What is the problem?

Interior architectural design has a direct effect on an individual's use of a space and mental state while within a space. The purpose of this study is to understand the effects of prison architectural design on prisoner rehabilitation in 2011. Historical and conceptual analysis of selected prisons, their inhabitants, including staff and inmates, and architectural staff can provide data specific to place and population.


Questionnaires distributed to participants gather their opinions of various architectural design elements they experience on a regular basis. An additional group of participants from within the sampling frame may be the prison architects and interior designers involved in the projects although their involvement would involve interviews and not participation in questionnaires. They could possibly be involved prior to the questionnaire development to better assess architectural elements of significance.


Stratified sampling subgroups could include race, age, gender, reason for incarceration, facility type (high vs. low security) and participants could also be group based on the type of architectural design with which they inhabit. (style/era/concept) This type of probability sampling method could allow for results to be expressed as a generalization for the prison populations of the selected prisons. 

• Pros: range of participants identified which provides more accurate participant data from which to base generalizations, questionnaires can be controlled to provide a consistent means of gathering data
• Cons: opportunity for sampling error if sample size isn't representative of the population, lack of interest by participants in the questionnaire

An effective non-probability sampling method would be quota sampling. Inmates and staff from the above mentioned subgroups could be selected based on staff recommendations to provide the most diverse range of opinions. 

• Pros: greater control over sample to lower the risk of sampling error
• Cons: by involving prison staff in sample selection process there is an opportunity for bias towards inmates being selected and whether staff want their opinions known (prison politics)

I think that either sampling method could be effective. I question whether it is possible to not involve prison staff in participant selection. Quota sampling would allow me to create subgroups and provide direction regarding selection criteria. By involving staff in the selection process rates of violence, reason for incarceration and other inmate details could be discussed as well. The sample size is difficult for me to determine at this time. It depends on the number of subgroups or variables used and the number of prisons involved in the research.

Architecture as a Tool to Debilitate, Protect and Control

This week's assignment required me to read at least two articles related to my research topic. I have provided summaries of the articles and then a brief analysis of the points I found most relevant to my questions for qualitative and quantitative research.


Article One 
Mobilong Independent Living Units : New Innovations in Australian Prison Architecture
The author briefly provides context for the Mobilong Prison in South Australia by describing its geographic location, inmate population and existing programmatic and physical structure. An increase in the inmate population required the Department of Correctional Services to expand Mobilong's facilities which led to the design and construction of the independent living units as a part of the new facility. These new facilities were given a more residential design than the existing prison in an effort to create a more humane, secure, safe and respectful environment for inmates and staff. Grant touches on project and client goals specific to inmate and staff participation in the design and construction project as a way to lessen the typical disputes associated with change in procedure or change in facilities. Aggressive and non-compliant behaviors were associated with inflexible, "hard", architecture. Human scale, color, visual and physical access to the outdoors are all attributed to greater inmate and staff safety and security. Space planning was listed as a tool used to minimize conflict - long corridors were not used and occupancies for living spaces allowed for democratic design-making. Safe cell design methods included specifying recessed and/or sloped hardware, designing lighting to be recessed and additional exhaust equipment for ventilation in case of fire and air circulation. An association is made between an inmate's ability to have privacy (locking bedroom doors) and lower rates of conflict between inmates and between inmates and staff.


Article Two
Violence in the Supermax : A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
The author's point seems to be that supermax prisons, like Pelican Bay State Prison in California, create an environment that in no way rehabilitates prisoners but instead dehumanizes them such that they are less stable and possibly more violent than when they entered incarceration. Prison staff, policy, culture and design are all factors in the overall flawed system. Prisoners are isolated for up to 23 hours per day, provided little to no access to the outdoors and receive no mental or emotional care. Pelican Bay uses concrete, steel and plexiglas for cells, partitions and furniture. With little access to the natural environment most prisoners experience little to no daylight and overall poorly or overly-lit environments. Indoor air quality is questionable as recycled air is the only option. The article goes on to describe staff (correctional officer) training and the their sub-culture within the overall prison culture. Inmate subculture is also described. Other information is provided regarding prison policies and deductions made regarding the effects of solitary confinement and abusive treatment on the psychological state of inmates.


Analysis
For the purpose of my research I think it is helpful to isolate within these articles what I can tie directly to architectural design. With a topic like this there are so many factors to consider it can become difficult to asses causes and effects. Both of these articles describe specific architectural design elements like space planning, adjacencies and transitions, orientation to daylight, use of color and materials as interior materials and finishes, lighting and segregational versus congregational environments. My initial research topic was based on the relationship between prison architectural design and instances of violence between inmates or between inmates and correctional officers. As I read the above articles I question whether I want to open my research topic to explore links between design and violent instances, percentage of inmates receiving parole and percentage of inmates being treated for emotional issues. The difficulty is finding research that supports a direct link between the architecture of a prison and those three things. There are so many cultural factors like fear of abuse from other inmates and staff and prison policies that inform officers  to treat inmates as not worthy of humane conditions. I think studying the effects of the architectural elements I have described on inmate emotional or mental well-being will fall under the qualitative research and looking for numbers related to violence or treatment will align with more quantitative research.


Questions
Is there research available on indoor air quality in prisons and the relative health of inmates with varying levels of outdoor access?
What are differences in prison design today versus 10, 20, 30 years ago?
Does visual access to the outdoors but not to other inmates make a difference in the percentage of inmates in solitary confinement requiring cell extractions or medical care?
Would a more open plan design for prisons work the same way, policy-wise, as the labyrinth plan design currently used by most prisons?
How has technology affected prison design - in the supermax prison designs described in this article, almost 100% of the surveillance occurs through cameras and other electrical systems. Human interaction occurs very rarely yet inmates are aware they are never not being watched.


References

Grant, E. (2006). Mobilong Independent Living Units: New Innovations in Australian Prison Architecture. Corrections Today, 68(3), 58-61. 
King, K., Steiner, B., & Breach, S. (2008). Violence in the Supermax. Prison Journal, 88(1), 144-168.