Sarah Paddick, Totalspace Design - Mothers and their Children in Prisons – Planning and Design

Mothers & their Children in Prisons Planning & Design. Presenter - Sarah Paddick Architect, Totalspace Design.

PRISON PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE 2013

Background

• The vast majority of women in Australian Prisons are mothers

• Children of prisoners are at greater risk of delinquent behaviour, mental health problems, and becoming offenders themselves

• Maintenance of family ties throughout a sentence reduces the likelihood of re-offending


Boronia Pre-Release Centre, WA • Suburban Location


Boronia Pre-Release Centre • Residential style Accommodation and planning


Boronia Pre-Release Centre • Facilities for Children


Boronia Pre-Release Centre • Normalised Living Environment


Dillwynia Correctional Centre, NSW • Positive initiatives to support family ties


Jacaranda Cottages, NSW • Semi rural location outside the main prison fence.


Jacaranda Cottages

Emu Plains Correctional Centre

Jacaranda Cottages • Residential style accommodation


HMP Bronzefield and HMP Peterborough, UK • Privately run prisons by Sodexo (formerly Kalyx)


Mother and Baby Unit at Bronzefield

HMP Bronzefield and HMP Peterborough, UK • Extremely good systems in place for managing mothers and their families.


HMP Bronzefield and HMP Peterborough, UK • On site nursery facilities staffed by qualified nursery nurses.


HMP Bronzefield and HMP Peterborough, UK • Cell block accommodation is a negative feature of the facility.


The Danish Prison and Probation Service “The most predominant and central principle in the field of the (Danish) Prison and Probation Service is the principle of normalization. It states, that “the daily activities of the Prison and Probation Service shall in general, and whenever specific agreements are reached, be related to normal life in the general community”. This basic principle is reflected in each and every activity of the service. The actual content of this principle, however, is not a static phenomenon but is object to variations due to the political realities. But it is still the fundamental idea and all developments are compared with or measured against this principle.”

‘Prison policy, prison regime and prisoners’ rights in Denmark’, William Rentzmann, Director‐General of the Danish Prison and Probation Service


The Engelsborg Hostel, Denmark • Mixed Gender accommodation, run by social workers, for prisoners reaching the end of

their sentence, or those who have finished but require extra support.


The Engelsborg Family House, Denmark • A unique facility that provides support for families of prisoners.


“The purpose of The Family House was to focus on the need for the children whilst at the same time helping the families of prisoners improve their relations with each other.“ Kirsten Neimann “Children of Prisoners – A story about the Engelsborg Family House”, published in 2009 by the Danish Prison and Probation Service.

The Engelsborg Family House, Denmark • Basic 2 storey dwelling housing up to 5 families with shared facilities.


Horserød State Prison, Denmark • An open prison accommodating both medium and low security male and

female prisoners


Horserød State Prison, Denmark • A “drug free” family unit houses prisoners with children who live there until age

7, or come for weekend stays up until they reach 15 years old.


Ringe Prison, Denmark • A “closed” prison housing male and female prisoners of the highest security ratings.


Ringe Prison, Denmark • Accommodation that we would consider to be low security.


Ringe Prison, Denmark • Emphasis is being placed on the design of a new play area for children visiting.


Correctional Service, Canada “...it was decided that:

• new facilities must provide a home-like environment and sufficient flexibility to enable a child or children to live with their mother;

• decisions should be made on an individual basis;

• the Correctional Service of Canada should be the facilitator in the decision-making process, assisting and supporting the sentenced mother in her negotiations with the applicable child welfare agency.

…where a live-in arrangement is not possible, the Correctional Service of Canada must provide the necessary resources to enable regular and close contact between mothers and children.”

“Creating Choices – The Report of the Task Force on Federally Sentenced women”, 1990


Joliette Institution for Women, Canada • The inclusion of high security perimeters has changed the nature of

the facility


Joliette Institution for Women, Canada • Residential style independent living in a campus setting


Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, Canada • A unique facility for First Nation women.


Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, Canada "Cypress Hills” is a sacred place. It is to these hills that people come for healing, inspiration, and to hear the voice of their Creator.

It is a natural place for

restoration of both the body

and the spirit..”

CSC Website http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca


http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/



Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, Canada • The design and layout of Okimaw Ohci is predominantly circular, which as in many

cultures is a strong symbol of life and regeneration.


Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, Canada • Normalised living in residential accommodation.


Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, Canada

“The most innovative and unique experiment at the lodge is its mother-child program. Three toddlers have been living full-time with their mothers at the lodge since August, the first program of its kind in North America. The goal of all programs is to achieve “total healing” for the aboriginal women, who constitute a shockingly disproportionate number of federal inmates.” Justice as Healing A Newsletter on Aboriginal Concepts of Justice

Power in the Spirit: Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge

Native Law Centre • Vol. 2, No. 4 (Winter 1997)


Washington Corrections Centre for Women, USA A minimum/medium security facility for women, with approximately 850 inmates


Washington Corrections Centre for Women, USA “…the collaboration between a mother, Washing Corrections Centre for Women (WCCW), Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD)/Early Head Start(EHS), Multi-Care and other partners to support the attachment relationship between a mother and her baby.”


Washington Corrections Centre for Women, USA


Summary


• Women’s only facilities not co-located on men’s sites • Dedicated staff positions to manage and support Family relationships • Eligibility requirements that do not unduly restrict access to the programs • Carefully designed visiting facilities that cater for children of different ages • Entry and screening processes that are non- confrontational for children • Options for regular, frequent communication between mothers and children – Skype, email etc. • Residential style, independent living units, and units for extended family visits.

Thank you http://www.totalspacedesign.com.au/upload/Mothers-and-Babies-in-Prisons-Accommodation-Study-2010-2011.pdf

http://www.totalspacedesign.com.au/upload/Mothers-and-Babies-in-Prisons-Accommodation-Study-2010-2011.pdf















