The Environmental Psychology of Prisons and Jails Richard Wener Talk to PRoF Meeting 3/27/2014

This is a jail…

…and so is this.

This, too

People have always been held captive

not always safely…

or with respect.

Digression: what’s it like to be an inmate? Well, now we all know…

Federal Bureau of Prisons ‘Experiment’ in Jail Design 4/29/ New Generation – Direct Supervision Jails

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Revolutionary for their time: Corrections Officer in living area supervise, not surveil Redefined CO job more responsibility, more interaction Inmates relative freedom within module access Normative Design less institutional changed expectations

Linear Intermitent Supervision Linear Intermittent Supervision

San Diego

Chicago

New York

Respond to expectations Is this a place for humans or…other? 4/29/201521

Contra Costa County, CA

Booking

Principle : Normative Design leads to normative behavior Softer Architecture  Less Vandalism

Example 4/29/201529

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Found over 60 published studies – Anecdotal reports, case studies, surveys and quasi-field experiments – Studied over 200 jails and prisons Remarkable consistency in findings : – Safer – low assault, low vandalism – Less stressful, better for staff and inmates – Not more expensive to build or operate

Other prisons in other countries that take similar approach Norway, Austria, others Go even further

View through lens of Environmental Stress Aspects of setting ↓ arousal, displeasure, tension, discomfort

Critical Things to Know About Stress Stress is cumulative. - multiple stressors at once worse - exposed to many at once in prison

… Stress greater if Uncontrollable, Unpredictable Variable in onset, offset & duration

Stress leads to –Physical illness – cardiovascular and other –Reduced cognitive abilities, concentration ability to learn, grow, solve immediate social and long term personal problems –Reduced ability to tolerate frustration –Increased irritability, aggression More risk of violence, disfunction –increases depression, learned helplessness 4/29/201539

People can adapt to many stressors - but at a cost

Life in total institution magnifies all stress effects Involuntary Extreme levels Long term exposure Multiple sources

drip, drip, drip, drip Lack of control goes from irritant to torture

Plus… loss of normal coping mechanisms… Sense of normality & stability Social contacts - family, friends, work, community Competence and control over life Ability to adjust environment

NO SHORTAGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS IN PRISONS & JAILS …TAKE YOUR PICK

Lack of Privacy

Crowding

Isolation

Noise

Lighting – (too much, too little, lack of daylight)

View & Lack of Access to Nature

Threat of Violence

Lack of Sleep

& many others –Heat –Cold –Odors –etc. etc. etc. 4/29/201553

Of the many sources of stress… Most significant - fear of violence Least considered - nature

Violence Why is violence lower in these new jails?

Most violence is defensive & reactive as… a response to fear a reaction to scarcity a response to stress

fear

Fear as “form giver” affects …. -The institution -The staff -The inmates

Institution - many layers created in response to real & perceived threats

Staff - back-off…additional levels of separation –keeps staff behind glass or bars

Inmates- fear triggers self-preservation Get Weapons Safety in groups Act Aggressively Leads to downward spiral

Breaking the cycle… CO in control reduced fear

a reaction to scarcity Violence as a …

Scarcity breeds competition  aggression (principle of ecology) Incarceration creates scarcity

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Reduce scarcity by providing access

as response to stress Violence as a …

As stress increases from all sources… – Less tolerant – More irritable – More hostile – Less sociable

Stress and control Privacy options help reduce stress

Direct Supervision Jails try to address all these sources of violence… – Reduce fear – Increase access to resources – Reduce stresses – increase control options

Views of Nature Biophilia – EO Wilson

Significant research shows view of nature –Restorative for mental fatigue –Reduces stress – blood pressure –Improves recovery

Ulrich

Nature view in prison related to… Fewer incidents Reduced blood pressure in inmates Improves recovery from stress in staff

Impact of nature view on intake area staff Collected stress measures from all staff before & after change

After the change… Did better on cognitive test Showed better physiological adjustment to tress of shift (heart rate variability)

Where is this going? Harder to build these in US Some positive trends elsewhere