Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
Int J Prison Health (2024). 2024 Aug 27;20(3):360-374. doi: 10.1108/IJOPH-11-2022-0071.
Around the world, prison complexes have always been fundamentally taxing environments. The strained atmosphere within these prisons often contributes to the deterioration of mental health, mostly those who may already be psychologically vulnerable. This paper aims to understand whether there exists a relationship between the built environment of prisons, particularly the central prisons of India and its effects on the mental health of inmates.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: By means of literature reviews, the study parameters were found to be connectivity to nature, lighting, acoustics, colour, air quality and thermal comfort. The data collected through interviews and email correspondences with identified experts were analysed thematically using a deductive approach to derive a set of practical recommendations, which could be implemented in Indian prisons.
The built environment of prisons impacts the prison population by further contributing to depressive symptoms. The effects of the built space persist regardless of social factors. A well-designed environment is healthy for its occupants and would yield positive changes. However, it is not the sole contributor to depression; social interactions, prison management, societal acceptance and meaningful activities are equally relevant factors. The sole focus of this paper is the relationship between the built environment and the mental health of inmates.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: There is a paucity of research into the intersection between prison architecture and the mental health of inmates in the Indian subcontinent. This paper that addresses the gap may have significant consequences on how criminal reform is perceived, and also encourage further research in this field.
在全球范围内，监狱一直是充满挑战的环境。这些监狱内紧张的氛围往往会导致心理健康恶化，尤其是那些原本心理脆弱的人。本文旨在探讨印度中央监狱的建筑环境与囚犯心理健康之间是否存在关系。
设计/方法/方法：通过文献回顾，确定了研究参数为与自然的连通性、采光、声学、颜色、空气质量和热舒适度。通过与已确定的专家进行访谈和电子邮件通信收集的数据，采用演绎法进行了主题分析，得出了一套可在印度监狱实施的实用建议。
监狱的建筑环境通过进一步加剧抑郁症状对囚犯群体产生影响。无论社会因素如何，建筑空间的影响都持续存在。一个设计良好的环境对其居住者是有益的，并会产生积极的变化。然而，它并不是导致抑郁的唯一因素；社会互动、监狱管理、社会接受度和有意义的活动同样是相关因素。本文的重点是建筑环境与囚犯心理健康之间的关系。
原创性/价值：在印度次大陆，监狱建筑与囚犯心理健康之间的交叉研究相对较少。本文填补了这一空白，可能会对人们如何看待刑事改革产生重大影响，并鼓励该领域的进一步研究。
