Norway’s Prison
Norway, which is located in the Northern part of Europe, has a vast economy with universal health care, great schools, and a stable social security system. Norway’s prisons are idealized models for reformers in the United States who are trying to accomplish this with American prisons. American prisons are known for their level of violence and the sophistication of gangs who dominate most American prisons. On the other hand, Norway prisons are known for the level of confidence and humane methods prisons are constructed. Norway’s recidivism rate is in the low 20 percent unlike the US, which has a rate of 50 to 60 percent (Adams, 2010). The low recidivism rate could have a correlation with Norway’s low crime rate. News articles provide strong support for the prisons as well as the King of Norway. The strong emphasis placed on rehabilitation is clearly apparent, but considering the cost is the expenditure worth utilizing on criminals.
One example of the prisons Norway built is Halden, recently opened in April 2010; the prison has vast luxuries in all rooms as well as outside the prison. The prison includes resources such as libraries, jogging trails, sounds studios, cooking courses, and a visiting house outside the prison where inmates with their families can sleep (Adams, 2010). There are no bars in the rooms but each room includes a flat screen TV, mini fridge, a desk, a chair and a resembles college dorm rooms. The prison holds criminals from those who committed murder, robberies, rape and other notable crimes (Chen, 2010).
The idea of the prison is not based on punishment but on a method of rehabilitation. The focus in on respect and human rights said Governor Hoidal. In contrast to the repressive and brutal ways of American prisons, Halden has its foundation on the treatment of inmates (pupils) and the improvement of pupils to integrate into the community (Adams, 2010). Guards at the prison don’t have guns, but have strong relationships with pupils and are seen as lead figures to inmates who are also considered pupils (Chen, 2010). Work is emphasized to help inmates gain confidence as well as skills for a successful integration into society (Adams, 2010).
In response to the Halden, the prison seems to good to be true, criminals have freedoms that no criminal should have, especially those criminals who have committed crimes like murder, robbery and rape. The prison is set at a cap of 252 inmates with a cost of 252 million to build (Adams, 2010). The price seems to high to only house 252 inmates and the prison does raise suspicions of what level of inmates the prison will hold. Considering the cost of the prison, the prison could be excluded to those offenders who are rich, instead of those criminals who come from poor communities. One great example surfaces when testimony by an inmate is used to explain that the prison is not hard, the inmate is a music teacher on the outside, not career criminal.
This level of trust on inmates can never be successfully integrated in the American prison system, but the level of education offered can be successful (Chen, 2010). Historically such prisons have been successful and inmates are able to integrate back into society with a special emphasis on education (Gehring and Wright, 2008). Schools promote civility and produce prisoners better prepared for a role in civilization (Gehring and Wright, 2008). Another benefit of schools in prisons is that it combats the aggressive style of most prisons (Gehring and Wright, 2008). Lastly the focus of school is geared towards truths and respect, as is the rehabilitation method of the Halden prison (Gehrign and Wright, 2008).
References
Adams, William Lee. (2010). Norway Builds the World’s Most Humane Prison. Time
Magazine. May 10th. CNN. www.time.com
Chen, Te-Ping. (2010). Inside Norway’s Idyllic Prisons. Change News. May 5th.
Change.org
Gehring, Thorn., and Wright, Randall., (2008). From Spheres of Civility to Public
Spheres: Democracy and Citizenship in the Big House. Journal of Correctional Education. 59 (4). Decemeber 2008.
Halden Prison Sound StudioHalden Prison
Halden Prison Cell
It is surprising at the amount of amenities that are provided to the prisoners in Norway compared to the United States prisoners. The Norway prisoners are given more rehabilitation programs and this reflects there recidivism rates which is drastically lower then the United States. There is less crime in Norway that leads to a reduced in recidivism rate but this does not explain the low rate as a hole. I think the rehabilitation programs have a big part in the low recidivism rate. The United States should incorporate some of the rehabilitation strategies that Norway uses.
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