Browsing by Author "Thordson, Elizabeth"

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    Designing for Humanity
    (North Dakota State University, 2018) Thordson, Elizabeth
    This thesis aims to explore the idea that a healthy prison design will in turn create a healthy atmosphere. I will work to design a prison that will aid in the inmates’ transition back into society. By designing a structure that provides views to nature, access to natural sunlight, and room to move semi freely, I believe inmates will be healthier and happier. Currently the United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world and over half of the people incarcerated will end up back in prison within 5 years of their release. The oppressive nature of prisons create an unhealthy, aggressive attitude, which is reflected in riots, outbursts, and threats. The main goal of all prisons should be to help inmates re-enter society successfully. However, most prisons in the United States run on the idea of retributive justice instead of reformative justice. Retributive justice is defined by Wikipedia as “a theory of justice which holds that the best response to a crime is a suitable punishment, inflicted for its own sake. The only goal in retributive justice is punishment.” This idea is extremely damaging, not only to the inmates themselves but to society as a whole. I cannot change the way inmates are being treated but I can change the way the architecture treats them.
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    Designing for Humanity: How Can the Architecture of Correctional Centers Improve the Lives of Inmates?
    (North Dakota State University, 2017) Thordson, Elizabeth
    The purpose of this research is to look at the architectural characteristics of successful correctional centers and deduce what specific aspects make them so successful. America is known world-wide for its correctional system and the harsh punishments assigned to those who come in contact with it. Many citizens of the United States believe that harsh punishment is a good thing, they believe that with harsher punishment comes reform. Select individuals believe the opposite is true; they believe that harsh punishment harms individuals and in turn increases the percent of recidivism. Research done by the National Institute of Justice supports this belief and shows that long prison sentences do very little to prevent future crime.