correctional facility (1977) sits immediately east of William Thomas’s 1864 Don Jail, the two buildings reflecting their respective society’s views as to why prisons exist and what functions they serve.”  (JOHNSON).

The modern prison may be described as a self-contained society in a complex secure  closed environment.  Many prisons have been privatized with the security of the prisons being subcontracted to private firms.  Worldwide it has been estimated that there are 17 firms that specialize in adults secure prisons.  There are 31 states contracted to private firms.  An example is the ” Correction Corp. of America — it operates 60 prisons and jails in the USA housing 53,000 inmates.”  (Zito).   These firms are being criticized in the loss of quality standards in order to achieve cost reduction targets.

Male and female prisoners are normally kept in separate locations.  Modern prisons  are often divided into wings.  One wing  containing  prisoners awaiting trial and the other wing for convicted prisoners.  One of the problems of prisons is that of overcrowding.  In Scotland female inmates are being moved into male prisons in both Aberdeen and Inverness.  The concept of reintegration units is likely to become more widespread like a shortage of prisons and the continued overcrowding problem.

Prisons are expected to meet international standards and design in their construction and build process.  The UN has laid down the minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners. ” The layout and details of facilities should offer inmates and staff proper access to water, air, sanitation and light. Incorrectly designed prisons can increase hazards to staff, inmates and the greater community as well as reduce the possibility of rehabilitating inmates.”  (UNOPS).Overcrowding will continue to represent the single biggest challenge in the future ” By midyear 2002, America’s jails held 1 in every 142 U.S. residents. Males were incarcerated at the rate of 1,309 inmates per 100,000 U.S. men, while the female incarceration rate was 113 per 100,000 women residents. Of the 1,200,203 state prisoners, 3,055 were younger than 18 years old. In addition, adult jails held 7,248 inmates under 18.”  (Longley).

Works Cited

Anon. Beautiful Prison Makes Me Want to go to Jail. 23 4 2009. 11 5 2010 <http://www.keepbailing.com/2009/04/beautiful-prison-makes-me-want-to-go-to-jail/#more-311>.

Johnson, Dana. Prison Architecture. 2010. 11 5 2010 <http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0009130>.

Longley, Robert. U.S. Prison Population Tops 2 Million. 1 2010. 11 5 2010 <http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/censusstatistic/a/aaprisonpop.htm>.

Unops. Unops : Prisons. 2010. 11 5 2010 <http://www.unops.org/english/whatwedo/focus-areas/physical-infrastructure/experience-capacity/pages/prisons.aspx>.

Zito, Matthew. Prison Privatization: Past and Present. 8 12 2003. 11 5 2010 <http://www.ifpo.org/articlebank/prison_privatization.html>.