TECHNICAL GUIDANCE FOR
PRISON PLANNING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of figures 6
Abbreviations 7
General introduction 9
International legal norms and principles 10
How to use this manual 11
SECTION A
General considerations in the planning of prisons 13
Introduction: building a functional prison 14
A1 Fundamentals of prison design 16
A2 Prison systems 22
A3 Overcrowding 24
A4 Human decency and dignity 25
A5 Rehabilitation and reintegration 26
A6 Phasing of prison systems 27
A7 Detention of children 28
A8 Safety and security features 29
SECTION B
Prison profile 37
Introduction 38
PROF1 Prisoners 40
PROF2 Prison 44
PROF3 Operations 46
PROF4 Staff 48
PROF5 Location 49
PROF6 Other 51
Prison profile template 53
SECTION C
Masterplanning 63
Introduction 64
1. Site considerations 65
2. Site planning 66
3. Design and construction phasing 69
4. Construction and management issues in the refurbishment of existing facilities 71
5. Masterplanning considerations for the design of humane prisons 73
SECTION D
Spatial and service requirements 75
Introduction 76
Components index 78
1. PRISONER ACCOMMODATION 81
ACCOM1 Housing units 83
ACCOM2 Block facilities 93
ACCOM3 Block support 99
ACCOM4 Solitary confinement 106
ACCOM5 Mother and baby units (MBU) 113
2. PRISONER FACILITIES 119
FACLT1 Visits 121
FACLT2 Education 130
FACLT2.1 Education (classrooms) 133
FACLT2.2 Education (library) 136
FACLT2.3 Education (other) 139
FACLT3 Work 140
FACLT3.1 Work (workshops) 142
FACLT3.2 Work (farms) 144
FACLT4 Healthcare and hygiene 147
FACLT4.1 Healthcare facilities 148
FACLT4.2 Hygienic facilities 153
FACLT5 Food and drink 156
FACLT5.1 Food and drink (kitchen areas) 158
FACLT5.2 Food and drink (mess areas) 162
FACLT6 Recreation 165
FACLT6.1 Recreation (indoor activities) 167
FACLT6.2 Recreation (outdoor facilities) 169
FACLT7 Other facilities 171
3. PRISON SUPPORT 175
SUPRT1 Security 177
SUPRT1.1 Security (prison perimeter) 179
SUPRT1.2 Security (main gate) 183
SUPRT1.3 Security (reception) 186
SUPRT1.4 Security (security department) 193
SUPRT2 Staff 197
SUPRT2.1 Staff (facilities) 198
SUPRT2.2 Staff (accommodation) 201
SUPRT3 Services infrastructure 204
SUPRT3.1 Services infrastructure (water supply and sanitation) 206
SUPRT3.2 Services infrastructure (electrical) 210
SUPRT3.3 Services infrastructure (HVAC) 211
SUPRT3.4 Services infrastructure (IT) 212
SUPRT4.1 Maintenance department 213
SUPRT4.2 Central stores 215
SUPRT5 Administration 218
SECTION E
Annexures 223
ANNEXURE 1: Rapid deployment options 224
ANNEXURE 2: Common mistakes in prison design 229
ANNEXURE 3: Space planning and budgeting tool 232
ANNEXURE 4: Prison assessment templates 235
ANNEXURE 5: Mapping of spatial and service requirements against the prison profile and the SMRs