University of Virginia Library

Drab Home

Although I can understand
and empathize with those who
recently voiced their distress
over the plans to build a prison
in the Green Springs area, I
find it distressing that no one
voices concern over the actual
prison itself. What of the
human beings who must live in
the "drab, windowless" prison?
If Virginia is to build a
maximum security prison, why
not make it a model and
example of the more
progressive humane approaches
to prison structures and
management exemplified by
recent prison experiments in
the Scandinavian countries,
New Jersey, and California
(i.e., more pleasant prison
facilities and provisions for
cottage visits with wives and
families.) This is not to say that
I'm not concerned about the
devastating effect that the
prison as described would have
in the area, for it undoubtedly
will destroy the beauty of this
historic site; but I am even
more concerned about the
planned structure and
management of such a prison
about which few seem to be
concerned.