Reforming prisons with trauma-informed design & technology

The shift from punishment to rehabilitation in prison systems worldwide represents a ground breaking transformation. Trauma-Informed Design (TID) principles and innovative technology are at the core of this movement. This need is emphasised by the recent Safety in Custody quarterly update to March 2023 from the Ministry of Justice. This recent report unveils a distressing rise in self-inflicted deaths and self-harm incidents in prisons.

The evolution of prison design

Historically, prisons were places of punishment, but a revolutionary shift began in the 1970s. Scandinavian countries initiated open prisons where prisoners contributed to local communities under close supervision. With shared communal spaces resembling university dorms, this approach shined a new light on the importance of sensory stimulation and mental well-being.

… the vast majority of prisoners will at some point leave jail and rejoin our communities, which is why what happens inside matters to us all. And it’s why, when offenders are sent to jail, they should be held in conditions that help them turn their lives around.

David Lidington, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in 2017

The impact of Trauma-Informed Design

The design of the environment can have profound effects on behaviour. With TID, architects and designers are acknowledging that a considerable portion of the prison population has experienced significant trauma. Through the use of natural light, open spaces, calming colours and thoughtful features, they can create an environment that promotes healing and rehabilitation rather than merely focusing on punishment. TID is not about ignoring the consequences of criminal behaviour but creating an environment that supports personal growth and change.

Models of success – A global perspective

Innovations in prison architecture are driving positive changes in places like the UK, Ireland, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. Norway’s Halden Prison illustrates the success of TID with its focus on respect and human dignity. The establishment maintains the highest focus on security and uses a combination of static, dynamic and organisational security.

Good security must not be at the expense of human dignity and it must safeguard the safety of the community, employees, convicts and inmates

Norwegian Correctional Service

This philosophy is also echoed in Ireland’s new Limerick Women’s Prison, which embraces natural light and open spaces and California’s San Quentin, set to transform using Scandinavian methods by 2025.

Trauma-Informed Design and Technology’s role in enhancing prison environments

Modern technology, including Virtual Reality (VR), is playing an innovative role in supporting TID. VR’s ability to simulate calming environments is a breakthrough in rehabilitation. Additionally, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms such as Tephra’ Behaviour Analysis can help identify stress and anxiety patterns within the prison population. These insights can further optimise the environment, potentially preventing incidents of self-harm and suicide.

The integration of technology into architecture, with its rapid changes, demands adaptability. By merging data-driven insights with a people-centred approach, we can leverage technology in building design to create a sense of normality.  This in turn can significantly contribute to successful rehabilitation. 

To delve deeper into how technology innovations can create a secure and rehabilitative environment, please talk to a Lava Group representative.