Correctional Center: Studying prisons through movies and documentaries

INMATE INTAKE

• The prison van drops the inmates outside the entry gate. • No security fencing/barricade seen.

Security check on entering through the wicket gate.

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4 Reception desk where inmate5

After ,Inmates made to sit on the floor in a line, waiting to be searched. Search room with cloth covered opening.

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INMATE INTAKE

No seating for inmates. They are made to sit on the floor .

Space for prison officials to carry official paper work and documentation.

Openings in the wall to allow the officials visibility and to communicate.

Search cubicle.

Exit wicket gate

Space for prison officials on a raised plinth.

In this scenario, the use of cloth curtain adds no extra value due to the presence of walls on either side.

Cubicle covered with cloth Inmate Cubicle open on this face for visibility for the guard.

No specific room for searching. Searching is done in semi-covered cubicles.

Prison guard searching the inmate

Search cubicle made of wooden framework

Gap below left open for visibility when the inmate is made to squat

INMATE INTAKE

Lighting and ventilation provided

• The holding cell doesn’t have openings for natural light and ventilation.

• The use of perforated wicket gate(like in this case) allows natural light and ventilation

• A separate room outside adjoining the holding cell where the jailer along with two officials are seated.

• The inmates details are reviewed and assigned the appropriate barrack according to the category of crime.

• The inmate is provided with a kit consisting of toothbrush, toothpaste, blankets, plate and mug

VISITOR AREA

VISITOR ENTRY

Checkpoints provided to maintain observation over the visitors

• Visitors complete the necessary formalities and submit their belongings at this point.

• No locker system provided. The belongings are kept in a shelf placed next to the staff.

• Covered search area for female visitors.

• Visitors queue outside the search area waiting for their visits time.

• Barricade provided to ensure the visitors move in a systematic manner , also preventing any other person entering the line.

• No shade provided over this pathway

• Enclosure covered with wooden panels on two sides and cloth on one side.

• Slight openings in cloth might create a feeling of discomfort and lack of privacy while checking

VISITOR AREA

TYPE 1 – Common visit room

• One common chamber where all the inmates are expected to gather.

• This layout at times creates commotion and overlapping of voices. This doesn’t give privacy to the inmate and the visitor.

• Seating provided for visitor .

• The room has one entrance point for visitor and one entrance point for the inmate directly into the chamber.

• cramped areas without privacy may cause prisoner disputes and security incidents.

• The booths on the visitor side should be large enough to allow an adult and children to visit the prisoner.

VISITOR AREA

TYPE 2 – Visit room with partitions

• Partitions provided to create individual cubicles to give privacy to the visitor and the inmate.

• This avoids the commotion created in one common visit cubicle.

• There is no seating provided. The visitor and the inmate have to stand and communicate.

• There is a gap provided between the visitor mesh and the inmate mesh to avoid any exchange of any materials.

• There is a platform in the visitors section provided to keep documents etc.

VISITOR AREA

TYPE 3 – Informal visit room

• A more informal arrangement in which inmates and visitors sit on chairs attached to a table and have more opportunity for physical contact and interaction.

• Movable furniture allows increased flexibility in the use of the open visits area and could allow for other prisoner activities

• When the space is not in use for prison visits, movable furniture can make it employable for staff briefings, meetings, and trainings.

• This arrangement to minimize the intimidation of visitors.

• Makes prison visits more child-friendly, and allows prisoners and adult visitors a greater freedom to talk or interact with visiting children.

BARRACK | TOILETS | WASH AREA | BATHING AREA (TYPE 1)

• A barrack accommodating two inmates consisting of two beds and wash area.

• Wash area is covered partially by a half wall ( approx. height 1.2m) on the side facing the entry and one side with a bund wall

Circulation passage

Barracks accessed by a common circulation passage which is covered.

Window with bars and mesh

Window with bars and mesh

Shower pipe

• Partition wall with water supply system with taps

• Wall also used by the inmates to place their mug, washing soap and other toiletries.

Semi-covered bathing cubicles to preserve the privacy of the inmate and also to allow the guard to check/view inside the cubicle if found anything suspicious.

BARRACK | TOILETS | WASH AREA | BATHING AREA (TYPE 2)

Through clips, one can infer segregation of undertrials and convicts.

• A toilet and a wash area in the barrack.

• Used mainly during the night when locked inside the barrack.

• Wash area with drums to store water

Semi-covered toilet

Due to lack of space, belongings of inmates such as buckets, clothes hung on windows. This might be obstructing the light, ventilation and visibility.

Provision of TV unit

Partition wall separating the toilet area and sleeping area.

Half wall provided here instead of covering the space with full wall.

Inmates sit on the veranda during the day due to lack of space inside the barrack.

Uses of veranda- to talk, play games, eat food as no mess is provided.

View of an overcrowded barrack

BARRACK | TOILETS | WASH AREA | BATHING AREA (TYPE 2)

• An area provided outside with provision of water to be used for washing.

• Outdoor washing area is semi-covered.

• This water used during the day for washing clothes, bathing ,drying clothes etc.

• One common wash area for all the inmates

Light shows the presence of a skylight on the room being the only source of light and ventilation

Indian style commode

A slot in the lower portion of the door for giving food to the inmate on a plate

A Confined room where the inmate is locked up and given the basic amenity of food and water

Toilet on a pedestal

Provision of drinking water

Slot on the door with a mesh on the room side and an openable flap on the other side for the prison staff to view inside the room and to communicate

Food served outside the Kitchen in the common open space between the barracks

No specific space for eating provided. Inmates eat inside the barrack, on the verandah of the barrack, on the steps.

Shelves to store groceries

Inmates sitting on the floor cutting vegetables

Prepared food carried out in containers

Enough circulation space maintained for movement

Barrack

Kitchen

Pole light to illuminate the common central area

Watch tower

Security perimeter wall

Cooking of chapathis done on large metal platforms for bulk preparation

Clinic

Barrack

One entry/exit point

To the kitchen

Preparation platform

Stand for hanging spoons used for cooking

Wall with perforations dividing kitchen and storage

Dry storage with groceries and vegetables

Wall with perforations dividing kitchen and storage Cooking burners

Washing area for the kitchen

Opening for light and ventilation

• No specific room provided for sitting and eating.

• Inmates eat in the circulation space outside the kitchen and the barracks.

• This circulation space is uncovered

Opening for light and ventilation

Entry/exit door 2

• Another case is where all the inmates are brought into a common room which is provided with table and seats for eating.

• Inmates are seated in rows, with sufficient circulation space for inmate movement as well as the guard movement to maintain security.

• Fixed seating arrangement could be given to avoid the chance of being used as weapon.

• The food distribution counter is located close to the point of entry into the mess so that prisoners can collect their food and sit down to eat.

Entry/exit door 1

Seating of 6

Seating of 4

Food distribution counter at one end of the room

Drinking water provision

MEDICAL FACILITY

• Kitchen and medical facility

placed in the central space with equal accessibility to the barracks.

• A watchtower placed behind helps to keep a watch over the central common movement and also movement in/out of the kitchen and medical facility

Barrack 2

• Medical room with a provision of approx. 4 beds and a doctors table.

• Each bed provided with a table attached with a saline stand.

Manual security check before entering the medical room

Shelf for medical instruments provided next to the doctors table

Space for the doctor Privacy screen provided incase needed

Space for the doctor consisting of a table and seat for doctor and two chairs for inmate patients.

Windows with no shutters, but a green cloth covering approx. half of the height of the opening.

Barrack 1 Kitchen Medical facility

MISCELLANEOUS AREAS

Carpentry workshop

• Entry point has manual checking.

• The provision of windows might allow the unwanted exchange of articles.

• Provision of tables on which the inmates work.

Tailoring workshop

Head table Stitching units on either side

• Entry point has manual checking.

• One table provided in the center for the head incharge of the

• Workshop.

• Stitching units aligned on either side of this head table leaving the path in front of the head table for circulation.

• Shelves provided to store the raw cloth and cupboards provided to store the stitched clothes.

Barber

• A room provided in the prison for shaving and haircutting.

• Space for two barbers

• Entry point is manually checked

• Room with no windows to avoid exchange of blades.

• Ventilators provided on top.

Recreational area

• Inmates play in the central open space by setting a pole and a net.

• This space common to the barracks , kitchen and medical area.

• Inmates play in the space between two barracks by attaching the net to the walls.

• Smaller space as compared to above. No specific area provided for playing

ZONING

Watch tower Entry to barrack

Watch tower

Mess

Watch tower with a view to the central space and barrack

Fence gate to restrict the movement of prisoners to utility area

Central area used for disciplinary gathering.

The central balcony with a complete view of the jail block Introvert planning with structures looking inward to the central space

Wash area

Wash area

Light to illuminate the central space and with speakers to be equally audible to the structures around

Admin block with rooms for officials.

Admin block with a viewing balcony in the center

Fence gate to restrict the movement between the inmate area and the admin area

SECURITY PERIMETER

Outer perimeter wall

Barbed wire fencing on the outer perimeter wall

Inner perimeter wall

The perimeter walls flanked with buttresses on both sides

Trench adjoining the inner perimeter wall

Case study information based on documentaries on TIHAR JAIL

Wicket gate to enter into the prison premise

Holding cell where inmates are first received and the necessary formalities are processed.

Office of the IG of prisons.

A curved table provided for equal easy accessibility to more working space.

Case study information based on documentaries on TIHAR JAIL

Plan of an individual cell

View of the personal open to sky space from inside the cell

• Cells arranged in a linear layout with common area in between with the cells looking inward into this area .

• Common area with green patches in the centre with plants.

• This are used by inmates to perform their exercise , morning walks, interact etc.

Individual cell

Entering through the external gate

Case study information based on documentaries on TIHAR JAIL

Corridor provided to the barrack which-

• Acts like a shading buffer for the barrack

• Inmates walk , sit and interact in this space.

• Movement of prison officials to maintain observation inside the barrack

Inside the barrackLinear layout where inmates sleep resting on two opposite walls.

Windows as well as ventilators provided on top for light and ventilation.

Multiple inmate holding barrack

Case study information based on documentaries on TIHAR JAIL

• Screens provided on three sides creating central chamber for inmates to stand.

• Visitors stand on other side of the screen.

• Access to this chamber is through the fourth face.

Entry to the chamber

Screens on three sides

• Two separate screens for the inmate and the visitor

• This means a buffer created between the two to avoid any exchange of materials.

Case study information based on documentaries on TIHAR JAIL

Gate to enter the block.

Storage tanks with water. Wash /Bathing area next to it

Block wall

Barracks

Inner perimeter wall

Wash area provided in the corners

Outer perimeter wall

Watch towers on the inner perimeter wall but accessed from the space between the inner perimeter wall and the outer perimeter wall.

Security perimeter zones

Case study information based on documentaries on TIHAR JAIL

Open washing area where inmates also bathe..

Inmates in large number doing yoga in the space between the block perimeter wall and inner perimeter wall wall

A room dedicated for vipassana course . Inmates sit on the floor on cushions.

Borewell near the kitchen using which the inmates wash their plates after a meal.

Inmates eat their meal in the corridor.

Area . Enough corridor space for inmates to sit in a line facing each other with space left in the center for circulation

Individual meditation cell.

Case study information based on documentary on YERWADA JAIL

Storage area for storing the raw materials for carpentry.

Carpentry workshop to make wooden table, chairs , shelves etc.

• Rectangular linear layout with circulation space in the middle.

• Openings for ventilation on both the wall faces

Machinery for cutting metal in the same room

Smithy workshop with machinery .

Tailoring workshop. Units arranged on one end with circulation space left on one end.

Footwear workshop

Unlike other workshops, in this inmates sit down and work. No table or chair provided or required.

Tihar Indian jail- Documentary by Gerhard Jören & Pierre Peyrot Doing Time, Doing Vipassana- Documentary by Karuna Films

India : jail : occupational rehabilitation programmes for inmates – AP Archive

Jail movie Lucknow Central movie Criminal justice hotstar series Inside the world’s toughest prisons Netflix series