When it comes to keeping inmates safe and secure, you need a meticulously designed facility that will make that goal possible. This is the most important when it comes to prison cells since inmates will spend a lot of time in these areas. That’s why we’re here to go over the most vital needs that must be met through the design of the prison cell.
Essential Needs
First and foremost, no matter who is in the prison cell, they are still a human being with essential needs. The first thing to focus on is making sure these needs are met. Food is something that gets taken care of during meal time, but places to relieve oneself, stay hygienic, and sleep are essentials that every cell needs.
Since the toilet and sink are both features that are built in during construction, your main focus will need to be on the bed. You need a place that is comfortable enough to sleep on without taking up too much room, which is the need we’ll cover next.
Plenty of Space
Since inmates will spend a good amount of time in their cells, they need to have enough space to accommodate acceptable living conditions. This is another concept that the initial construction of the cell will mostly determine; however, if the prison is old enough, you might need to make some large-scale changes.
Before doing that, though, you should consider other solutions. One would be to buy new furniture that doesn’t take up as much room. There’s a lot you should know about choosing the right prison furniture, but one often-overlooked tip is to consider how large each piece is. The other thing you can do is reduce the number of occupants if possible. Many cell designs account for two people, but as regulations change, older ones might only be suited for one.
Focus on Rehabilitation
The most crucial need that a prison cell’s design must help to meet is that of rehabilitation. If the place where an inmate lives feels like a punishment instead of a place to better oneself, they won’t make the best use of their time in prison in order to accomplish that goal.
Of course, you don’t want to make it feel like a resort getaway, either. Most people in prison have done something heinous enough to put them there. That means your design must find a middle ground that encourages rehabilitation without excessive rewards.
