Some of the most striking accounts of the inventive power of imagination come from former prisoners who have spent time in solitary confinement. In these testimonies, they relate how their imaginative capacity enabled them to keep their sanity, even in the most arduous circumstances. Somehow they managed to find a way to keep a very basic sense of social and cultural relations intact, by picturing themselves in a richer world than the one afforded by the concrete walls of the cell block. There is the astonishing story of the experience of the brothers Midhat, Bayazid, and Ali Bourequat who spent 18 years in a Moroccan prison. Here they were able to muster the power of imagination in a most dramatic way. The only way to survive their ordeal, according to their own testimonies (Hiddema B: De hel van Marokko: “We hebben Hassan beloofd te zwijgen”. De Groene, 7. https://www.groene.nl/artikel/de-hel-van-marokko-we-hebben-hassan-beloofd-te-zwijgen, 1994), was by imagining they were somewhere else. In their own 2-by-3-meter cells, the prisoners forgot about the thick walls locking them in and celebrated their birthdays, weddings, even births, and whatnot. Their minds were inexhaustible in creating diversions. One of them was by taking each other for walks in Paris. Gradually all the other inmates, sitting in their other dim-lighted prison cells, “walked” along with them. Thus they shut out reality completely: their world was what they invented. That was their salvation (This account is based on (Hiddema B: De hel van Marokko: “We hebben Hassan beloofd te zwijgen”. De Groene, 7. https://www.groene.nl/artikel/de-hel-van-marokko-we-hebben-hassan-beloofd-te-zwijgen, 1994, February 16)). It is this radical human ability to imagine worlds wholly other to the one that one is present in, which is foregrounded in the artful workshop that is the theme of this chapter.
Purpose – This paper aims to explore the influence of Facility management (FM) on detainee behaviour and responsiveness. The expected outcome of this research is that FM can contribute to the re-socialization by actively using facility design and detainee activities to positively influence their social behaviour.Design / methodology / approach – This current explorative study has been qualitative in nature, including desk research, literature study in relation to healing environment, walk through, observations and interviews with prison managers and facility staff. For this study, a comparison has been made between two correctional institutions. One correctional institution is situated in a rural setting with a building design dating from the early 20th century. The second building is located in an urban area and dates back to the 1990s.Findings - This study shows that there is little to no sources found which describes how FM can actually contribute and add value to rehabilitation of detainees. From the literature study, the observations and exploratory interviews, the conclusion is that FM influences the behaviour of people. Further research could contribute to this emerging area in FM.Practical implications – At this moment the Custodial Institution - Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen (DJI) - is developing a master plan which will lead to a reassessment of the housing policy within DJI. Initially, DJI will have to formulate a new definition of the minimum level of humane detention in relation to FM.Originality / value – This study may support DJI in the upcoming organizational change. It will provide DJI with the opportunity to perform additional research in order to deliver to society evidence on the influence and impact of FM on detainees.
