Rural Jail Initiative
Rethinking Rural Jail Design Aligning outdated facilities with today’s operational realities
A RC H I T EC T U R E | I N T E R I O R D E S I G N | U R BA N D E S I G N & L A N D S C A P E A RC H I T EC T U R E E N G I N E E R I N G | CO N S T R U C T I O N A D M I N I S T R AT I O N | B R A N D E D E N V I RO N M E N T S | S U S TA I N A B L E D E S I G N
RETHINKING THE RURAL JAIL AS AN OPERATIONAL SYSTEM In many rural counties, the jail continues to operate within a facility that was designed for a different time. While policies, staffing models, and inmate needs have evolved, the physical layout of the building often has not. This creates a gap between how the facility was designed to function and how it is actually used today.
The Mismatch Older jail layouts were typically based on indirect supervision and linear housing. These configurations rely on: • Frequent movement of staff and inmates • Limited visibility into housing areas • Manual processes to manage doors, movement, and control With fewer staff on shift, these layouts place more responsibility on each deputy and make routine operations harder to manage. • Larger areas must be supervised without clear lines of sight • Housing units may not support effective classification • Simple tasks require more time and coordination than they should
What Drives Performance Three factors tend to define how well a facility operates: • Visibility - Staff can see and understand what is happening within housing areas without relying on constant movement • Classification - Individuals can be separated in a way that supports safety, behavior management, and operational control • Supervision – Staff can manage housing areas in a consistent and efficient way based on the layout When these elements are not aligned, staffing becomes more difficult and risk increases.
A Shift in Thinking Rather than relying on indirect supervision and constant movement, the focus shifts to direct observation and simplified supervision. Podular layouts can: • Provide clear lines of sight into housing areas • Support smaller, more manageable groups • Allow staff to supervise from a central position The goal is not a specific design type but an alignment between the building and how staff need to operate.
LOOKING AHEAD If the underlying model of the facility needs to change, the next question becomes more practical. How do you actually plan, design, and deliver that change in a way that is manageable for the county? Understanding how different approaches address this challenge is the next step in the conversation. Scan to learn more:
Se e mo re of our wo r k
B KV G ROUP RURAL JA IL INITIATIV E - LE A DE RSHIP TE A M
KYLE YARDLEY
PAUL MICHELL
DANIEL GILLEN
Justice Practice Leader, Partner Chicago, IL
Government Practice Leader, Partner Minneapolis, MN
Manager of Design, Associate Partner Chicago, IL
MICHAEL MALONEY
BRIAN DOVE
BRIAN REISING
Project Manager Chicago, IL
Project Manager Chicago, IL
Project Manager Chicago, IL
B K V G RO UP RURAL JAI L I NI TIATIV E - REGIONA L LE A DE RSHIP CONTACTS KYLE YARDLEY Justice Practice Leader, Partner
PHIL CALLISON Government Practice Leader, Partner
PAUL MICHELL Government Practice Leader, Partner
MARK MANETTI Government Practice Leader, Partner
C H I C AG O
DALLAS
MINNE APOL IS
WASH I N GTO N , DC
209 South LaSalle Street The Rookery, Suite 920 Chicago, IL 60604
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P 312.279.0470
P 469.405.1196
P 612.339.3752
P 202.595.3173
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