Quality of Prison Life and Physical Environment: What Is Predictive of Prisoners’ Overall Satisfaction with the Prison?

In this study of prisoners’ quality of life, we asked; Which aspects of the imprisonment conditions – including the physical environment – best predict overall satisfaction with the prison (OSP)? Is the staff–prisoner relationships the single most important dimension, as frequently emphasized in the literature but scarcely tested quantitatively? Methods Data stemmed from a survey conducted in three closed prisons in Norway in 2022 (response rate: 63 %, n=163). The dependent variable was assessed with the question: “Generally speaking, on a scale from 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with this prison?” This outcome was regressed on seven subscales from the Prison Climate Questionnaire and four single-item measures of the physical environment that have been shown to influence health and well-being. Results As expected, the quality of staff–prisoner relationships had a unique statistical impact on OSP. Ratings of the outdoor areas and the view from the cell were about equally strong predictors. In contrast, no statistically independent effects were observed for perceived quality of relationships with fellow prisoners, reintegration measures, receiving visits, perceptions of personal safety, degree of independence, access to natural light and a global rating of the prison building (noise, temperature, layout, etc). Conclusions This study further underscores the importance of positive staff–prisoner relationships. It also provides new insights into significance of the physical environment for prisoners’ overall perceptions of prison quality, with potential implications for the design and location of new correctional facilities and for improving the quality of existing ones.