Corrections Standards Authority
Related Links
Developments in Juvenile Facility Design
Most of the juvenile detention facilities built in California prior to 1970 were modeled after linear design structures constructed about 200 years ago. While offering a relatively secure environment, these facilities proved inefficient and inflexible, providing little program space and limited opportunities for interaction between staff and minors. As a result of these limitations, as well as new standards for local detention facilities and evolving technology, facility design has changed substantially over the past 30 years. The linear design has all but disappeared and the new generation design has emerged.
New generation design facilities are aimed at achieving greater operational flexibility and efficiency, increased safety and security, and a more "normalized" environment for both minors and staff. Counties applying for construction grants administered by the BOC should pay particular attention to design developments because funded projects must meet new generation design requirements.
The "state-of-the-art" in facility design is changing almost daily as technology responds to evolving needs. While these changes are best understood when observed first hand (return to tour), the following information will familiarize counties with developments in facility design due to changes in correctional operations, new practices in programs and services, and other design characteristics.
Changes in Correctional Operations
Probably the greatest operational changes in local detention facilities are occurring in the living areas. These changes recognize the need to separate various categories of minors according to behavior, type of offense, security requirements, age, sex, adjudicatory status, etc. This separation protects one group from another while responding to differing needs in different settings.
In new generation design facilities, minors are housed in single or double occupancy rooms grouped in units of varying size. These units usually have direct access to dayroom and dining spaces as well as program, activity and recreation areas. Such units grant the flexibility necessary to operate facilities with various classifications of minors, each requiring a defined degree of separation from others while needing access to similar services and programs.
This "unit management" concept of operations has the advantage of concentrating various services close to the minors, thereby reducing movement between areas and requiring less staff supervision of that movement. Minors have more freedom to use recreational facilities, attend a counseling session or remain in the individual room, all without requiring the involvement of staff to move them. This leaves staff free to perform other duties or to assist in the delivery of programs and services. While staff typically increases when a new facility is built, the flexibility of a unit management approach can minimize that increase.
Correctional Programs and Services
Local correctional facilities are increasingly becoming a vehicle in the delivery of programs and services (e.g., alcohol and drug counseling), including some that are provided by other agencies or volunteers (e.g., mental health professionals). The linear design of traditional facilities generally provides little program space or flexibility, thus limiting the delivery of services. In contrast, new generation facilities accommodate the additional staff required to deliver programs and services through an open design that includes multi-use program areas for education or counseling activities.
It is important to remember that the open character of a "new generation" design facility does not compromise security. These facilities can still be "locked-down" in the event of an emergency and have proved to run as securely as their predecessors. In fact, in some cases, security has been strengthened in new generation design facilities due to increased contact between staff and minors, contact that has helped reduce tension among detainees.
Changes in support functions are also occurring. Medical and dental services, for example, are often provided through contract services, the county health department or staff medical personnel. These services are typically available to all minors and, when possible, are provided in a dedicated clinic area of the facility. In some cases, larger facilities may hold a daily sick call in the housing unit rather than move minors to a central exam area.
Food preparation and dining services have changed, too. Some counties find it more economical to contract for food preparation and service rather than investing in outfitting and operating a kitchen. Most large facilities, however, still prepare food on-site. The airline method of quick-chill preparation has been introduced in some newer facilities. With this method, food is prepared in the traditional manner, but undercooked about 20 percent. It is then quick-chilled in blast refrigerators and held for final delivery. Deliveries are made to the dining areas for re-heating and serving.
The physical appearance or "image" of a space indicates its degree of normalcy. A more normal correctional environment – one with fewer symbols of detention – can have a positive impact upon staff and minors by reducing tensions normally associated with loss of freedom. There is evidence that a normalized physical environment does, indeed, have a positive impact on both minors and staff.
Design techniques for achieving a more normal environment include using natural light and views; bright, stimulating colors; textured materials such as wood, tile, brick and carpet; limiting the size and volume of spaces; and providing spatial variety and transition. These methods are combined with other details appropriate to the level of security, including doors in place of grill gates, non-institutional furniture, and security glazing in place of bars. The result is a facility that is secure yet humane in appearance.