The main problem with every jail in the Philippines is the lack of space for the inmates. According to the statistics released by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, 76. 34 percent of jails in the Philippines are congested. This data clearly shows that there is lack of space for the both detainees and convicted criminals.
Most of holding facilities are way beyond the original design capacity of prisons. This fact denies the inmates the basic right to sleep well. If our jails have more humane conditions in the heart of the holding facilities, major reforms in the criminal justice system could take place that could give prison inmates a chance at rehabilitation and a meaningful life after imprisonment. At present, most jails are poorly maintained and deprived of necessary health care facilities as well as work program facilities. Proper visitation facilities are also not available for the inmates.
These facilities are essential to programs to safely contain the prisoners and detainees. It is well known that in the early years of Philippine prison, it is the place where offenders are tortured and severely punished. In addition to the torment of the prisoners, the place was dirty and almost uninhabitable. In later years, misfits, beggars and vagabonds started to fill up the prison.
In 1949, the Department of Justice issued rules for the treatment of prisoners that aimed to rehabilitate and reform the criminals and not just punish them. (According to “Albis, Madrona, Marino, Respicio” 1977, p. 3) It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things super-human, of all true manifestation of the heads, of the heart of the soul, that the life is recognizable in this expression, that form ever follows function.
Prisons are no different. Providing human activity on multi-disciplinary environment includes architecture and law. From dungeons of medieval castle to cellblocks of modern times, tutelary architecture stands a symbol on how society see fit to discipline and rehabilitate those who go against the law.Modern prison bases their design on the idea of punishment as our predecessors did, such as severity and lack of privacy as well depravation of liberty. This implication of prison, however, leads to the heath of the inmates and as well as their living conditions paying the price.
The architecture of the prisons therefore undervalues the prisoners’ health. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology releases statistics of congested jail facilities on February 2012. The statistical datum shows that out of 414 prisons in Philippines, 316 prisons are congested. These figures show that our prisons are way beyond their capacities. Overcrowding is of course dangerous to everyone’s health. It not only breeds diseases but also breaks down discipline and exacerbates tensions. The current system of the prison is built to penalize and not to rehabilitate.
In this study, design techniques are explored in order to solve the congestion and security concerns of Philippine jail. The thesis explores principles in modular design of the building. The modular design strategy harmonizes the mobility and social activities within the space. With that the architecture and space inevitably affects and enhances the activity within space. The environment not only produces rhythms in the activity and space but also provide users another way to experience the environment. Also the principle of Arsenal of Exclusion and Inclusion and Line of Sight nd Hearing was introduced on the design approach of the study.
The Arsenal of Exclusion and Inclusion is a principle of design that isolates and combine the activity within the space. The principle was used to bring the community within the prison and isolate the visitors and prison guards as well as the inmates when required. It restricts the path where users needed not to be in. Prison Environment This study will be a significant endeavor in promoting good environment in the correctional amenities and motivate the inmates to behave better. A more humane environment creates a more productive environment.
This study investigates inmates’ perceptions, attitudes, viewpoints, and their participation towards a good environment. In this study, design techniques are explored in order to solve the congestion and security concern of the Philippine jail. The thesis also explores techniques in modular design that surrounds the building. The modular design strategy harmonizes the mobility and social activities within the space. With that the architecture and space inevitably affects and enhances the activity within space. The environment not only produces rhythms in the activity and space but also provide users another way to experience the environment.
This study focuses in designing a jail using safe and humane environment. The scope of this study is concentrated on creating a space that effectively detains inmates and preparing inmates to reenter the community or to enter a penal facility. Establishing modular design is the approach towards designing congested space. It is an approach that supports inmates’ space for activities and the sleeping facilities. The design initiates in supporting humane and disciplined inmates. The study also focuses introduction of Line of sight and hearing and arsenal of exclusion and inclusion to the architecture design.
According to the aforementioned Philippine jails are crowding, degrading physical and mental health of prisons, and environmental deteriorating quality, inmates and prison guards alike need an environment to live and work properly toward reformation. The current study was related in a way that the researcher who conducted study induced changes in inmates’ environment. By studing the guideliness for designing jails, the thesis researcher constructed limitation in designing jail design and knowing what facilities should be available for the inmates.
Also the study prison system the researcher have better understanding on how Philippine prison function. Also the study of Inmates Reformation adds additional consideration on designing jails. By giving thought to the reformation system cited by Bureau of Correction, the researcher sought to provide a better facilities to help reform the inmtas. This studys are considered in the design solution for this thesis.
