Plans for a model jail

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CH 48 ' iAfcrch, 1922

PLANS FOR A MODEL JAIL

By R. W. ZIMMERMAN

PRISON ARCHITECT, CHICAGO

A DEPARTMENTAL PLAN
FOR A DETENTION HOME
FOR DELINQUENT WOMEN

By MAXWELL HYDE

ARCHITECT, NEW YORK

PRESENTED AT

THE FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS

of the

AMERICAN PRISON ASSOCIATION

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, 1921

RUSSELL SAGE FOUNDATION
NEW YORK CITY

Price 10 Cents

PLANS FOR A MODEL JAIL
By R. W. ZIMMERMAN

Prison Architect, Chicago

It is embarrassing to be asked to speak on a Model Jail, without
the location of the building being stated. It involves an archi-
tectural subject which is rather broad and somewhat vague, for it
is evident that a model jail for one district administered under the
laws and ordinances of one community may be far from serving
the purposes of some other locality.

A community low in scale of social development, governed
under laws fitted to this stage, would need a jail building quite
different in character from that of a more highly developed peo-
ple, and it follows that in that society toward which we are work-
ing, where the attempt of revenge on and punishment of the law
breaker will be replaced by the persistent aim of his reformation
and education, the functions or administration of the jail would
so change in character that the building or buildings for the pur-
pose could most likely no longer be designated as jails.

There are, however, some general well-established laws and
canons of architecture and good building which should be followed
in the jail proper or cell house of any jail building, no matter
where located or how administered, on which a few words may be
said.

When one considers that only a limited number of those con-
fined in a jail are proved guilty of the crime for which they were
arrested, and that many are held there for very minor offenses,
the planning and architectural treatment of the building becomes
of peculiar interest in the problem it presents.

No fair-minded man will deny for a moment that the innocent
and the one not convicted of a crime should not be subjected to
greater hardships than are absolutely necessary during the time
that he is deprived of his liberty by the state, and it is encouraging
to note that society has advanced to that stage where it is begin-
ning to recognize fully that even the convicted criminal (during
his good behavior) should not be subjected to any hardships other

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than those made necessary by keeping him in a safe place — a place
in which he is under constant surveillance, and cannot escape
from to repeat his aggressions against established laws.

We all agree that the day of the dark underground dungeon has
passed, and that even the lowest criminal is entitled to a full share
of the essentials of life — fresh air and direct light, proper food and
clothing; that nothing must be done to undermine his health, and
that every precaution must be taken to avoid his premature
death, either from causes within the building or effects from with-
out its walls.

The architectural problem of the jail is therefore no different
from most of the other housing problems, except on two radical
points; namely, a jail must be so planned that escape from it
becomes a most difficult if not impossible matter, and it must be
so constructed that it can withstand an attack from without.

But what fearful crimes against good architecture (I use the
term in its full meaning) have been committed under the cry of
" safety first " ! Every demand of sanitation, proper light supply,
efficient ventilation, etc., has been totally ignored again and again
and cast aside for the sake of insuring an "escape-proof" jail.

It would appear that we have been planning our jails to suit the
convenience and comfort of the jailer, and that little or no atten-
tion has been given to other matters of equal or greater impor-
tance. Under the excuse of building securely we have stan-
dardized our jails so that now the prisoner is confined in a cage,
which has insufficient direct light and air, and with such unsani-
tary arrangements throughout that any man who has the well-
being of his horse or cow at heart would hesitate to use for sta-
bling purposes.

I had occasion to see the ruins of the jails built two thousand
years ago in the Roman forum. We have not improved on them. In
some respects they are even better than many of those of today.

A certain new police station jail was recommended as being the
last word in jail architecture. I found it the usual horrible
example. The best cells were some 10 feet away from direct light
and air of the windows, and others back of these without any of
these two essentials. Ah! but the horses' quarters: they came
nearer fulfilling the requirements of a proper cell house. Every
horse had its own individual stall; every horse had its own win-
dow for direct light and air. The stalls were lined with glazed

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sanitary brick; there was fresh straw, bedding, etc.; the air was
sweeter in the stable for the horse than in the house of the unfor-
tunate human being.

In one of our southern jails I found the jailer (whose duty it was
to take care of and watch the cell house) sitting in the adjoining
stable, which was anything but inviting, but he was justified in
preferring its air to that of his place at the cell house doors.

But do not blame the architects too severely in this matter.
They are all, as a rule, conscientious, and it is to their interest
from every point of view to solve a given problem to the best of
their ability. But what happens to them when the building of a
new jail comes up? The architect entrusted with the work will, of
course, peruse the limited and meager architectural literature to
be had on the subject, and he will visit the latest and best build-
ings of this type that he can find. If he is fortunate and escapes
the insidious arguments of the jail equipment salesman, he may
be guided through all the jails he visits by an attendant and get
only the one-sided views of a jailer who will expound by the hour
on the wonderful locking devices and escape-proof qualities of his
jail, but will frown upon and denounce as impracticable any sug-
gestions that may be made to improve the all-important arrange-
ment of cells and other construction. And as the architect does
not, as a rule, dare to go contrary to those who ought to know,
and try what those in authority might call an experiment, he,
wisely or not, but at least naturally, plans his new building on the
lines of those recommended as being the best of their kind.

An organization such as assembled here today can do much to
bring about a better state of affairs by giving its moral support
and insisting that the architect design a jail that will come nearer
to fulfilling the requirements. There is no special difficulty in
doing so. It is simply a question of insisting that all laws of good
building be as rigidly observed in the building of a jail as in the
planning of an apartment building, and that while it is all impor-
tant that the cell house be escape-proof, this result need not be
obtained at the expense of many other equally important con-
siderations.

When planning a new jail, therefore, you will then insist that
the expert or architect be consulted at the very beginning and
supported until the end, if the jail is to be a model one.

A great deal depends upon the site, and no site should be chosen

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without the aid of the experienced architect, as a model jail could
not be planned on an improper site. The building must be so
located that a full sun exposure is possible for the cell house. The
importance of this point is self-evident. There is no better, or at
any rate no cheaper, disinfectant than the direct rays of the sun,
be it to dislodge or destroy the microbe in a man's body or soul.
The site should be such as to insure unquestionable drainage, a
good water supply, and have the benefit of being in the line of
cleaning, prevailing air currents. In very large cities an ideal site
is oftentimes difficult to obtain, but even under these conditions
the very best results may be had if conditions are reversed and the
cell house, instead of being on the ground floor, is placed on the
roof of the building, as carried out so successfully in the Seattle
building. The ideal site should, further, be of sufficient area to
allow for ample yard room and also for future additions to the
building; it should be located as close as possible to the district it
is to serve, in as inconspicuous a position as possible, and so as to
make transportation to and from it the least objectionable and ex-
pensive to the state and the least degrading to those under arrest.

The building of a model jail must be similar to the specifications
of modern hospital construction, the conditions of its use being
much the same. In other words, besides the unusually great win-
dow surface (duly guarded as a matter of course), assuring un-
limited light and air, the walls, ceilings, and floor surfaces must be
of a hard, non-absorbing character, with all angles rounded and
as little woodwork as possible (and that as plain and simple as it
can be devised), to avoid breeding surface for bacteria or vermin.

The detail specifications for this construction would depend on
the amount of building funds available for the purpose, but the
cost of a simple type of hospital construction would not be much,
if any, more than the ordinary jail cost. But it is evident that
even if the first cost is greater, this extra cost will be readily
balanced by the lessened cost of maintenance and administration
of a building constructed of material that does not require con-
stant repair and replacing. It must also be borne in mind that
every jail prisoner regains his liberty sooner or later, and carries
with him, to cast abroad, any infectious disease a seed of which
was lurking in the dark, unclean cell house. A model jail, even if
of high first cost, is a good business proposition. It means fewer
public hospitals and smaller state penitentiaries.

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That this construction must be entirely fireproof goes without
saying.

The cell proper must be a fully enclosed room and not an open
cage. This is an all-important consideration. The greater part
of all the objectionable features of the present jail cell house is due
to this cage construction. That the foulness, moral and physical,
of one degenerate in a cell house can permeate — without the least
chance of control — through the entire cell house is an unpardon-
able outrage when one considers that it can so readily be avoided
by enclosing the barred doors with wired glass, and without inter-
fering with their escape-proof qualities and the full view into the
cell. What a shame it is that in almost every jail of today we
force the unfortunate, and possibly guiltless occupants to breathe
the vitiated air that flows in through the open bars of the adjoin-
ing cages; and the jail of v today is .indeed the primary school of
crime, when one considers that through this primitive cage
scheme the first offender is in direct contact for contamina-
tion of his moral well-being, by eye and ear, with the habitual
criminal.

How simply all this is overcome if the cells, fully enclosed on all
sides, are placed along the outside walls of the cell house and fully
lighted and ventilated by individual windows.

Most turnkeys will tell you that this arrangement is out of the
question — that a jail so planned is no longer escape-proof. This
is not so. In all Europe there is not a jail or penitentiary that I
know of that does not have the cells on the outside walls ; and the
European criminologists fail to understand why the progressive
American persists in planning his building on these antiquated
lines, when he is fully aware that the strength of light is in direct
proportion to the square of distance. In other words, a cell 5 feet
away from the window gets only one twenty-fifth the amount of
light of a direct window. If the jailer claims that supervision of
the cell is less readily obtained in the proper plan, a careful exami-
nation by the unprejudiced will show the opposite to be the case.
The jailer, of course, would feel justified in demanding that these
windows facing the outside wall be of a design making it impossi-
ble for the occupant to communicate with those outside of the
walls, and this can be done in more than one way if the con-
ditions of the site make it necessary.

The model jail is then to have its cells fully enclosed on all

7

sides ; each one is to have an outside window and be constructed
according to hospital specification, for the cell changes its tenants
very frequently and must be of such character that its surfaces
will not retain nor transmit any health-destroying or death-giving
bacteria. This model cell should be arranged to house only one
occupant at a time. The size of the cell is of course dependent on
its different uses and purposes, be it for the purpose of very tem-
porary confinement without activity, or that of extended commit-
ment with workshop possibilities. For minimum sizes it would be
well to bear in mind hospital regulations and allow about 1,000
cubic feet of air space, and of such proportion as to permit free
movement, namely, proper "elbow room."

The artificial ventilation becomes of secondary importance in a
jail in which the cells are individual rooms with outside window,
as any ordinary steam or hot-water system of heating can then
take the place of the more costly forced hot-air systems.

It is doubtful that any suggestion can be made to better the
escape-proof qualities of the cell and cell house. American in-
genuity has developed these features so that they are near per-
fection, although it is to be hoped that the future will bring about
improvements making these fixtures and appliances still more
sanitary than even the best of them are at present.

These model cells are so placed that a full view into every part
of them is possible from one point, without the observer being
visible to the prisoner; and in this ideal jail the cells at the same
time are so arranged that the occupant of one cell cannot see or
hear the occupant of any other cell in the cell house. This can be
done in different ways. A man falsely imprisoned can, under
these conditions, retain a vestige of his self-respect when released,
and others will not sink lower by debasing and contaminating in-
fluence of hardened cell mates. It is, of course, desirable to so
plan and arrange the cells that they can be formed into groups or
departments for convenient separation and classification of dif-
ferent types of prisoners.

There has been so pronounced an advancement of late years in
the special plumbing fixtures for buildings of this character that
there is no longer any excuse — either on account of excessive cost
or lack of supply — not to fit these model cells with modern sani-
tary appliances in the way of toilets and wash bowls with hot and
cold water. For the same reason there is no longer an excuse for

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the lack of arrangement of a full quota of shower and bath tubs,
wash tubs, disinfecting appliances, and rooms in connection with
our model cell house.

This model jail should be planned to have an outdoor exercise
yard, or courts so arranged as to be serviceable during all weather
conditions, so that classification would be made possible during
recreation hours; and this jail would have connected to it simple
shop rooms in which plain work can be given to those serving a
sentence or those inclined to activity.

It goes without saying that if the jail must, through unavoid-
able circumstances, house both sexes and juveniles, these depart-
ments would be entirely distinct and separate — so arranged and so
placed that these different groups cannot possibly come within
eyesight or ear-shot of one another from the time of entering td
the time of exit.

Under no circumstances should the plans of this model jail be
made without, of course, being subjected to thorough scrutiny by
an expert trained jailer is to the general arrangement of the build-
ing; but it is of equal importance that full consideration be
given to the suggestions to be made by the physiologist, the
physician, and nurse as to the arrangement and fittings of receiv-
ing rooms, hospital ward, kitchen, baths, laundry, and disinfect- '
ing room in connection with the cell house.

The exterior architecture of a model jail is of secondary impor-
tance compared to its interior arrangement and construction ; and
if ample funds are not available, it should be simple and straight-
forward in its design, avoiding if possible that excessively aggres-
sive prison style which offends the sensibilities of those without its
walls. A master might, instead, express in this architecture,
through its very simplicity, the dignity, power, and humane
justice of the state. For architecture and building, good or bad,
is, as we all know, more than stone and brick piled together, and
always tells a true story to those who can read its language. The
architect, consciously or unconsciously, expresses in his work the
state of the mental and moral development of the society he
serves, and let it be our aim to show future generations, through
the planning, construction, and architecture of the model jail of
tomorrow, that some of us, at any rate, have evolved somewhat
higher ideals than one might be led to believe when contemplating
the jail architecture of today.

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A DEPARTMENTAL PLAN FOR A DETENTION
HOME FOR DELINQUENT WOMEN

r

By MAXWELL HYDE

Architect, New York

In order that the work done in a building of this kind shall be
properly administered and the essential segregation, privacy, and
control achieved, consideration must be given to those elements
which are in the nature of special requirements and which make
such a structure distinct from even those of a similar nature.

In general, the attitude of approach should be to consider the
structure more as a house of detention or hospital than as a
prison. Scant consideration seems to have been given up to the
present time to the solution of the architectural problem of a
building for the detention of women to serve the needs of a large
city — at least as measured by structures erected to date — which
could be used as model or ideal types.

The detention homes for children designed for small com-
munities— often merely remodeled private houses — have little in
common with the building under consideration from the view-
point of architectural "part 1." These children's detention
houses, if designed for this specific purpose, are often located on
property somewhat removed from the heart of the city, usu-
ally separate from the court and on land not particularly re-
stricted as to size; where, by means of a low building properly
located on the site, and by use of surrounding walls or fences,
privacy and safety are easily achieved. But the building under
consideration, combining court rooms and detention building, is
likely to be on a comparatively small plot in a closely built-up
part of the city, bringing up questions which call for individual
solution.

A detention house such as this would in all probability be a
many-storied structure, the court room with its dependencies and

12

the receiving department in the lower part of the building, with
as many typical floors devoted to rooms as may be necessary.

Inasmuch as privacy with security and prevention of outside
interference or communication with a maximum of ventilation
and outlook for the occupants are vital considerations, the ideal
site would be a corner plot opposite a public square, park, or very
wide boulevard, the flanking walls of adjacent buildings having
few, if any, windows. On such a site it is evident that a plan can
be developed either with or without exterior courts in which all
rooms on the streets would have outside light and safety from out-
side communication. The dining room, kitchen, toilet rooms,
locker rooms, etc., could be well located at the rear of building,
leaving the entire street fronts for the rooms. If the lot is an in-
side one, about 100 feet wide and 100 feet deep, one large or two
smaller exterior street courts may be used. The two smaller
courts with a resultant larger perimeter of exterior walls will per-
mit of a greater number of exterior rooms than the more conven-
tional plan with one court.

The general character of the design of the exterior as well as
the details of court room, waiting room, entrance, and main stair
hall should, in my judgment, be simple and engaging rather than
monumental, severe, and overimportant.

Inasmuch as the functions of the court with its dependencies
and the detention house proper are diverse, they should be kept
architecturally separate and this should be expressed in the
design of the exterior.

It seems to be the consensus of opinion of judges and others
familiar with this work that the court room should not be on the
ground or entrance floor, but rather on the more important and
quieter second floor, located where there will be less tendency for
the idle and the curiosity seeker to invade the waiting and court
rooms. A generous easy run of stairs should connect entrance
hall and court room floor, as well as an elevator for the judge and
public.

On the entrance floor there should be a generous lobby with ad-
jacent offices and information bureau so located as to control
passage of visitors through the building. The receiving section
should have separate entrance so that automobiles may unload
passengers and they may be taken to the court or to the receiving
rooms in privacy. It should, therefore, be convenient to the

13

elevators which serve this part of the structure and should com-
prise receiving office, waiting room, a number of interview rooms
in which the girl may receive her lawyer or a visitor; and, in close
connection therewith, the receiving baths and showers. As there
will be dining rooms on every floor the general kitchen can be
either on this floor or the top floor, connected in each case to the
serving pantries by dumb-waiters. Janitor's quarters and gen-
erous space for the storage of records can be located here, as well
as offices for agencies or societies connected with the work of the
court.

The court room floor should be of generous height, the court
room being located in that part of the building which is likely to
be most quiet. Consideration should be given to so establishing
the relation of court room and waiting room that a perfect control
can be exercised over people entering court room from waiting
room or hall.

The elevator connecting the first floor and the court room floor
should be distinct from those serving the detention house part of
the structure so as to minimize any communication between the
public and the detention portion. Natural ventilation should be
sought for the waiting room and court rooms.

Adjacent to the court room should be the judge's room, large
enough for small conferences, judge's toilet and shower, etc., and
also the complaint room and record room and office for district
attorney and public defender.

The group of rooms relating to physical examination, the rooms
for physician, psychiatrist, finger printing, records, and waiting
rooms should be located so as to be convenient to the court and at
the same time be near the main elevators. Here also should be the
office of the chief probation officer, with, separate rooms for the
necessary assistants, an office for stenographer, and waiting rooms
and toilet, all located for convenience in communication between
court room and complaint room.

Segregation by means of a large number of groups of different
size, and control of communication are of the very essence of a
practical workable plan. General segregation is achieved first by
the natural division into floors. The use of exterior courts will
divide the plan into a number of areas which naturally create a
subdivision of the floor into smaller units, and by means of doors
carefully located at various points in the halls additional sub-

14

division can be made and at the same time communication con-
trolled.

There may be one or more dining rooms on each floor, depend-
ing on the number of beds on the floor. If more than ten rooms,
there should be two dining rooms. There should be separate
serving pantry connected with the kitchen by electric dumb-
waiters, and the dining room should be designed so as to serve
in off hours as recreation or sitting room.

Control of the various groups is simplified if there is more than
one toilet and bathroom.

Locker rooms may be on every floor, or else general locker room
provided in basement, the former being the more desirable.

The bedrooms should be not less than 6>£ feet in width, to per-
mit of cot being moved parallel to window in hot weather.

One floor unit complete should be devoted to "police" cases;
namely, where the arrested women may be kept between arrest
and trial and where it is important that segregation shall be com-
plete from those detained indefinitely or those held for future
disposition. These rooms should all have toilet and washing
facilities. A number of rooms on each floor for use of special cases
where it is better for the occupant to be constantly confined to
her room should be provided, with toilet and washing facilities.

Each floor should have a sitting room for the matron or atten-
dant.

The kitchen, as before stated, may be on the basement or first
floor, or at the top of the building. If placed in the basement the
handling of supplies is facilitated ; if on the top floor the kitchen
is likely to be better ventilated and more attractive. The chief
argument for placing the kitchen in the lower part of the building
is that the upper portion is more valuable for such parts of the
building requiring privacy and isolation.

The upper story of the building may well be devoted to hospital
with small isolation ward, laundry for use of those detained in the
building, matron's dining room, staff dining room, superin-
tendent's quarters, class-room, physician's and assistant superin-
tendent's rooms, and if possible solarium or open-air recreation
room.

Conscientious study and skilful design of the exterior should
result in a building which would in no way resemble the court
house or jail building with which we are all familiar. The windows

15

being high above the street and as far as possible facing con-
trolled courts may be of ordinary size, ornamental yet strong
grilles preventing a possible accident. If any windows can be
viewed from adjoining building, they should be provided with ob-
scure glass screens set in adjustable frames, which can be set at
such an angle as to prevent signalling or being signalled to, at the
same time not preventing the window from being opened.

As regards details of interior finish of such a building, the most
substantial material the market affords should be used, as wear
and tear on such a building is very heavy; with sanitary trim
and floors, and with rounded corners such as are used in standard
hospital construction. Cheerfulness of interior can be achieved
by well-studied color scheme and simple surface decoration.

In closing this brief description of a possible structure I should
like to urge that it is of the greatest value to the architect that as
large a body of information as possible be created by those doing
work in this field — judges, superintendents, probation officers,
etc., of their special needs and requirements and their desires,
based on practical experience; formulating these requirements
just as if they were about to have a building erected for their own
community.

If those who have in view the erection of houses of detention for
women and girls, or those who are interested in the development
of such houses, will record their ideas and observations, a valuable
fund of information will gradually accumulate. Suggestions along
this line are invited by Dr. H. H. Hart, chairman of this commit-
tee, 130 East 22d Street, New York City.

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