ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS FOR ADULT DETENTION AND CORRECTIONS FACILITIES

• NCJ Number: 52271
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 34 pages
• Corporate Author: National Clearinghouse for Criminal Justice Planning and Architecture
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

FIFTY ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS WERE DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL CONCERN ABOUT THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF JAILS AND PRISONS; THEY ARE BASED ON A COMMUNITY APPROACH AND SYSTEMS PLANNING.

Abstract

THE STANDARDS SPECIFICALLY RESPOND TO THE PART E AMENDMENT OF THE OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT THAT IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF ADVANCED PRACTICES IN CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMING AND ARCHITECTURE. THEIR APPLICATION IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES THAT ARE HUMANE AND RESPONSIVE TO BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND TO CREATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES THAT ARE SAFE, SECURE, AND MANAGEABLE. THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS CONCEPT EMPHASIZES THE SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THE USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED HUMAN SERVICES. THIS CONCEPT IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT JAILS AND PRISONS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE SETTINGS TO REMEDY MOST SOCIAL AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND SKILL DEFICIENCIES OF INMATES. WITH PROPER SCREENING, MANY INMATES CAN BE REFERRED TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND SUCH REFERRALS ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY IN REDUCING LOCAL CRIME. THE COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL APPROACH ALSO REDUCES THE COST OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. THE TOTAL SYSTEMS PLANNING CONCEPT IS BASED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT CONSIDERATION OF OFFENDER NEEDS, PROGRAM RESPONSES, AND OVERALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE GOALS IS ESSENTIAL IN THE DETERMINATION OF CORRECTIONAL SPACE NEEDS. BEFORE DECIDING THAT A JAIL OR PRISON IS TO BE BUILT, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ACCURATE PROJECTIONS OF THE OFFENDER POPULATION BE MADE, THAT A MAXIMUM RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION BE ADOPTED AND MEASURED FOR THEIR IMPACT ON SPACE NEEDS, AND THAT PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONAL POLICIES BE DETERMINED. THE 50 STANDARDS ARE ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO FIVE CATEGORIES: GENERAL, RESIDENTIAL, PROGRAM SERVICES, BASIC SERVICES, AND SUPPORT SERVICES. STANDARDS FOR PRETRIAL AND POSTTRIAL DETENTION ROOMS ARE LISTED IN A TABLE, AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF HIGH-SECURITY, MEDIUM-SECURITY, AND LOW-SECURITY ROOMS IN JAILS AND PRISONS ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)