Norway's Prison System: Investigating Recidivism and Reintegration

Bridges: A Journal of Student Research Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Issue 10

Article 2

2016

Norway's Prison System: Investigating Recidivism and Norway's Prison System: Investigating Recidivism and

Reintegration Reintegration

Meagan Denny

Coastal Carolina University

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Bridges: A

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: Vol. 10 : Iss. 10 , Article 2.

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Issue 10: 2016 | 21

Meagan Denny

Meagan Denny is a senior at Coastal majoring in Political Science with a Global

Politics concentration and a minor in Economics. Throughout her studies, she has

worked on research projects with various professors who have greatly nurtured her

academic interests. As she considers graduate school after graduation, she hopes to

secure a research position in the Research Triangle in Raleigh or with the National

2SLQLRQ5HVHDUFK&HQWHULQ&KLFDJR+RZHYHUKHUÀUVWDGYHQWXUHDVDFROOHJHJUDGXDWH

will be to travel through countries in Europe and Asia to learn as much as she can

about their histories and cultures.



22 | Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Norway’s Prison System: Investigating Recidivism

and Reintegration

Abstract

Recidivism rates are high in most Western countries and, as prisons in these countries become

overcrowded, the resources meant to enhance reintegration of inmates into society can be inadequate

or nonexistent. On the other hand, Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates among Western

nations, at approximately 20 percent. Norway also has, along with other Scandinavian countries,

a unique approach to its prison system. This paper discusses the exceptionalism associated with

Norway’s prison system and explores the reasons behind its low recidivism rates, with a focus on

the encouragement of reintegration of inmates into society. With the educational opportunities

and normalization techniques found in Norway’s open prisons, this country’s prison system has

rehabilitation at its core, a feature that has largely been embraced by a majority of the Norwegian

population. Discussions in this research draw on open-ended survey responses from Norwegian

respondents. The arguments connect opportunities created in the Norwegian prison system through

education and normalization programs to the low recidivism rates found in Norway.

Introduction

In 2011, Norway’s most notorious terrorist in recent history, Anders Breivik, killed

eight people in Oslo by setting off a van bomb and then went on to kill sixty-nine

people at a summer camp in Utoya, claiming a total of seventy-seven lives. In spite

of this savagery, Breivik received a prison sentence of twenty-one years in one of

Norway’s most secure prisons under its Regime of Particularly High Security; he was

recently transferred to a prison at Skien.

Although he committed one of the most

heinous crimes in Norwegian history, many Norwegians, including the families of the

people he killed, approved of his twenty-one-year sentence.

A year into his sentence,

Breivik complained of inhumane treatment in jail, which included not having access

to his light and television switches.



This case brings four pertinent issues to light about the Norwegian prison system,

which is known to be relatively progressive and humane: recidivism, rehabilitation,

normalization, and reintegration. In this research, recidivism can be understood as a

“Anders Breivik Accepted at Norway’s University of Oslo,” BBC News Europe. 2015. Accessed

2FWREHUKWWSZZZEEFFRPQHZVZRUOGHXURSH!

Ibid.



“Anders Behring Breivik’s Prison: Ila Near Oslo.” BBC News Europe$FFHVVHG2FWREHU

KWWSZZZEEFFRPQHZVZRUOGHXURSH!

Issue 10: 2016 |

Meagan Denny

person’s relapse into criminal behavior, most often after some form of intervention

IRU D SUHYLRXV FULPH W\SLFDOO\ ZLWKLQ WKUHH WR ÀYH \HDUV

Rehabilitation includes

different techniques that aid in reforming the habits and lifestyles of inmates in order

to produce a desistance of committing criminal acts. Normalization refers to the

programs and guidelines within prisons that allow prison life to resemble life in the

outside world, while reintegration connotes an inmate’s transition back into society

post-incarceration. These concepts are very important to the prison system since they

help determine the success (or failure) of these human institutions.

The Scandinavian countries have very low recidivism rates compared to other

Western countries. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world at

about 20 percent.

It has more highly secured prisons compared to some of the

other Scandinavian countries, yet still maintains normalcy within its prison system.

Although very violent crimes are rare in Norway, the case of Anders Breivik is one of

the exceptions. The Norwegian prison system is vastly different from many Western

prisons, and this case study reviews the differences in sentences, programs, and goals.

This particular Nordic prison system features open prisons, small prison capacities,

and opportunities for inmates that many other Western countries do not offer, which

may explain its lower recidivism rates. These rates are drastically lower than other

Western nations, especially the United States, which stands at 52 percent. Why does

Norway have such low recidivism rates, so few violent crimes, and relatively humane

prison sentences for those who do commit violent crimes? This qualitative study

suggests that use of educational and normalization programs as a part of the

rehabilitation process in Norwegian prisons has led Norway to have one of the lowest

recidivism rates in the world.

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surrounding prison systems and offers a conceptualization of recidivism and reintegration.

The second section presents the research methodology and explains the two types of

source—primary and secondary–in this qualitative study. This section also outlines

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argues for the importance of educational and normalization programs in the

Norwegian prison system as major contributors to low recidivism rates in Norway.

The study ends with a conclusion and some takeaway points.

“About the Norwegian Correctional Service. Kriminalomsorgen,” Directorate of Norwegian

&RUUHFWLRQDO6HUYLFH$FFHVVHG2FWREHUKWWSZZZNULPLQDORPVRUJHQQRLQGH[

SKS"FDW !

Carolyn W. Deady, “Incarceration and Recidivism: Lessons from Abroad,” The Pell Center for Inter

national Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University.$FFHVVHG1RYHPEHUKWWSV

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24 | Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Conceptualization of Recidivism and Reintegration

The literature in the area of recidivism is extensive. In recent decades, recidivism has

become a pressing matter in the correctional system as the rates have risen in many

industrialized countries. Prison systems have grown to accommodate an increase in

inmate population over the years, and there has been a push in academic circles to

understand the consequences. Some recurring themes in the study of reducing

recidivism include methods of encouragement and assistance in reintegration; a

change in the perceptions of prison systems and inmates; normalization techniques;

and successful educational and vocational programs.

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which can result in several outcomes such as re-arrest, reconviction, and re-imprisonment.

These various possible outcomes complicate the analysis of recidivism rates

internationally as countries define recidivism differently. For instance, Sweden

UHSRUWVDWZR\HDU UHFRQYLFWLRQUDWHRI SHUFHQWDPRQJSULVRQHUVEXWWKLVUDWH

GRHVQRWLQFOXGHWKHUHSRUWVRIÀQHVLQWKDWWZR\HDUSHULRG,QFRPSDULVRQ(QJODQG

DQG:DOHVKDYHDWZR\HDUUHFRQYLFWLRQUDWHRI SHUFHQWDPRQJSULVRQHUVZKLFKLV

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The most reported

time period of study released in the recidivism reports is two years, but it could range

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elusive. This does not, however, devalue the importance of recidivism in understanding

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potentially be used as a measuring tool for the success of prison systems and eventual

reintegration.

Every individual released from prison goes through a transition called re-entry,

which is the “process of leaving prison and returning to free society.”



This is

an unavoidable process that prisoners face, but it is not as key as the process of

reintegration, which is the “individual’s reconnection with the institutions of society,”

and is not only a process, but a goal.



As individuals successfully reintegrate

themselves after release, recidivism becomes less likely due to changes in that individual’s

behavior and environment. There are four dynamic markers in this reintegration

process: the individual’s characteristics, family and peer ties, community contexts,

Seena Fazel and Achim Wolf, “A Systematic Review of Criminal Recidivism Rates Worldwide:

&XUUHQW'LIÀFXOWLHVDQG5HFRPPHQGDWLRQVIRU%HVW3UDFWLFHµPlos ONE 10, no 6 (2015): 6.

,ELG



Christy Visher and Jeremy Travis, “Transitions from Prison to Community: Understanding

Individual Pathways,” Annual Review of Sociology



,ELG

Issue 10: 2016 | 25

Meagan Denny

and state policies.

A person’s experiences in prison—positive and negative—highly

correlate to his or her future attitude and behavior. The family and peers that the

individual interacts with can prevent or encourage re-offending, so these relationships

are very important. The community’s willingness to support and encourage employment

and engagement post-release is also an important factor in helping individuals reconnect

with societal institutions. It makes sense that positive reconnection to society through

community assistance deters a person from returning to crime. However, this is only

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success of the rehabilitated inmate. One prominent factor that determines whether

a community is or isn’t involved in rehabilitation is perception. State policies can also

hinder the progress an individual makes after release as they can feel ostracized or

neglected through aftercare and follow-up monitoring.

All of these facts underscore

the importance of the reintegration process, especially in affecting an individual’s

likelihood of becoming another recidivism statistic.

It is through normalization that the barrier of perception is targeted. Normalization

is a new concept being used in Scandinavian prisons, most notably in Norway, that

seems to be having a positive effect on inmates and their lives post-incarceration

with its ability to help inmates have a positive rehabilitative experience in prison.

Educational and vocational programs offered in prisons have also been effective in

improving the skill sets and mindsets of prisoners for use after their release. Encour-

agement is crucial throughout the entire process, but especially during reintegration.

The length of sentences has been connected to resettlement problems as discussed

in terms of returning to the normalcy of everyday life.

When inmates spend long

periods of time in jail, their ability to function in an open society becomes compromised.

Understanding the psychological effects of prison on inmates is important in

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to provide a life for themselves as functioning members in society. The chances for

employment also seem to be diminished after a long prison sentence. That is why it

is important to have a strong system of post-incarceration follow-up programs and

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post-incarceration. As the number of inmates employed post-incarceration increases,

recidivism rates decrease. In general, employment can add a sense of control and

stability to the lives of ex-inmates, allowing for more routine daily activities. Many

,ELG

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Melissa Munn, “Living in the Aftermath: the Impact of Lengthy Incarceration on Post- Carceral

Success,” Howard Journal Of Criminal JusticeQR

26 | Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

ex-inmates continue to participate in routines developed in prison, such as waking up

at a certain time, just to help with reintegration.



Studies have shown that it typically

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jobs post-incarceration, but the skills developed in prison allow for greater opportunities

than the inmates may have had beforehand. Although those studies conclude that

employment reduces recidivism, there are variables not taken into account, such as

the varying levels of crimes committed and the sentences served, which can have

serious effects on the employability of an ex-inmate.

Other research has argued that employment post-incarceration does not have any

causal relationship. It has been discussed that employment is found after the turning

point of an individual’s decision to turn away from crime.

The self-determination

of going the “straight and narrow” must come before an ex-inmate makes the conscious

decision to become employed. Although the studies do show that a small sample of

the studied population did cease to offend after employment, if they acquired

employment during an active phase of criminal behavior, this was a very small sample

of the ex-inmate population studied. This non-causal argument for employment and

desistance of crime is a small counter-argument, considering that employment is still

shown to provide a sense of stability and routine for ex-inmates, especially after long

sentences. This stability aids in reintegration, which is strongly linked to the desistance

of crime.

Perceptions of a prison system and inmates certainly impact recidivism rates. The

three main attributes of locus, stability, and controllability shape people’s views of

a prison system. People look at criminal offenses in terms of controllability.

The

stability, both mental and physical, of a person who commits a crime also determines

how a community perceives the offense. The amount of control over the situation the

person has in committing a crime is important. The more likely someone is to believe

that criminal offenses occur because there are “bad people” who do “bad things,”

WKHPRUHOLNHO\WKHSULVRQV\VWHPZLOOEHVHWXSWRUHÁHFWWKDWWKURXJKUHWULEXWLYH

and utilitarian structures. It is generally accepted that reform and rehabilitation

programs within prisons are affected by the perceptions of the community in regard

to safety. The Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service states that the goal



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Skardhamar and Jukka Savolainen, “Changes in Criminal Offending Around the Time of Job

'Entry: A Study of Employment and Desistance.” Criminology 52, no. 2 (2014).

Ibid.

Megan O’Toole and Gail Sahar, “The Effects of Attributions for Crime on Attitudes Toward

Prison Reform,” Applied Psychology In Criminal Justice 10, no. 1 (2014): 46.

Issue 10: 2016 | 27

Meagan Denny

of prisons in Norway is rehabilitation, enabling offenders to “change their criminal

behavior” using the “principle of normality,” so the Norwegian people have provided

an environment for this type of progress.

In contrast, American citizens have been concerned with the punitive and retributive

practices within the prison system. A poll taken asking a community how safe its

members felt with reference to the prison located in that community showed that

people felt generally secure, but felt any relaxation in extant security should be

prevented. This harsher perception of the prison system is not seen in cases in

Finland, for instance, where the practice is gentle justice with relaxation of security

measures and an emphasis on rehabilitation. Here, the rehabilitation programs take

the lead in the prison system, as most Finnish people believe that crime is a social

responsibility gone wrong. Most people in Finland believe in giving criminals a second

chance at leading a life without crime after release.



The literature also discusses the

likelihood of Americans to choose alternative forms of punishment or rehabilitation

once introduced to different penal interventions. Americans are shown to prefer

rehabilitation programs within the prison system. Once introduced to these different

programs, most people believe that rehabilitation is the best solution for reintegration

of past criminals into society effectively.



This perception has yet to be addressed by

policymakers in the United States, but it seems that the ideals set forth by Americans

about rehabilitation are less punitive than policymakers believe. This might allow for

a change in the penal system in the United States as the perceptions of communities

have such a strong impact on prison structures. An open mind about prisons and

rehabilitation has already allowed for the Norwegian prison system to develop much

differently from the prison system in the United States, for example.

As prison systems in Scandinavian countries have grown more open, crime seems

to have gone down, and so has the number of inmates and violent crimes committed.

There is a strong sense of trust between citizens and state authority, especially in

Norway, and this translates to an inclusive society, as well as an inclusive prison system.

Normalization (i.e., the concept of trying to keep conditions and situations in prisons

similar to everyday life outside of prison), openness, and responsibility are important

factors in the rehabilitation process in prisons in Norway. It is important to allow

“About the Norwegian Correctional Service. Kriminalomsorgen.” Directorate of Norwegian

Correctional Service$FFHVVHG2FWREHUKWWSZZZNULPLQDORPVRUJHQQRLQGH[

SKS"FDW !



Ikponwosa Ekunwe, Richard Jones, and Katie Mullin, “Public Attitudes Toward Crime and

'Incarceration in Finland,” Researcher: An Interdisciplinary JournalQR



Ibid., 20.

Ibid., 15.

| Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

for inmates to feel as connected to the outside free world as possible, and inmates in

open prisons get to experience this.

Openness is a central component in Scandinavian prison systems. Finland prisons,

for example, encourage family visits and even allow for an application to return home

for up to six days after six months of imprisonment.

Understanding that the

monotonous routines and constant supervision of closed prisons have negative

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normal life while in prison helps inmates believe there is a possibility for a productive

life after prison. Danish prisons allow private visiting rooms, which provide the sense

of a somewhat normal private life.

When looking at the “luxurious” and “humane”

prisons (as described in the media) found in Scandinavia, most notably in Norway

with its prisons at Halden and Bastoy, people may question what sort of punishment

exists if these types of environments are allowed and encouraged. The punishment,

as noted by the Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service, is the restriction of

liberty. It is not the job of those who work in the prisons to increase this restriction,

but rather to aid in prisoner rehabilitation.

Open prisons foster inmate responsibility. Promoting responsible citizens is

evidenced in allowing inmates to have some control over their daily routines. Inmates

are allowed, sometimes, to choose their jobs within the prison and to be paid wages

for those jobs that are almost competitive with similar work in the outside world. This

creates the possibility for inmates to secure a sense of responsibility as part of the

prison community, which translates into their future reintegration. They also exercise

responsibility in controlling what they spend their money on.



If prisoners are not

trapped in rigid prison routines, especially after long prison sentences, then they have

a better chance of functioning successfully upon release.

These programs can also be tied to education and vocational programs, which is

another focus in the literature. Education among inmates is considered to be on the

VDPHOHYHODVWKHJHQHUDOSRSXODWLRQRI WZHQW\ÀYH\HDUVDJR

The “import model”

of education in Norway allows outside educators to come into the prison system

and teach inmates.

This keeps community ties alive for inmates as well as keeps the

Ibid., 10.

William Rentzmann, “Prison Philosophy and Prison Education,” Journal of Correctional

EducationQR



Ibid., 60.

Hilde Hetland, Ole-Johan Eikeland, Terge Manger, Age Diseth, and Arve Asbjornsen,

“Educational Background in a Prison Population,” Journal of Correctional EducationQR

7RUÀQQ/DQJHOLG´7KH6KDULQJRI 5HVSRQVLELOLW\LQWKH5HKDELOLWDWLRQRI 3ULVRQHUVLQ1RUZD\µ

Journal of Correctional EducationQR

Issue 10: 2016 |

Meagan Denny

responsibility for rehabilitation part of the community’s job. Education is important

in helping rehabilitate inmates into members of society. Scandinavian countries such

as Sweden believe each inmate’s level of education must be assessed, and educational

options must be provided according to each individual’s assessment. Not only should

there be academic opportunities, but also chances to learn the work and soft skills

needed for everyday life.

These opportunities can be invaluable for inmates who

never had the chance to get an education, and since many inmates have lower levels

of education, conclusions indicate the correlation of lower education levels and

higher incarceration rates.

Educational programs also have an effect on recidivism rates. It has been discussed

that the opportunity to get an education and a diploma while in prison has a positive

effect on recidivism rates. In Washington state, a study showed the inmates who

received diplomas and were exposed to educational programs while in prison had

VLJQLÀFDQWO\ORZHUUHFLGLYLVPUDWHV

Even vocational programs have been shown to

be effective in improving the skills of inmates in order to help them get jobs after

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and skill set in order to provide more stability and reassurance when trying to enter

the job market.



In short, educated inmates are less likely to return to jail.

Research emphasizes the importance of reintegration after incarceration and the

essentially positive effect that employment has on this process. Perceptions of

prison systems determine the nature of the system, whether it is oriented toward

rehabilitation or punishment, and normalcy within prisons, along with educational

opportunities, allows for more rehabilitation of inmates. The next section focuses on

the methodology and research design.

Methodology

The primary data for this research is based on a survey created and given to a group

of Norwegian citizens randomly selected for convenience and time constraint: one

male and two females from Skien, a female from Oslo, and a male and female from

6WDYDQJHUDOOUDQJLQJIURPWKHDJHVRIWZHQW\ÀYHWRVHYHQW\\HDUVROG7KHVXUYH\ZDV

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collecting general views of the Norwegian prison system and its structure. In order

Theron Pettit and Julie Kroth, “Educational Services in Swedish Prisons: Successful Programs

of Academic and Vocational Teaching,” Criminal Justice Studies 24, no. 6 (2011): 215.

Charles Kelso, “Recidivism Rates for Two Education Programs' Graduates Compared to Overall

Washington State Rates,” Journal of Correctional EducationQR



Diane Young and Rachel Mattucci, “Enhancing the Vocational Skills of Incarcerated Women

Through a Plumbing Maintenance Program,” Journal of Correctional Education 57, no. 2 (2006): 126.

| Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

WRJUDVSWKHEHQHÀWVDQGGUDZEDFNVRI WKH1RUZHJLDQSULVRQV\VWHPWKLVUDQGRP

survey targeted the main questions that underlie this research on recidivism:

benefits of education, openness, normalcy in prisons, and challenges to the

reintegration process.

The secondary sources of information came from a variety of sources. Documents

and articles were found in scholarly journals on correctional education, criminology,

criminal justice, and sociology. Government reports from Norway’s criminal justice

department were also used, as well as media outlets such as BBC. These secondary

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as well as to identify the exceptionalism associated with Norway’s prison system.

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in order to identify key related factors. Norway bears peculiar characteristics that

set it apart from many Western nations, a fact essential to understanding its unique

goals and regulation of the prison system. The story of Anders Breivik is a clear case

in point, as he likely would have received a much harsher penalty in other Western

countries.

This research does have some limitations. Given time and schedule constraints,

there were not many survey responses, even though many surveys were sent out.

7KXVGDWDFROOHFWHGGRHVQRWQHFHVVDULO\UHÁHFWDODUJHSRUWLRQRI 1RUZHJLDQ

sentiments, nor was the random sample group varied extensively across Norway.

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Norway’s prison system, though many of them referenced Norway’s exceptionalism.

Again, the limited time for the research restrained the extent and reach for

UHVSRQGHQWVDQGUHYLHZVRI VLJQLÀFDQWGRFXPHQWV7KHQH[WVHFWLRQH[SDQGVDQG

draws on some survey responses to support the main argument of this paper that the

educational and normalization programs within the Norwegian prison system have

led directly to the low recidivism rates in Norway.

Argument and Findings

Due to the emphasis on rehabilitation during incarceration rather than on

punishment, Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world. There

are three main reasons why this is true. First, research has shown that the higher

the level of education, the lower the likelihood of re-incarceration. Second,

normalization within the prison system increases the likelihood of reintegration.

Third, the increased education and the smooth reintegration process can aid in

receiving and maintaining post-incarceration employment. Altogether, the Norwegian

prison system’s focus on rehabilitation proves to be successful in reducing recidivism.

(GXFDWLRQLVDQLPSRUWDQWIDFWRULQWKHGHPRJUDSKLFVRI LQPDWHVDQGÀQGLQJVVKRZ

that inmates have lower education levels than the general populace. In 2007, a study

Issue 10: 2016 |

Meagan Denny

was done to determine the highest levels of education in Norwegian prisons, and

results showed that the level of education in the prisons is comparable to the

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

According to

the report, inmates having the highest level of education, being primary and lower

secondary education, is almost double that of the general Norwegian population.

Vocational training was found only among a third of the inmates, with the lowest

rates among the youngest inmates.



This shows the disparities in education of

inmates and the population of free, law-abiding citizens. Respondent 6 reported on the

survey that “many prisoners will have poor educational backgrounds for any number

of reasons,” so, even in Norway, the general prison population includes those with

lower levels of education.



Although it cannot be shown that education levels have

a direct, even causal, relationship with incarceration, these lower levels of education

in inmates show a potential correlation between education and crime, whether it has

WRGRZLWKLQWULQVLFEHQHÀWVRI NQRZOHGJHRUH[WHUQDOEHQHÀWVVXFKDVHPSOR\PHQW

Educational and vocational programs increase the marketable skills of inmates

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self-improvement.



The Norwegian prison system, with its educational opportunities,

allows inmates the chance to improve their training in ways that may not have been

afforded to them in life. Respondent 1 commented that immigrants often do not

speak Norwegian, and because “they know that they will be given a job and salary in

prison, along with free education…this is a better alternative than being sent back to

their home countries.”



Respondent 6 notes that many inmates’ “lack of education

will most likely have given them a poorer sense of self-worth and possibly pushed

them to commit crime,” which further underscores the role education plays in the

prison system.



The recent Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, although having

received the highest form of punishment of twenty-one years in prison under its

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DQGDJDLQLQ+LVDSSOLFDWLRQZDVUHMHFWHGLQGXHWREHLQJXQDEOHWRPHHW

requirements for admission, but he was accepted in 2015. This shows that although

Breivik is considered to be one of the most dangerous criminals in Norway, he still

enjoys the right to an education as long as he meets admissions standards. Though

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

Hilde Hetland, et al. “Educational Background in a Prison Population,” 146.



,ELG



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

Hilde Hetland, et al. “Educational Background in a Prison Population,” 150.



Respondent 6.



Respondent 6.

| Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

the admission process must be fair to all, regardless of who applies, including Breivik.

The tolerance and acceptance of the Norwegian system in regard to education in its

prisons is quite unique among many Western countries.

With normalization techniques prominent in the everyday life of inmates, open

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Western nations. Punishment in closed prisons is clear, tactics such as solitary

confinement or straightjackets are familiar, but the punishment in Norwegian open

prisons is less extreme. The main form of punishment in these prisons, as Respondent

6 stated, “is the loss of freedom.”



While freedom of mobility outside of the prison

is prohibited, daily life can be considered very similar inside the prison. Respondent

2 stated that, in Norway, “the thought is that open prisons are supposed to function

OLNHD¶QRUPDO·VRFLHW\FRPPXQLW\µ



The conditions in these open prisons in Norway

are very progressive, as Respondent 1 stated, “some prisons, even those that are reserved

for the most serious of felons, allow inmates to come and go as they please,” which

is almost unheard of in most Western prisons.



Anders Breivik had three cells to himself

within the Ila prison: one for studying, with a desk and a laptop (with no Internet

FRQQHFWLRQDQRWKHU IRUVOHHSLQJZLWKD EHGDQG DWHOHYLVLRQDQG DWKLUG IRUÀW-

ness, with workout equipment. He also had access to the prison library. Even with

these seemingly luxurious prison accommodations, Breivik wrote a letter of complaint

about his conditions being inhumane, stating, “I highly doubt that there are worse

detention facilities in Norway.”



Among his complaints was that his cell was too cold

and that he had to rush his morning shave and brushing his teeth. These conditions

are very different from the average U.S. prison, even when the prisoner has been

charged with extremely heinous crimes. This further shows Norway’s emphasis on

rehabilitation and normalization rather than punishment, as these prisons give

inmates “the opportunity to develop themselves as human beings,” a feature that

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

Anders Breivik’s case can be used to illustrate the emphasis on benevolence in the

Norwegian prison system as well as the intent to rehabilitate broken and dangerous

SHRSOH2IÀFLDOVFRQFHUQHGZLWKKLVFDVHFODLPWKDW´LVRODWLRQLVWRUWXUHµVLQFHKHLV

unable to be around other inmates, he is offered more interaction with guards and



Respondent 6.



Respondent 2, email communication with author, 25 January 2016.



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

´$QGHUV%HKULQJ%UHLYLN·V3ULVRQ&RQGLWLRQV¶,QKXPDQH·µBBC News Europe, 2012.



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Issue 10: 2016 |

Meagan Denny

RIÀFHUVDORQJZLWKPRUHHGXFDWLRQDODQGZRUNRSSRUWXQLWLHV

These opportunities

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morning at 0700, there is no security on when they go to sleep, as there is no “lights

out” policy.

Staff training in Norwegian prisons is also very important. Respondent

DVVHUWHGWKDWWKH1RUZHJLDQSULVRQRIÀFHUV´JRWKURXJKDWZR\HDUHGXFDWLRQDWWKH

6WDII $FDGHP\«EHWWHUWUDLQLQJPDNHVEHWWHURIÀFHUVµ

Keep in mind that Breivik

was imprisoned in one of Norway’s more highly secured prisons, where the staff is

comprised of half men and half women, and none of them is armed. They do carry

EDWRQVDQGWKH\DUHDOORZHGWRXVHWHDUJDVLI QHHGHGEXWRQHRIÀFLDOUHSRUWVKDYLQJ

worked there for more than thirty years without once seeing the tear gas used.

This model of prison system is vastly different from other prison systems that utilize

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is progressive and humane, encouraging rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

The importance of this kind of system in Norway can be imagined as Respondent 5

pointed out that “inmates don’t feel like animals, so [they] don’t act like animals.”



educational opportunities and normal everyday routines help them practice appropriate

behaviors of getting along in society as law-abiding citizens, inmates can use these

tools to transition smoothly back into society.

The tools and skills gained through educational programs are possibly related to

lower recidivism rates since they increase the likelihood of post-incarceration

employment. Respondent 6 noted that when an “offender leaves [prison] with

QDWLRQDOO\UHFRJQLVHGTXDOLÀFDWLRQVWKHQZLWKWKHULJKWJXLGDQFHWKDWSHUVRQZRXOG

be easier to employ and thereby stand on his/her own two feet” after incarceration.

Employers often refer to education and past experience when determining a person’s

employability, and with enhanced education and vocational skills acquired during a

prison sentence, ex-inmates are more likely to gain employment than they were before

incarceration. The stigma of prison in Norway has been most successfully combated

with programs such as the import-model. The import-model integrates the outside

world and its inhabitants into the prison system by not separating institutions in the

community from the prisons. Teachers in prisons are teachers in the community, doctors

in prisons are local doctors, librarian services are locally provided, and so on, so the

responsibility of rehabilitation and reintegration can be passed on to community

stakeholders.

Ibid.

Respondent 6.



Respondent 5, email communication with author, 24 January 2016.

Respondent 6.

| Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Employment has a relationship with recidivism in Norway, though some researchers

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the less likely they are to return to prison.

Although it can vary by the types of

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are less likely to be re-incarcerated, and employment can bring stability after release.

Some scholars argue that employment is not a causal factor of recidivism, but it is

rather a consequence of deciding no longer to commit crimes.

The turning point

of desistance, they argue, comes before employment, so it may look as though

employment causes the desistance. This could be a valid counterargument, but the

same scholars show that some portion of offenders found employment and that a

substantial decrease in offending occurred thereafter.

Employment is usually a choice, but it does lead to some stability and a sense of

responsibility that can become a sort of deterrent for offending. Respondent 1 tied

employment to desistance in crime by noting that “Norway has a very high minimum

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they [prisoners] will be able to get a job and support themselves” after incarceration.

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RI WKHPVHOYHVE\ÀQGLQJDSODFHWROLYHDMREDQHZKHDOWK\FLUFOHRI IULHQGVDQG

not going back to their old lives.”



Consensus can be found among all six responses

that employment is one of the most important aspects post-incarceration that can

help aid in reintegration. Employment helps inmates “stand on their own two feet” as

Respondent 6 stated, and the income from employment can be a deterrent for crime

as well as a way of providing food and shelter and a lifestyle that discourages crime.



7KHUHVSRQVHVZHUHDOVRFOHDUIURP5HVSRQGHQWVDQG7KDWUHLQWHJUDWLRQLV

one of the biggest challenges for inmates, and that the stigma that follows imprisonment

can hinder that process. Respondent 1 noted that Norwegian prisoners are aided in

this process as “interviews are set up for them and the employers are informed of

the inmate’s situation beforehand.”

Norway’s prison system clearly tries to improve

inmates’ lives even after incarceration by providing employment opportunities and

normalization programs during incarceration. These aspects of the Norwegian prison

system have a positive effect on the recidivism rates as they enable inmates to

UHLQWHJUDWHEDFNLQWRVRFLHW\PRUHHDVLO\ZKLFKFDQVLJQLÀFDQWO\GHWHUUHRIIHQGLQJ

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Torbjørn Skardhamar and Jukka Savolainen, “Changes in Criminal Offending Around the Time

of Job Entry: A Study of Employment and Desistance,” CriminologyQR

Respondent 1.



5HVSRQGHQW



Respondent 6.

Respondent 1.

Issue 10: 2016 |

Meagan Denny

Conclusion

In conclusion, this research offers three main takeaway points. The literature, as

well as the data collected from the survey, showed reintegration after incarceration

to be a challenge for inmates. Finding employment and being able to support themselves,

along with being able to readjust to life after prison, are key to the reintegration

process. Norway’s open prison system is built upon the principle of normalcy, one

that aims to keep life in prison as similar to outside living conditions as possible. This

allows inmates to keep a semblance of normal life while serving their time. Norway’s

prison system also offers many opportunities for inmates to get better educations,

sometimes at no cost. These opportunities to gain skills and degrees have a

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normalization techniques and the educational programs allow inmates to reintegrate

more easily back into society post-incarceration, which can then be considered a

deterrent to re- offending.

Despite the implications of this research in regard to Norway’s low recidivism

rates, more research is needed. As this work was purely qualitative in nature, and

the data collected was limited, future research might further explore other aspects

from a quantitative approach, or even from a comparative approach, using other

Scandinavian countries such as Finland or Denmark. Gathering information on

inmates released from prison and their transitions back into society would be an

important next step. Studying the successful transitions, as well as the cases in which

the ex-inmate re-offended, would be helpful in determining the factors that contribute

to re-offending and those that deter it. Taking the recidivism data and determining

WKHW\SLFDOUHRIIHQGHUVZRXOGDOVRDLGLQWDUJHWLQJWKHVSHFLÀFSHRSOHRUJURXSVRI 

SHRSOHZKRDUHPRUHOLNHO\WRUHODSVH4XDQWLÀDEOHGDWDFRXOGEHFROOHFWHGRQWKH

demographics of re-offenders spanning different crime levels, as well as those who

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nature of prison systems in many countries around the world, including the United

States. Although the size and socioeconomic conditions in Norway seem conducive

to such programs producing low recidivism rates, it may be possible for aspects of

these programs to be applied successfully in other countries, as well.

| Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

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“About the Norwegian Correctional Service. Kriminalomsorgen.” Directorate of

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“Anders Breivik Accepted at Norway’s University of Oslo.” BBC News Europe. 2015.

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Deady, Carolyn W. “Incarceration and Recidivism: Lessons from Abroad.” The Pell

Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University.

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(2012): 1-21.

Fazel, Seena and Achim Wolf. “A Systematic Review of Criminal Recidivism Rates

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Galliher, John. “Attitudes of Missouri Citizens Toward the State Prisons.” Criminology

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Kelso, Charles. “Recidivism Rates for Two Education Programs’ Graduates

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Munn, Melissa. “Living in the Aftermath: the Impact of Lengthy Incarceration on

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O'Toole, Megan and Gail Sahar. “The Effects of Attributions for Crime on

Attitudes Toward Prison Reform.” Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice 10, no. 1

(2014): 46-65.

Pettit, Theron and Julie Kroth. “Educational Services in Swedish Prisons: Successful

Programs of Academic and Vocational Teaching.” Criminal Justice Studies 24, no. 6

(2011): 215-226.

Pratt, John. “Norbert Elias, the Civilizing Process and Penal Development in Modern

Society.” Sociological Review Monograph 59, no. 1, (2011): 220-240.

Rentzmann, William. “Prison Philosophy and Prison Education.” Journal of Correctional

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Norway.” Journal of Quantitative Criminology 28QR

Visher, Christy and Jeremy Travis. “Transitions from Prison to Community:

Understanding Individual Pathways.” Annual Review of Sociology 29

Young, Diane and Rachel Mattucci. “Enhancing the Vocational Skills of Incarcerated

Women Through a Plumbing Maintenance Program.” Journal of Correctional

Education 57, no. 2 (2006): 126.