Humane architecture: rethinking prison design using rehabilitative principles for a better tomorrow

Abstract

Ontario correctional facilities are in crisis. With overcrowding, poor living conditions, an increase in the number of inmate deaths, high rearrest rates, a lack of resources, as well as outdated and inhumane design principles, this system is in dire need of new institutions that prioritize rehabilitation rather than isolation. Research suggests that humane treatment of convicted individuals while incarcerated directly influences their success and the safety within their surrounding communities upon their eventual release. This thesis investigates these research claims further and proposes the design of a medium-security prison, using rehabilitative design principles, in an attempt to provide inmates with an opportunity to grow, to prepare them for positive contribution to society, and to answer the question, “How can architectural design promote wellness within correctional facilities and aid in the rehabilitation of inmates to prepare them for release?”