How a real psych ward of a prison operates...
I know this is fiction and the film wants you to be really scared and freaked out for Clarice when she visits Hannibal. It just is not realistic at all.
1. Why were the other cells not sealed? So just have bars like the Mayberry jail for criminal pervs and nut jobs? Let them throw shit, piss and semen at anybody passing by? Let them potentially be able to reach out and grab people? I know they are creating a contrast with the way Hannibal is housed but that is bull crap.
2. Why is Hannibal allowed wall to wall plexiglass for him top see everything? The cells in an acute care mental health ward in the prison I worked had plexiglass only on the top half of the door. That was the only place to see in or out. At mid level was a pie flap that only officers(Not chick trainees) could open with a key to pass things like food or medicine. If an inmate was particularly dangerous or threatening they forced them to stand at the back of the cell when a nurse placed their meds. If they objected to the rules they did not get their meds or food.
Why a dangerous multiple murderer like Lecture would be allowed an extra large suite with full view is bull!
3. There would be no need for holes in the plexiglass either. Ventilation can easily be obtained without holes.
4. An especially unstable or dangerous inmate might have 24/7 monitoring. A guy like Lecture would possibly have both nursing staff and a corrections officer on his door. If he threatens to harm others or himself they can take away his things allowed in his cell. People on SP suicide precautions in my prison were not even allowed clothes. They got a heavily padded blanket or vest. Other than that they would be totally naked. They were also given no more than 2 squares of toilet paper at a time because that could be used to commit suicide.
5. Cameras everywhere. From every angle. Officers have a red emergency button they can push on their walkie talkie that will rush officers from all over the prison to that spot.