Norway has a low crime rate. Norway had 26 murders in 2018. However, Norway's detention system has become a model in the world, according to the New York Times.
More notably, Norway has a large social security network, including pension and education benefits, helping prisoners both in prison and after their release. The Norwegian Prisoner received a daily allowance of about 7.60 USD. They can save this money or spend it shopping at in-caret store.
Most of Norway's prisoners are distributed in rural areas. Halden Prison is covered with eucalyptus and pine trees and is located about 4 hours drive from the capital Oslo. The prison has about 200 inmates, about half of whom commit violent crimes, including murder, rape and assault.
Halden is considered the prison with the highest security and humanity in the world. Inside the concrete fences nearly 8m high is an unusual stillness, without the sound of iron doors, the sound of leng keng of prison cells or the screams of prisoners and teachers. Prisoners can wear their own clothes and move freely in the prison alone. They can also easily enjoy the circulation of light and natural air in this prison.
About 100km north of Halden is Romerike Prison in the town of about 39,000 people. From the outside, Romerike prison, like many other detention facilities with barbed wire fences, guard stations and scattered cells in the campus, is a different story inside.
In this prison, the windows are made of hard plastic so that prisoners can see the outside.Contemporary works of art are displayed in the hallways.
There are tunnels connecting the prison rooms to a restaurant and an entertainment area, allowing prisoners to move without a teacher.Prisoners can decorate their prison cells with personal belongings.There are areas with gyms, libraries, cooking classes, carpentry workshops, etc.
However, perhaps the most surprising difference is the relationship between the teacher and the prisoner. Each supervisor is in charge of 5-6 prisoners, a very small number compared to 1 supervisor in charge of 50 prisoners in New York.
In Norway, mangers communicate with prisoners through meals and community reintegration programs after their release. That connection, a teacher in Romerike said, gave prisoners and teachers a friendship. And when the prisoners were released - most of the last prisoners would be released - the supervisor gave them their personal phone numbers and said: If you need help, call me.
