Study Notes on Prison Reform and Inmate Reintegration in Norway

Maximum Security Prison Life in Norway

• Ambition: Reducing the feeling of being in prison.

  • Importance of treating inmates humanely and interacting positively.

• Key Question: "What kind of neighbor do we really want?"

  • Implication: Prisons are a part of community and rehabilitation should be the focus.

• Core Principles:

  • Principle of Normality: Life in prison should resemble life outside as closely as possible.
  • Emphasizes that being incarcerated is the punishment, not the conditions of imprisonment.
  • Humanity: Focus on humane treatment of inmates.
  • Dynamic Security: Fostering normal interpersonal relationships between officers and inmates.
  • Reintegration: Preparing inmates to reintegrate into society effectively.

• Prison Conditions in Norway:

  • Facilities described as basic yet humane (includes DVDs and movies).
  • Personal cell characteristics:
  • Real toilet, shower, and regulation of comfort levels (e.g., inmates have keys to control their cell doors).
  • Normal clothing allowed, breaking from traditional prison attire.
  • Normalization of Prison Life:
  • Objective to reduce the feeling of being in prison and to normalize the correctional environment.
  • Commissary allows inmates to choose items, adding to feelings of normalcy.

• Dynamic Security in Practice:

  • Defined as having professional, respectful relationships between inmates and officers.
  • Each inmate has a primary contact officer.
  • Officers may act as social workers, aiding reintegration and personal development.

• Training for Officers:

  • Subjects taught include:
  • Ethics
  • Psychology
  • Communication techniques
  • Criminology and law
  • Human rights
  • Self-defense and extraction techniques included but are not the major focus.

• Interactions Between Staff and Inmates:

  • Encouraged to build relationships and mutual respect.
  • Important for establishing trust which facilitates discussions on rehabilitation and future planning.
  • Example: Playing games with inmates is encouraged, contrasted with prohibitions in other systems.
  • Emphasis on seeing it as a friendship to inspire progress.

• Personal Experience from Inmates:

  • One inmate’s account of transferring from a Brazilian prison to Norway:
  • Described Brazilian prison as "hell" and Norwegian system as "heaven".
  • Kindness of Norwegian guards noted, which includes open communication and respectful treatment.

• Impact of Environment on Rehabilitation:

  • Reflections on differences in prison environments (e.g., U.S. vs. Norway).
  • The importance of an effective environment for prisoner rehabilitation:
  • Norwegian facilities provide opportunities for personal growth and hope for the future.
  • Noted benefit of feeling hopeful and seeing possibilities for life after prison.