The translation of humanity into prison design: How do the new, standardized prison buildings meet normative demands in Norwegian crime policy?

• In Event: Prison Working Group: Prison design and housing conditions: Implications for detained persons, policymakers, and the community

Abstract

Prison architecture reflects the ideas and values of penal policies and provides insights into punishment philosophies. In Norway, normalization, resettlement, and dynamic security norms have shaped correctional care. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, this paper examines how these norms are translated into newly built prisons called “Model 2015”. These standardized maximum-security prisons, based on a panoptic design, are allegedly the most secure and technologically advanced prisons in Europe. Despite spaces for positive prisoner relationships, the design grapples pervasive systems of control and discipline. “Model 2015” illustrates the paradoxical nature of technooptimistic security discourses and the transformation of carceral institutions through surveillance technologies and ideologies. Architectural boundaries and technological innovations obstruct dynamic security by limiting human contact and impeding staff discretion. The staff’s involvement in resettlement is constrained, while inadequate facilities for prisoner progression and daytime activities further undermine these efforts. The paper discusses the significance of architecture in realizing humane prison conditions. It demonstrates the importance of carefully considering of how to translate humanity into prison design, even in a country known for its exceptionalism and commitment to humane prison practices.

Authors

• Aleksandra Bartoszko, VID Specialized University Oslo

• Berit Johnsen, Kriminalomsorgens høgskole og utdanningssenter KRUS

• Elisabeth Fransson, VID Specialized University

• Hilde Pape, University College of Norwegian Correctional Servica