This is probably the poshest prison I’ve ever seen.
No doubt, the idea of living the rest of one’s life in a maximum security prison is not ideal, but it’s pretty awesome – and not to mention jaw-dropping – to see what this prison in Norway looks like and how they approach criminal rehabilitation.
According to ScoopWhoop, Halden Prison has been called the world’s most humane maximum security prison since 2010. And honestly, it really does look like a swanky place.
But it’s still a prison at the end of the day – albeit a really nice one.
It was designed with one philosophy in mind: “People, even the dangerous ones, behave more civilly if treated like human beings than if dismissed as threats to ‘normal’ people.”
How decent. I wouldn’t blame the inmates if they didn’t want to leave.
Rent-free accommodation – nice.
A report by the BBC explains:
At Halden, cells and the commissary look like IKEA and Whole Foods, there are no barred windows or security cameras, and unarmed guards befriend the prisoners.
These Norwegian prison sentences help lead to rehabilitation, something not always seen in long prison sentences. Research shows it has among the lowest rates of re-offending in the world – 20% compared to 67% in the US over two and three years of leaving prison, respectively. Even more surprising perhaps is that the average prison sentence length in Norway is only eight months.
Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But it’s true.
Let’s start off with the outside:
Modern prison architecture at its best, people.
The architects that designed it ensured that inmates would have ample greenery around them and access to windows to enjoy it whenever they so desired.
Each cell is more of a college dorm room than a prisoner’s cage. Ample natural light, comfortable quarters and relative privacy are enjoyed by everyone here.
Well damn, these cells make my old university dorm room look like an absolute bloody dump.
Inmates cook their own food and eat together in an open common room. They also have a rec room where they can watch TV and play video games. Hell, there’s even a friggin’ dartboard.
And guess what? There’s more:
[Inmates] have access to a fully equipped gymnasium, basketball courts and a rock-climbing wall!
The last, but not the least of their facilities includes an actual recording studio where inmates can be held in the comforting embrace of music.
Just wow. I can’t imagine a set-up like this at Cape Town’s Pollsmoor Prison, where conditions are kak and prisoners violently clash with the wardens.
For the more spiritually or religiously inclined, the prison also has a space to pray and meditate. Local religious leaders and spiritual guides often conduct sessions at the high-security facility.
I’m sure the inmates must feel like Halden Prison is heaven on earth.
Great job, Norway.
[source:scoopwhoop&bbc]
