People Fixing the World The jails where they do things differently
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Oct 29, 2024 In this engaging discussion, reporter Ben Wyatt shares insights from his investigation into the 'Little Scandinavia' initiative in Philadelphia. He explains how the prison's humane model, reminiscent of Scandinavian practices, promotes rehabilitation by allowing inmates to order groceries and cook meals. Wyatt also highlights a unique recycling project in Panama, where inmates engage in waste management, gaining skills for their reintegration. These innovative approaches challenge traditional incarceration methods and aim to transform lives behind bars.
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Trust Based Wing Cuts Violence
- Little Scandinavia replaces punishment-first design with trust, single cells, jobs, pets and shared cooking to create a calmer culture inside a US prison wing.
- After two years it recorded one prisoner-on-prisoner incident and zero staff assaults, versus weekly fights in the general population.
Design Prisons To Support Rehabilitation
- Rethink incarceration design to balance punishment with humane conditions that support rehabilitation and staff safety.
- Design choices like private cells, meaningful work and respectful language (residents/mentors) create a foundation for behaviour change.
Higher Costs Framed As Investment
- Human-centred amenities raise per-inmate annual cost from $60k to $70k and required a $400k wing refit, but project leaders argue long-term savings from reduced recidivism may offset it.
- The model accepts higher upfront and operating costs as an investment in rehabilitation rather than short-term punishment.