Prison Environments for Indigenous Prisoners: International Comparisons of Indigenous Prisons in Australia, Greenland, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand and the US

• In Event: Space and Location Considerations in Prisons and Jails

Abstract

The high incarceration rate of people from Indigenous cultures is a world-wide phenomenon. Disproportionately high numbers of Indigenous people are confined in prisons as a legacy of forced colorization. There is a capacity for the design of prison facilities to have an impact on the prisoners’ experiences and outcomes. This paper will examine some trends and recent projects in the design of prison facilities for Indigenous prisoners in the US, Canada, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat). It reflects on the important considerations and summarizes eight key considerations for the design of carceral environments for Indigenous peoples.

Author

• Elizabeth Grant, The University of Adelaide