Is Cell Sharing Associated with Wellbeing, Misconduct and Prison Climate? Evidence from a Dutch Study

Abstract Despite international guidelines, it is common practice in many European countries for prisoners to share a cell. In cases this may be measure cope with overcrowding, but the Netherlands policy reduce costs and flexibly adjust capacity. While harms of overcrowding are widely recognised, less known about effects cell sharing non-overcrowded conditions. This study considers association between sharing, wellbeing, misconduct, prison climate, using data from national survey among Dutch (N = 3408). Findings show that associated poorer ratings wellbeing especially people who prefer single Prisoners double cells do not get along their cellmate report more misconduct. These findings reinforce recommendations house cells, unless they otherwise.