Nature and Wellbeing in Prison: The Case for Biophilic Design in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

ICPA 2022 Annual Conference Presentation by Bolatito Akinrolabu (ICPA2022-PID007)

Author

Bolatito Akinrolabu

PhD Research Student, De Montford University, United Kingdom

Bolatito (Bola) Akinrolabu is a Sustainability Researcher, Analyser and Specialist, applying complex theories to criminal justice settings in the wider Criminal Justice Sector. For his Master dissertation, Bola initiated and completed a research project on Sustainability in Prisons, which though focused mainly on UK prisons, for comparative study, the research involved organisations like the Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) that assisted with access to US prisons. The research studied, through a triple-bottom line perspective, green and sustainability initiatives in prisons and examined their impact on social value, social justice and influence on leading offenders to their moment of change. That research was the prelude to Bola’s current study.
In his current research role, Bola is working towards establishing a correlative process between green spaces and health and wellbeing in prisons. He intends to achieve this by investigating and outlining how nature contact directly results in improved behaviour, less aggression and violence, which are indications of better mental health and wellbeing. The study will conclude by proposing innovative methods of nature contact, like using Biophilic Designs in future carceral designs and adopting Biomimicry for modification of existing carceral spaces.
Bola conducts his research at the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom. The study is supervised by seasoned experts at the university, who have conducted extensive work in prisons and the community, relating to the built environment, health and wellbeing.

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