Differentiation

Because detention houses are small and there are many of them, they can provide the right housing for each individual to fulfil his or her potential. This is what differentiation means: placing individuals within an appropriate context based on their specific needs and circumstances. This can be achieved by tailoring the level of security, not based on the traditional low-medium-high classification, but rather according to an individual’s gradual regain of autonomy. The high-security levels that characterize large prisons are only required for a few individuals and inevitably make the reintegration process much more challenging. Differentiated facilities provide comprehensive and personalized support, through services, activities and programs that prepare individuals for their eventual release into society. Through making use of shared services in the community, it becomes more feasible and cost-effective to tailor the time in detention to the individual’s needs.

Differentiation

Because detention houses are small and there are many of them, they can provide the right housing for each individual to fulfil his or her potential. This is what differentiation means: placing individuals within an appropriate context based on their specific needs and circumstances. This can be achieved by tailoring the level of security, not based on the traditional low-medium-high classification, but rather according to an individual’s gradual regain of autonomy. The high-security levels that characterize large prisons are only required for a few individuals and inevitably make the reintegration process much more challenging. Differentiated facilities provide comprehensive and personalized support, through services, activities and programs that prepare individuals for their eventual release into society. Through making use of shared services in the community, it becomes more feasible and cost-effective to tailor the time in detention to the individual’s needs.

"Shaping the future, a 1000 originals

Small-scale, differentiated and community-integrated facilities can be found in many European countries. There is not one, but a thousand detention houses. As part of the two-year WISH-EU Project, Prison Insider developed an interactive map that visualizes a database of detention facilities from various European regions. Throughout this European-funded project, we identified and visited over 40 good practices that apply one or more of the following principles: small-scale, differentiation and community-integration. Since then, RESCALED has continued to identify and visit practices whose stories can inspire us to drive systemic change. We have further developed the map to include various filters and detailed reports so you can get to know these inspirational practices!

"Shaping the future, a 1000 originals

Small-scale, differentiated and community-integrated facilities can be found in many European countries. There is not one, but a thousand detention houses. As part of the two-year WISH-EU Project, Prison Insider developed an interactive map that visualizes a database of detention facilities from various European regions. Throughout this European-funded project, we identified and visited over 40 good practices that apply one or more of the following principles: small-scale, differentiation and community-integration. Since then, RESCALED has continued to identify and visit practices whose stories can inspire us to drive systemic change. We have further developed the map to include various filters and detailed reports so you can get to know these inspirational practices!