A fascinating look inside what's been called the most humane prison in the world: Halden Prison in Norway, featuring cells with flat screen televisions.
When one thinks of prison, thoughts often drift to depictions found in Oz or The Wire: full of hard living and sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. However, there is one prison in Norway that has been called the most humane prison in the world: Halden Prison.
Since it opened in 2010, Halden Prison has been the subject of discussions regarding prison reform and rehabilitation, thanks to its approach to prison-life. In stark contrast to the American prison system, guards at Halden don’t carry guns, cells have flat-screen televisions, and prisoners enjoy en-suite bathrooms.
All this contributes, in part, to Norway’s impressive recidivism rate of only 20%. A rate that is significantly less than the amount of prisoners in the United States who return to prison, which routinely clocks in at around 50-60%.
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Halden Wasn't Designed To Look Like A Prison
After 10 years of construction, Halden Prison opened its doors to its first inmates on March 1, 2010. About a month later in April, Norway's King Harald V officially opened the facility.
It's Norway's second largest prison, holding up to 250 prisoners. For perspective, the largest prison in the U.S., Louisiana State Penitentiary, holds 6,300 inmates.
Halden is a maximum security prison, holding criminals who've committed violent crimes such as rape and murder. However, the prison notably lacks the high security trappings typical in other prisons.
For instance, guards don't carry guns. Instead, the prison is designed in a way to lessen the sense of institutionalization, which includes ridding with the intimidation imposed by armed guards. While the facility does have security cameras, none of them are in the actual cells themselves or the common rooms.
The prison lacks barbed wire or electric fences. It features no security towers adorned with snipers. Instead, the design of the prison feels more modern. The Scandinavian style architecture is bright and clean-cut.
Halden Prison was designed by Erik Møller Architects & HLM Architects. Aided by a serene forest backdrop, the prison has often been compared to that of a hotel rather than a maximum security facility.
Prison cells at Halden include its own toilet, shower, and towels, all separated by a door for privacy. A luxury not normally included in standard American prisons. Cells also contain televisions, mini-fridges, cupboards, white-pine desks, and unbarred windows.
"I don't call the cells luxurious," Prison governor Are Høidal told The Guardian. "It's 10 square metres, a toilet, a shower, that's all."
It's often pointed out that Halden looks more akin to a university building than a prison, but that's the point. The goal of the prison is to prepare inmates to be released back into the general population one day, as the Norwegian justice system has no life-sentences, with only a maximum sentence of 21 years.
"The architecture is not like other prisons," Høidal explained. "We felt it shouldn't look like a prison. We wanted to create normality. If you can't see the wall, this could be anything, anywhere. The life behind the walls should be as much like life outside the walls as possible."
At Halden, Rehabilitation Is The Ultimate Goal
Reuters Halden wasn't designed to feel like a typical prison.
Halden Prison is very much in line with the modern Norwegian prison system, which focuses more on rehabilitation than pure punishment. It's a principle that's reflected in more than just the physical design of the prison.
"If you stay in a box for a few years, then you are not a good person when you come out," Høidal said. "If you treat them hard... well, we don't think that treating them hard will make them a better man. We don't think about revenge in the Norwegian prison system. We have much more focus on rehabilitation."
Each day, inmates' cells are unlocked at 7:30a.m. and, until cells are locked again at 8:30p.m., they're encouraged to participate in a plethora of activities and classes. In fact, inmates receive 53 kroner (or $5.33 USD) each day they leave their cell.
Every detail is planned in a way to help prisoners feel more comfortable around people and foster a caring environment. One crucial part of creating this culture of rehabilitation is the staff.
There's approximately 340 people who work at Halden Prison. Every staff member is encouraged to speak with prisoners, mingle with them, and counseling them.
"The people who work here don't look down on you," one prisoner told The Guardian. Before coming to Halden, the prisoner was at the Eidsberg prison, and described the difference between the two as "being there and being here, it's like heaven and hell."
One main focus is on making sure inmates have homes and jobs to start once they are released from Halden. Staff also work to help prisoners maintain important family connections.
The role of the prison guard is also unlike anything found in the United States. Before working at Halden, every guard is required to take a two-year university program. This program focuses on human rights, ethics and the law.
"We have many more prison officers than prisoners," Høidal explained. "They are talking about why they are here, what problems got them into this criminality. Our role is to help them and to guard them."
Compared To American Prisons, There's Much More For Inmates To Do At Halden
BBCA common room in Halden Prison.
The prison's human approach is directly opposed to what many think of as prisons within the United States. While Halden hosts prisoners who've committed a varying array of crimes, as a maximum-security prison, some of the inmates have been convicted of crimes anywhere from drug offenses to murder.
However, not everyone is held in the same area of the prison. Halden is divided into sections organized by the needs of the inmates.
Unit A is where prisoners who may face violence from other inmates, such as sex offenders, are held for closer supervision. Other prisoners in Unit A include those with psychiatric needs or close medical supervision.
Units B and C are where a vast majority of the inmates live, and have less restrictions as well as mixed cell blocks. The prison also has a separate area called Unit C8, which is especially for prisoners in drug recovery.
Inmates are allowed to receive visits from family members or friends on a fairly regular basis. They're allowed to have two visits a week, each lasting two hours. Halden has special separate rooms for visits, with a smaller room for single person visits and a larger room for larger family visits.
Prisoners at Halden have access to a wide range of activities throughout the day. There are outdoor facilities like a soccer field, jogging trails, as well as a gym with a rockwall.
Music and woodworking classes are also offered. There's a studio where inmates can record music or participate in the monthly radio broadcast for the local station.
While often applauded for its humanity, Halden Prison hasn't escaped criticism. It's primarily received criticism from right-wing conservative politicians and figures from within the country who believe life in prison shouldn't mirror the world outside.
But even though not everyone agrees on Halden's tactics, Høidal loves his job, telling the New York Times, "I have the best job in the world!"
After reading about the most humane prison in the world, discover 11 of history's most daring prison escapes. Then, learn about some of Alcatraz's most infamous inmates.
