NCJ Number
122986
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1990) Pages: 134,136,138
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Morton County-Mandan Law Enforcement and Correctional Center in North Dakota is a model of how a lighting system should be used in a correctional facility.
Abstract
Proper lighting in a correctional facility is a significant factor in inmate behavior and the safety of inmates and staff. The Morton County-Mandan Center gave priority to lighting by carefully considering lighting requirements in connection with planning for facility design. In such planning, areas should be distinguished as minimum, medium, or maximum security and lighted accordingly. Lighting should be adequate for the general performance of visual tasks rather than each specific task. There should be a proper distribution of brightness and color, and lighting flexibility should be sufficient to allow for changes in the institution's purpose over time. Fixtures should be tamper resistant and not conducive to use as weapons. The lighting should be easily maintained. Fixtures should have an unbreakable exterior, secure anchorage to the mounting surface, and tamper-proof hardware. Lamp mounting must be engineered to be vibration-free to prevent lamp failure should the fixture be attacked.