Tool 5: Places of Deprivation of Liberty and Gender Box 9: Common mistakes in prison management  Using unnecessary security measures compared to the actual risk posed by prisoners, thereby reducing prisoners’ quality of life.  Mixing too many categories of prisoners within one prison. As a result, prison staff will find it challenging to achieve complete separation.  Locating prisons in remote/unsuitable areas. Prisoners are often separated from their families and potential community resources that can assist in their rehabilitation and resettlement.  Lack of hygiene facilities and drinking water in cells.  Not incorporating facilities for vulnerable prisoners and those with special needs, such as mothers with babies and prisoners with disabilities.  Making non-contact visits the default visiting arrangement, and preventing prisoners from having physical contact with their families.  Not having sufficient infrastructure to support the rehabilitation of prisoners Female prisoners are often placed in institutions that were built for male prisoners, or held in annexed parts of male establishments. Taking into consideration the differences in women’s pathways, needs and responsibilities highlighted throughout this Tool, specific choices should be made when planning and constructing places of deprivation of liberty for women and girls. Key points to consider include the following.5 Appropriate logistics* Ê Locate in close proximity to community service providers so that positive linkages with family and formal support systems can be initiated or maintained during incarceration, with continuity upon release. Ê The facility design should provide opportunities for fostering positive relationships that support emotional healing and positive self-esteem, which is important for all, but critical for prisoners with trauma histories. Ê Localized small housing units are advisable, but any larger institutions should be configured to provide a more intimate scale. This can be achieved by developing smaller housing-unit “clusters” within the building or a campus setting with housingunit cottages that operate on a smaller scale.6 See Mandela Rules, Rules 28 and 29. Non-threatening intake and admission Initial admission into a facility is a particularly stressful time for those deprived of their liberty, and can be felt even more intensely by women and men who have experienced trauma or ill treatment at the hands of authorities. A specific aim to reduce anxiety and ensure dignity should be incorporated when designing spaces that receive new admissions. Examples of good practice include the following. Ê Use open seated waiting areas, rather than holding cells. Ê Ensure interview rooms maintain privacy, to facilitate an environment where the new detainee or prisoner will be more likely to disclose important but sensitive information. Ê Search areas should balance security necessities with visual privacy. Ê Showers and changing areas must be out of direct view of other detainees and shielded in a manner that provides privacy without compromising necessary supervision. A partial screen that reveals head and feet can accomplish this when positioned correctly. * For in-depth specific guidance on prison infrastructure, including details on mother-and-baby units, see UNOPS (2016) Technical Guidance for Prison Planning, Copenhagen: United Nations. 33