Sing Sing . . . Attica . . . Rikers . . . It will be rebroadcast from time to time over the next several months. The documentary was done as part of The History Channel's Modern Marvels series focusing on architectural and engineering developments.
Prisons examines the relation of penal philosophy and correctional facility architecture.
They are buildings designed to keep their inhabitants inside and under control. The program starts in antiquity, where sewers and dank dungeons were commandeered to keep the unruly and unwelcome captive. Prison designers and experts examine how these ancient roots show up in the design of much more modern prisons, where many elements go beyond the need for security. We'll tour famous prisons from Alcatraz to the newest, maximum-security facilities built during America's most recent wave of prison construction. And examine the features that may well become staples of the next generation of these facilities.