Correctional facilities strive to provide comfortable environments that are safe, secure, and supportive of positive behaviors. Because occupants can experience a broad range of psychological concerns, there are unique design and safety challenges to take into consideration. A major factor for keeping individuals safe is to design spaces that reduce ligature risks in correctional environments.
Assess Physical Environment
Survey the physical environment to identify any fixtures or objects that may pose potential ligature risks. This is especially vital for spaces that are less frequently supervised, such as individual or shared sleeping quarters. Some prime examples of features to evaluate are mattresses, linens, shower curtains/rails, toilets, doors, locks, light fixtures, and electrical switches. Remove fixtures that could serve as anchor points for hanging or strangulation as well as any objects or materials with looping potential.
Install Ligature-Resistant Furniture
Furniture that can be broken into multiple pieces or components has a higher chance of putting occupants at risk of danger compared to one-piece, rotationally molded, polyethylene furnishings. Highly durable, one-piece furniture such as Cortech USA’s molded plastic beds, tables, chairs, and desks have smooth, rounded edges and will not break or allow for lethal weapon fabrication. Install by simply bolting the furniture to the floor and/or wall with tamper-proof hardware.
Inspect Regularly
The last effective way to reduce ligature risks in correctional environments is to inspect each room regularly. Regular inspections will help prevent dangerous situations and ensure that occupants and staff are safe within the facility.
