In the United States, nearly half of released prisoners are re-arrested for the same or similar crimes, with the national recidivism rate sitting at over 40% , one of the highest in the world. Nearly 44% of released prisoners return to jail within the first year of release. That number, however, nearly doubles before the 10-year mark.
Preventing recidivism should be approached as early as possible and these efforts are especially important throughout the juvenile justice system, to help keep young adults out of prison later in their lives.
Many industry experts, and correctional facility managers alike, argue the environment of the facility plays a large role in what goes on in the facility, and outside after release.
Normalizing and humanizing the environment is key, especially for juvenile facilities. Young people who find themselves in juvenile detention centers are still growing and developing, and can be heavily influenced by their surroundings, wither for the positive or negative.
There are a few key aspects, which when utilized, can make a big difference in the atmosphere of any facility. Remember, residents are not the only ones effected by the environment in your facility, staff will also benefit from a more comfortable atmosphere.
Being surrounded by nature-inspired colors reduces stress and is shown to have a powerful, positive effect on staff and residents. This plays an important role in creating a rehabilitative facility as a decrease in tension leads to more positive and productive interactions between residents and staff members.
Consider furnishing your facility with anti-ligature furniture, such as lounge chairs or dining tables in calming colors like green, sand or even light blue.
On a related note, the design and set up of a juvenile detention center can make a large impact on the residents as well as their actions. Not only are larger facilities with many residents harder to supervise and control, but these environments can work against the rehabilitative environment. The constant noise can increase tensions, not only within oneself but between residents and staff members as well.
The ideal solution would be to keep facility sizes manageable and populations small. In some cases, this is not possible. To combat this, providing juvenile residents with a comfortable space they can call their own can make a difference. Adding a shelf or storage locker provides space for residents to store books or other personal items, which promotes a sense of normalization, in what is an abnormal environment. A bed to call their own gives residents space to calm down and reduce their own tensions.
Additionally, exposure to natural light can promote well-being in young people, making them healthier and happier, adding to the overall calming and supportive environment in your facility.
Residents of juvenile facilities are still developing, physically as well as mentally. Accordingly, they may be more likely to act out impulsively, including vandalizing property or attempting to harm themselves or others. Although you may not be able to eradicate this behavior in your facility, you can prevent it.
Anti-ligature furniture, which is most commonly created from a monolithic design eliminates any tie down points, which could be used to cause self-harm or ham to others. Additionally, one-piece furniture virtually eliminates the opportunity to conceal contraband.
Overall, the way a facility is furnished can have a powerful impact on the atmosphere, which can contribute to behavior within the facility. A rehabilative facility can not only benefit residents while they are there, but can also positively impact them after release, helping to break the cycle of recidivism. This is especially important in juvenile detention centers.
Max-Secure has spent decades working closely with industry experts to manufacture juvenile justice furniture that not only excels in challenging environments, but supports a normalized atmosphere.
A full range of resident room furniture, including beds, bunk beds, bookshelves and nightstands, along with dining furniture and games tables, Max-Secure provides anti-ligature furniture for every room of your facility!
