The present study presents, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the space of prisons by putting forward elements pertaining to both environmental psychology and law and by discussing the effects that this space has on transforming and shaping the behavior of the inmates. It also examines the negative consequences of some social processes involving personal space, crowding, privacy, as well as the psychological effects of the prisons on the behavior of the convicts and the costs that they have on their rehabilitation. Nonetheless, the study proposes some alternatives and ways of improving the life of the convicts in these environments in order to ensure a better reintegration into the society.
Keywords: prison, behavior, psychological effects, criminal reform, rehabilitation, United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, International Convention on Civil and Political Human Rights, European Prison Rules etc.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Prison as an environmental space
2.1 Prison: concept definition
2.2 Why can environmental psychology be of help?
3. Personal space and privacy in prisons
3.1 Concepts definition
3.2 Increasing the privacy sphere and self-development
4. The crowding effect in prisons
4.1 The effects of crowding
4.2 Reducing the overcrowding effect
5. Designing more fitting environments for rehabilitation
5.1 What does prison designing imply?
5.2 The environmental elements that enable the rehabilitation
6. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This study explores prison environments from an interdisciplinary perspective, combining environmental psychology and legal standards to understand how physical space influences the psychological state and rehabilitation of inmates. The primary goal is to examine how architectural and environmental design choices can mitigate the negative psychological impacts of incarceration, such as overcrowding and loss of personal space, to better facilitate successful reintegration into society.
- The relationship between prison architecture and inmate psychological health.
- The impact of overcrowding on inmate behavior and social dynamics.
- Theoretical definitions of personal space, privacy, and their role in self-development.
- Legal and human rights standards regarding the treatment of prisoners.
- Architectural strategies for designing spaces conducive to rehabilitation.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Prison: concept definition
The first evident aspect that has to be clarified when tackling this subject is the definition of "prison". There are numerous formal definitions which have been proposed in order to explain this concept. For example, only the Collins English Dictionary of the 21st Century Edition provides several definitions for the concept of "prison": "1. a public building used to hold convicted criminals and accused persons awaiting trial; 2. any place of confinement or seeming confinement; 3. jail, penitentiary, reformatory etc.".
From a psychological perspective, the concept has received a more extensive definition. Murphy defined the prison as a "complex environment with many different people having different needs and roles". In this environment, the prison cell is considered to be central to the housing of an inmate and makes up the core of a prison's architecture. According to Murphy, the cell must enable "different prisoners to be able to have different schedules, to manage themselves while improving security and enabling more efficient prison management".
The existing international framework on the matter, is most of the time vague on the subject, as it does not provide any definition of prisons. It only sometimes mentions the function and the purpose of the prison. For example, in a definition provided by Penal Reform International, the function of the prison is to "house people in a manner consistent with human dignity and which in the end will rehabilitate and aid the reintegration of the individual back into society". The European Prison Rules mentions that "life in prison shall approximate as closely as possible the positive aspects of life in community" and therefore "all detention shall be managed so as to facilitate the reintegration into free society of persons who have been deprived of their liberty". In this light, the European Prison Rules also provide in art. 102.2 that "imprisonment is by the deprivation of liberty a punishment in itself and therefore the regime shall sentenced prisoners shall not aggravate the suffering inherent in imprisonment".
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research focus on prison reform through the lens of environmental psychology and legal frameworks.
2. The Prison as an environmental space: Defines the prison concept and argues for the necessity of applying environmental psychology to correctional facilities.
3. Personal space and privacy in prisons: Explores theoretical concepts of personal space and privacy, emphasizing their necessity for inmate self-reflection and mental stability.
4. The crowding effect in prisons: Analyzes the negative impacts of overcrowding on inmate behavior and discusses strategies to mitigate these effects.
5. Designing more fitting environments for rehabilitation: Discusses the collaboration between architects and psychologists to design environments that support inmate rehabilitation.
6. Conclusions: Reaffirms that prisons should be designed as environments that enable positive change rather than serving solely as places of punishment.
Keywords
Prison, Environmental Psychology, Criminal Reform, Rehabilitation, Personal Space, Privacy, Overcrowding, Inmate Behavior, Prison Design, Human Rights, European Prison Rules, Social Reintegration, Architectural Design, Mental Health, Institutional Culture
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The paper focuses on the intersection of prison architecture, environmental psychology, and legal reform, investigating how physical spaces can be adapted to foster rehabilitation rather than just punishment.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The central themes include the psychological impact of prison environments, the role of personal space and privacy, the consequences of overcrowding, and the architectural design of correctional facilities.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The primary objective is to demonstrate that prison environments significantly influence inmate behavior and to propose design strategies that reduce negative psychological outcomes and support successful societal reintegration.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study utilizes an interdisciplinary, literature-based approach, reviewing existing environmental psychology studies, legal standards, and human rights conventions to build its argument.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the definition of the prison environment, the psychological importance of personal space and privacy, the adverse effects of overcrowding, and specific design elements that can enhance rehabilitation.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as prison reform, environmental psychology, rehabilitation, personal space, and architectural design.
How does the concept of "privacy" function within a prison setting?
Privacy is presented as a vital tool for emotional release, self-reflection, and maintaining a sense of identity, which are essential for an inmate's long-term rehabilitation process.
Why does the author advocate for a closer relationship between architects and psychologists?
The author argues that architects need the specialized knowledge of psychologists to ensure that correctional facilities are designed to meet the complex human needs of inmates, thereby reducing long-term psychological damage.
What specific solutions does the paper suggest to mitigate overcrowding?
The paper suggests strategies such as careful physical partitioning, improving natural lighting, minimizing noise, and re-evaluating security classifications to better utilize available space.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Cristina Siserman (Autor:in), 2012, Reconsidering the environmental space of prisons - a step further towards criminal reform, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/193717
