SALEM, OR — In a bold new effort to make convicted murderers feel a little more at ease during their lengthy prison sentences, Oregon officials have announced the rollout of in-prison safe spaces — fully furnished with leather couches, decorative wall paneling, a calming “Safe Place” sign, and, most importantly, a generously sized bean bag chair for emotional decompression.
Dubbed the “Compassion Corners Initiative,” the program seeks to offer emotional refuge to inmates who may be experiencing the deeply traumatic effects of being mildly inconvenienced in a correctional facility.
“These individuals have suffered — sometimes for as long as a few hours without a neck pillow,” said Warden Skylar Moon-Hart, who now prefers the title “Carceral Wellness Coordinator.” “That’s why we’ve created spaces where even the most violently unstable inmates can retreat, throw on some jazz, and breathe through their feelings.”
Each safe space is decked out like a mid-tier Airbnb, featuring throw pillows, stocked mini-fridges, ambient lighting, and flat-screen TVs angled just right. The walls are tastefully tiled, there’s a library of emotional healing DVDs, a bean bag chair lovingly referred to as “The Accountability Pod,” and the entire room smells faintly of cucumber melon and court-mandated progress.
“Sometimes I just need to sit down, sip my infused water, and think about why I’m here,” said inmate Travis “Stabby T” Greenfield, currently serving 75 years for attempted decapitation. “This place really helps me regulate.”
Do you love Oregon?
Sign up for monthly emails full of local travel inspiration and fun trip ideas. In each newsletter we'll share upcoming events, new things to do, hot dining spots and great travel ideas.
Critics have slammed the state for pouring millions into rooms that resemble the waiting area of a West Elm showroom. But Governor Tina Kotek defended the plan, insisting that true reform “starts with positive vibes and high-thread-count sheets.”
Solitary confinement has now been replaced with “reflective solitude nooks,” and inmates who feel threatened by other inmates or mildly judged by correctional staff are encouraged to retreat to these safe spaces to self-soothe, journal, or play NBA2K in a noncompetitive manner.
As of press time, several inmates had already refused to leave the new rooms, citing “vulnerability hangovers” and “an ongoing journey of self-exploration.”
Moon-Hart remains optimistic. “We’re not saying the safe space will replace justice,” they said. “We’re just saying if it has a sectional couch, a bean bag chair, and aromatherapy, maybe we’re on the right path.”
