There was also the need for a sink where officers could scrub their hands to prevent risk of infection and spread of lice after frisking and searching people during the booking process. These small examples were easy to plan for in the design stages, but would have been nearly impossible to correct after construction. As an architect, several important things were learned while working as an officer. Among these enlightenments was that technology doesn't supply the security, people do. Unsupervised high tech security windows can be compromised quickly with jeweler's wire.
Real security is in the people who are trained, have common sense, and are committed to excellence.
Architecture can aid human performance, but not substitute for it. If a jurisdiction is planning a new correctional facility, it is important to have the architect make the commitment to know the local correctional practices and procedures and interact with the staff for their input. This knowledge will aid the architect and design professionals to design a facility that will function as intended and improve the work performance of the staff, as well as improve the safety and security of the entire institution.