Research from multiple disciplines demonstrates that the environments in which human beings live and work can have a significant impact on overall health. For incarcerated individuals this is especially important as these individuals are unable to leave their environments. Most prisons in the United States were designed and built with a punitive mindset. They typically consist of hard surfaces, uncomfortable furniture, have few windows, and are devoid of light and color. These environments are often loud, harsh, and cut off from natural stimulation which can lead to higher stress levels, exacerbated symptoms of post-traumatic stress, compromised cognitive functioning and overall health. If our primary goal is to prepare individuals for successful lives post-release, then it is critical that prison environments are conducive to learning, overall health, and safety.

 

Management and Training Corporation in the United States is implementing a new and innovative initiative: Health of Environment (HOE). The purpose of the initiative is to focus on enhancing the living environments of incarcerated citizens. Though the project is still nascent, initial feedback from inmates exceeds expectations. Rather than leave with compromised health and more significant emotional issues, we want them to leave in a positive, motivated state of mind. Therefore, the HOE initiative focuses on the physical environment of a facility to find ways in which that environment can be improved for the health of those who live and work in it. Despite some challenges, the HOE initiative shows great promise as a way to vastly improve inmate outcomes.