Trauma-Informed and Healing Architecture in Young People’s Correctional Facilities: A Comparative Case Study on Design, Well-Being, and Reintegration

This study investigates how trauma-informed and healing-centred architectural design is associated with rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes in young people’s correctional facilities. Drawing on international case studies, the analysis demonstrates that architecture is not a neutral backdrop but a contributing determinant within broader justice ecosystems. Trauma-informed environments are consistently linked to reductions in re-traumatisation and improvements in emotional regulation, while small-scale, community-oriented facilities are associated with enhanced skill development, autonomy, and reintegration potential. Culturally responsive designs that incorporate Indigenous practices and symbolic architecture are observed to support identity, resilience, and community belonging, underscoring the importance of cultural continuity in rehabilitation processes. In parallel, sustainable features such as biophilic design, renewable energy systems, and natural light are correlated with improvements in ecological performance and psychosocial well-being, indicating that sustainability and rehabilitation may be mutually reinforcing goals. Notably, the analysis highlights that supportive environments are also associated with staff well-being and institutional stability, underscoring the broader organisational benefits of healing architecture. The findings suggest that young people’s correctional facilities should not replicate adult prisons but instead provide safe, developmental, and culturally grounded spaces that respond to adolescents’ unique needs. This study contributes a novel conceptual model—the Trauma-Informed Healing Architecture (TIHA) framework—that integrates trauma-informed, cultural, and ecological design strategies within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The framework defines global standards as universal principles—safety, dignity, cultural responsiveness, and natural light—while remaining adaptable to local resources and justice systems. In this way, it provides internationally relevant yet context-sensitive guidance for young people’s correctional reform.