AIANY Criminal Justice Facilities Resources

While architecture and the work of architects are not frequently identified as central to this system, we know that buildings are integral to the perpetuation of the carceral state, and that architects have a role in not just how but whether those buildings are built. We acknowledge that, in the past, many architects of good will have sought to mitigate the harm these buildings cause by improving their design. However, it has become increasingly obvious that the carceral system’s primary effects are not beneficial, and that directly contributing to its design, construction, and expansion perpetuates harm.

We also strongly believe that architects have a special opportunity and responsibility to lead on this issue. As stakeholders across society develop tactics and frameworks for meaningful reform, the imagination and work of architects will be a vital part of bringing a new system into being. By engaging with these issues now and taking a clear stand, architects can position themselves to be at the forefront of long overdue changes to our current system.