The design of prisons has changed slightly over time. The current typologies of prisons are more concerned with rehabilitation and reintegration, and not only punishment. In this dissertation, the effects of the architecture design on the psychology of inmates and the process of their rehabilitation as well as ensuring proper safety and security levels are discussed. It is a comparative study of traditional Indian prisons, such as cellular jail, Tihar Jail, and international progressive prisons such as Halden Prison in Norway. It is conducted on the basis of an extensive literature review, analysis of architectural drawings and a comparative evaluation of the spatial organization, the system of circulation, and the quality of the environment.