NCJ Number
64809
Date Published
1974
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES HOW THE USE OF COLOR IN AN INMATE'S SURROUNDINGS CAN STIMULATE REHABILITATION, AND PRESENTS COLOR SAMPLES.
Abstract
TO HUMANIZE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, THE PHYSICAL PLANT SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH AN AWARENESS OF HUMAN HABITS AND NEEDS BE ENGAGING TO HUMAN INTERESTS, AND BE NONREPRESSIVE TO THE HUMAN INTELLECT AND PHYSIOLOGY. STANDARDS IN COLOR USE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED THAT WILL ORGANIZE AND ARTICULATE SPACE TO INFLUENCE INMATES IN A FAVORABLE WAY. SPACE INFLUENCES UNCONSCIOUS FACTORS, PERCEPTION, BEHAVIOR, AND DECISIONMAKING; COLOR INFLUENCES SPACE. BECAUSE AN INMATE'S SPACE IS LIMITED, AN OFF-WHITE HUE IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE BASIC WALL COLOR, SINCE IT CAN BE EASILY MAINTAINED, IS NOT INSTITUTIONAL IN FEELING, AND EXPANDS WALL SPACE. BRIGHT, BOLD ACCENT COLORS CAN BE USED ON A MODERATE WALL IN EACH CELL, USED TO PAINT FIXED FEATURES WITHIN A CELL, OR COMBINED TO CREATE SUPERGRAPHICS. STRONG COLORS CAN STIMULATE INMATE REHABILITATION, BUT INTENSITIES AND SATURATIONS OF COLORS SHOULD BE CHOSEN WITH CAUTION TO PREVENT THIS SINGLE ELEMENT OF THE PRECEIVABLE ENVIRONMENT FROM BECOMING OBNOXIOUS OR DEPRESSING. CERTAIN SHADES OF BLUE, RED, BLACK, AND YELLOW SHOULD BE AVOIDED BECAUSE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL CONNOTATIONS. A POSITIVE RESULT OF MORE CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT IS OFTEN NOTED IN THE CORRECTIONAL OR INSTITUTIONAL STAFF AS WELL. BESIDES RAISING STAFF MORALE, COLOR CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AS A CODING SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE, DOORS PAINTED A CERTAIN COLOR CAN DENOTE A SPECIFIC FUNCTION. THUS, BY USING APPROPRIATE COLORS, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CAN HELP TO INFLUENCE AN INMATE TOWARD CONSTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR. THE REPORT INCLUDES A COLOR INDEX, FOOTNOTES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND COLOR SAMPLES. (PRG)