Disciplines
Architectural Engineering | Other Architecture | Urban, Community and Regional Planning
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The surge in female incarceration rates in the United States has heightened concerns about the mental health challenges faced by women within correctional facilities. This thesis research explores the intersection of women's incarceration, mental health, and sustainable architectural design aimed at improving outcomes for female inmates. Factors contributing to the increase in female incarceration rates, including changes in sentencing policies, socioeconomic disparities, and the criminalization of mental illness and substance abuse, are critically examined. Research indicates a disproportionately high prevalence of mental health disorders among female inmates, often rooted in past trauma, domestic violence, and systemic inequalities. These issues are frequently exacerbated by the prison environment, where overcrowding, lack of privacy, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to rehabilitative programs contribute to worsening psychological conditions. Despite these challenges, the prison system often fails to provide sufficient mental health resources, reinforcing cycles of recidivism and societal marginalization.
This thesis proposes that sustainable architectural design, incorporating biophilic principles, trauma-informed spatial planning, and rehabilitative programming, can play a crucial role in addressing the mental health crisis in women's prisons. Design strategies such as access to natural light, green spaces, sensory-responsive environments, and flexible communal areas can help mitigate stress and promote emotional resilience. Additionally, creating spaces that balance privacy and social interaction is essential for fostering personal reflection, community support, and personal growth. By integrating these evidence-based design interventions, correctional facilities can shift from punitive environments to spaces that facilitate healing, skill development, and successful reintegration into society. This research highlights the urgent need for a human-centered approach in prison architecture—one that acknowledges the unique needs of incarcerated women and leverages sustainable design as a tool for restorative justice and long-term rehabilitation.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CACM - Architecture
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
robin puttock
Included in
Architectural Engineering Commons, Other Architecture Commons, Urban, Community and Regional Planning Commons
reviving humanity
The surge in female incarceration rates in the United States has heightened concerns about the mental health challenges faced by women within correctional facilities. This thesis research explores the intersection of women's incarceration, mental health, and sustainable architectural design aimed at improving outcomes for female inmates. Factors contributing to the increase in female incarceration rates, including changes in sentencing policies, socioeconomic disparities, and the criminalization of mental illness and substance abuse, are critically examined. Research indicates a disproportionately high prevalence of mental health disorders among female inmates, often rooted in past trauma, domestic violence, and systemic inequalities. These issues are frequently exacerbated by the prison environment, where overcrowding, lack of privacy, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to rehabilitative programs contribute to worsening psychological conditions. Despite these challenges, the prison system often fails to provide sufficient mental health resources, reinforcing cycles of recidivism and societal marginalization.
This thesis proposes that sustainable architectural design, incorporating biophilic principles, trauma-informed spatial planning, and rehabilitative programming, can play a crucial role in addressing the mental health crisis in women's prisons. Design strategies such as access to natural light, green spaces, sensory-responsive environments, and flexible communal areas can help mitigate stress and promote emotional resilience. Additionally, creating spaces that balance privacy and social interaction is essential for fostering personal reflection, community support, and personal growth. By integrating these evidence-based design interventions, correctional facilities can shift from punitive environments to spaces that facilitate healing, skill development, and successful reintegration into society. This research highlights the urgent need for a human-centered approach in prison architecture—one that acknowledges the unique needs of incarcerated women and leverages sustainable design as a tool for restorative justice and long-term rehabilitation.