Norway's Incarceration System Essay
The differences between Norway’s incarceration system and the United States system can be seen as a considerably large gap. Norway can be seen as the motivating, free spirit type of prison, where as the United States is more reserved, but strict at the same time type of prison. On the contrary, Norway and the United States may be different, but there is still a hint of likeness within the two countries. One might be slightly more different, but as long as they help and hold the prisoners that have done wrong then that’s what matters. The truth is that no matter what anybody does, people will always find the differences,--as well as a few similarities within Norway and the United States’ incarceration systems.
Norway’s prisons are very contrasting …show more content…
if people were to compare them to any other country, especially the U.S. The demographics of the countries are insanely different; if people were to compare the size of Norway to the U.S, Norway has fewer people. According to an article, the U.S. houses about 321.4 million people as of 2014 and the number of people incarcerated, excluding the probation and on parole, is about 2.4 million people (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration). If that number were compared to Norway, people could see it as a big difference, based on number. According to another source, the population as of 2016 for Norway was about 5.25 million, only about 4,000 people are incarcerated. The main difference between them is that the U.S. houses more people than Norway, and when a person goes to prison in Norway they normally stay out; where as in the U.S. people usually go back. Chief McNeil believes over half of prisoners will find their way back, unless something is done (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration). In most cases, a person must do something wrong to go to prison, and this is the case here but, the crimes are often up for debate, when it comes to what is a crime based on the United States and Norway.
What is a crime? According to Merriam Webster, a crime is any illegal activity for which someone can be punished for by the government. This is true of the U.S. and Norway’s government, but they have different views on what is and isn't considered a crime. In the U.S, people can be put away for many things including drug usage, violent repeaters, and eventually someone with traffic tickets that are piled high can be put into prison, but generally they just get fined, unless it caused harm to others, the punishing differs, and many other crimes as well (Travis and Western 3). Norway does about the same except, that they really only get people for drug usage, which makes up ⅓ of their prisons, violent crimes which makes up ½ of their prisons, and on rare occasions they can put people away for violent incidents and threats. Although one thing that they do differently than the U.S is that they put away people for traffic offenses including speeding in 2005 (Benko). Even though their crimes are pretty similar, with the exception of a few, their sentencing system is a lot different when being compared.
A person would think that all sentencing systems should be the same because the crimes that a person does is similar, but this isn’t the case. Some of these decisions would be seen as insane to Americans, but seen as the norm to Norwegians. One story that is incredible, but in all the bad ways is the story of Anders Breivik. Breivik was just a nobody, seeking attention (Seierstad 30). He killed 77 people in a terror attack against Norway and acknowledged he did it, but saw nothing wrong with it (Seierstad 30). The process of this could be that he knew he’d only serve for a bit and then get out of prison; therefore, possibly making another terror attack because of the maximum number of years allowed in Norway’s prison is 21 (Benko). According to that same source, Norway doesn’t have a death penalty or a life sentence, whereas the U.S does have them with certain restrictions. So meaning if someone went out and killed a lot of people they would only have a sentence of 21 years and even with that they can get out with good behavior. If that person was in the U.S they probably would be given a life sentence. Although, if a prisoner in Norway doesn’t abide by the rules, they can get almost like a time out. They could get their tv taken away for 5 months and for them it is a long time.
When a person thinks about luxuries in life they don’t usually incorporate it with prisons. So why should people who are supposed to be punished get them. Well, unfortunately both prison systems get those types of things. In an article, Benko states, “inmates can train to get their cooking certificates and then prepare foods for themselves,” including chocolate mousse, spicy lasagna, garlic bread, and salads. But in the U.S they too must prepare their own food , but most of the time it’s chilli or also offered are kosher and vegan meals. Like what has been mentioned before, both prisons are allowed tv, and internet,-- as well as visitation rights, but with Norway they can be in contact with the outside world via letters (Seierstad 31). Not everything is a luxury though, such as in Florida there is a prison in which it has a pod which has a capacity of 150 cellmates, but currently holds 230 cellmates and adding more everyday, (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration) even though most get to go outside to exercise. In Norway, the prisoners have 12 acres of an open blueberry forest, to help the prisoners relax, which is all about the path to recovery.
The topic of rehabilitation is everything to Norway, and same to the U.S, but it’s stressed more to Norway. Like what has been mentioned before, the blueberry forest is to relax the prisoners, but it’s said better by Benko. She says it’s “to ease psychological pressures, mitigate conflict and minimize interpersonal friction.” The U.S does not have forests in which their prisoners can go galloping about, instead they try to focus on the educational and behavioral side of it all, hoping that if they do something about it they could keep them from coming back, so far it’s had little progress, but it’s still a working progress. The main goal for the Norwegian prisons are to help them to prepare for getting out. They do it through education, job training, and therapy, with the thoughts of helping the inmates to find housing, and work with a steady income before being released (Benko). In the U.S, it has been said that the prisons offer less medical care and rehabilitative programming than is needed (Travis and Western 6). But in one jail called the Gadsden County Jail, they say that education is the key to not going back to prison, Asking the basic questions: How to dress for success? And how to interview for a job? (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration). Both prisons stride for getting people the help they need, but some of the processes are different.
One way Norway helps people get the help needed is that they have murals on the walls and some blank gray walls to help soothe the prisoners. The purpose of this being in prison is also to know what they did so, Benko states that “no matter where an inmate goes, they always can see the wall to remind them of their imprisonment...with the purpose of detention and rehabilitation”. There is an eerie sense of cheerfulness, modernness, and of well-appointed facilities; whereas in the U.S prisons a person can get that sense, but not as deeply (Benko). Whereas in the U.S prisons a person can see the towers of the lookout people, the Do Not Pick up Hitchhikers sign, barbed wires and other evidence of prisons, Norway doesn’t. Benko states that the outlook of the prison Halden has “no signs warning against the prison or picking up hitchhikers, no visible fences… just a 25 foot wall”. She also states that “there are no coils of razor wire, no electric fences, and no prisoner escapes.” The Norway prisons do this probably with the intention of showing it as just another place, but the U.S prisons want to be known because of what the people inside have done. Even though most of the people in there deserve punishment, most people can agree that they should get to visit with people.
In many cases, most people get visitation rights, especially in the United States, but in the Norway prisons they go beyond just seeing a friendly face.
In one particular case that a person can prove this is by when Anders Breivik was in prison. He got to send letters out, in particular to the Russians; therefore, allowing to spread and share his propaganda for his past, present, and future doings (Seierstad 31). What is meant by this is, Norwegians in prison are allowed to confer with the outside world via letter or postal service. U.S prisoners can send and receive letters, but all of it is searched and scanned for security reasons. Just like a person would think; prisoners do get visitation rights; there are some restrictions to the rights, but only on what kind they are. Mostly everything is based on the security. Security is a seen as a major point in prisons, and the U.S prisons do have a lot of it, but Norway’s on the other hand doesn’t. Their officers actually spend time with the inmates, as if they were friends. There are no cameras in the classrooms or most of the workshops, common rooms, cell hallways, or the cells themselves (Benko). They tend to put a lot of trust within each other. People could think that the United States should try to trust more of each other because it works for Norway, but then again that’s a big difference between
them.
In conclusion, people can see there is a big difference between Norwegian and U.S prisons. Depending what a person looks at will show them if they are more or less similar. Most people can agree that the demographics, sentencing, and their rehabilitation are different, whereas their food, visitation rights, and other living conditions are quite similar. A person can see that there is evidence showing the similarities and differences between such different countries. But, no matter the differences, the prisons are there for a purpose to help and hold people who have done the wrong and as long as they work, so be it.
Norway’s prisons are very contrasting …show more content…
if people were to compare them to any other country, especially the U.S. The demographics of the countries are insanely different; if people were to compare the size of Norway to the U.S, Norway has fewer people. According to an article, the U.S. houses about 321.4 million people as of 2014 and the number of people incarcerated, excluding the probation and on parole, is about 2.4 million people (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration). If that number were compared to Norway, people could see it as a big difference, based on number. According to another source, the population as of 2016 for Norway was about 5.25 million, only about 4,000 people are incarcerated. The main difference between them is that the U.S. houses more people than Norway, and when a person goes to prison in Norway they normally stay out; where as in the U.S. people usually go back. Chief McNeil believes over half of prisoners will find their way back, unless something is done (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration). In most cases, a person must do something wrong to go to prison, and this is the case here but, the crimes are often up for debate, when it comes to what is a crime based on the United States and Norway.
What is a crime? According to Merriam Webster, a crime is any illegal activity for which someone can be punished for by the government. This is true of the U.S. and Norway’s government, but they have different views on what is and isn't considered a crime. In the U.S, people can be put away for many things including drug usage, violent repeaters, and eventually someone with traffic tickets that are piled high can be put into prison, but generally they just get fined, unless it caused harm to others, the punishing differs, and many other crimes as well (Travis and Western 3). Norway does about the same except, that they really only get people for drug usage, which makes up ⅓ of their prisons, violent crimes which makes up ½ of their prisons, and on rare occasions they can put people away for violent incidents and threats. Although one thing that they do differently than the U.S is that they put away people for traffic offenses including speeding in 2005 (Benko). Even though their crimes are pretty similar, with the exception of a few, their sentencing system is a lot different when being compared.
A person would think that all sentencing systems should be the same because the crimes that a person does is similar, but this isn’t the case. Some of these decisions would be seen as insane to Americans, but seen as the norm to Norwegians. One story that is incredible, but in all the bad ways is the story of Anders Breivik. Breivik was just a nobody, seeking attention (Seierstad 30). He killed 77 people in a terror attack against Norway and acknowledged he did it, but saw nothing wrong with it (Seierstad 30). The process of this could be that he knew he’d only serve for a bit and then get out of prison; therefore, possibly making another terror attack because of the maximum number of years allowed in Norway’s prison is 21 (Benko). According to that same source, Norway doesn’t have a death penalty or a life sentence, whereas the U.S does have them with certain restrictions. So meaning if someone went out and killed a lot of people they would only have a sentence of 21 years and even with that they can get out with good behavior. If that person was in the U.S they probably would be given a life sentence. Although, if a prisoner in Norway doesn’t abide by the rules, they can get almost like a time out. They could get their tv taken away for 5 months and for them it is a long time.
When a person thinks about luxuries in life they don’t usually incorporate it with prisons. So why should people who are supposed to be punished get them. Well, unfortunately both prison systems get those types of things. In an article, Benko states, “inmates can train to get their cooking certificates and then prepare foods for themselves,” including chocolate mousse, spicy lasagna, garlic bread, and salads. But in the U.S they too must prepare their own food , but most of the time it’s chilli or also offered are kosher and vegan meals. Like what has been mentioned before, both prisons are allowed tv, and internet,-- as well as visitation rights, but with Norway they can be in contact with the outside world via letters (Seierstad 31). Not everything is a luxury though, such as in Florida there is a prison in which it has a pod which has a capacity of 150 cellmates, but currently holds 230 cellmates and adding more everyday, (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration) even though most get to go outside to exercise. In Norway, the prisoners have 12 acres of an open blueberry forest, to help the prisoners relax, which is all about the path to recovery.
The topic of rehabilitation is everything to Norway, and same to the U.S, but it’s stressed more to Norway. Like what has been mentioned before, the blueberry forest is to relax the prisoners, but it’s said better by Benko. She says it’s “to ease psychological pressures, mitigate conflict and minimize interpersonal friction.” The U.S does not have forests in which their prisoners can go galloping about, instead they try to focus on the educational and behavioral side of it all, hoping that if they do something about it they could keep them from coming back, so far it’s had little progress, but it’s still a working progress. The main goal for the Norwegian prisons are to help them to prepare for getting out. They do it through education, job training, and therapy, with the thoughts of helping the inmates to find housing, and work with a steady income before being released (Benko). In the U.S, it has been said that the prisons offer less medical care and rehabilitative programming than is needed (Travis and Western 6). But in one jail called the Gadsden County Jail, they say that education is the key to not going back to prison, Asking the basic questions: How to dress for success? And how to interview for a job? (The Cost of a Nation of Incarceration). Both prisons stride for getting people the help they need, but some of the processes are different.
One way Norway helps people get the help needed is that they have murals on the walls and some blank gray walls to help soothe the prisoners. The purpose of this being in prison is also to know what they did so, Benko states that “no matter where an inmate goes, they always can see the wall to remind them of their imprisonment...with the purpose of detention and rehabilitation”. There is an eerie sense of cheerfulness, modernness, and of well-appointed facilities; whereas in the U.S prisons a person can get that sense, but not as deeply (Benko). Whereas in the U.S prisons a person can see the towers of the lookout people, the Do Not Pick up Hitchhikers sign, barbed wires and other evidence of prisons, Norway doesn’t. Benko states that the outlook of the prison Halden has “no signs warning against the prison or picking up hitchhikers, no visible fences… just a 25 foot wall”. She also states that “there are no coils of razor wire, no electric fences, and no prisoner escapes.” The Norway prisons do this probably with the intention of showing it as just another place, but the U.S prisons want to be known because of what the people inside have done. Even though most of the people in there deserve punishment, most people can agree that they should get to visit with people.
In many cases, most people get visitation rights, especially in the United States, but in the Norway prisons they go beyond just seeing a friendly face.
In one particular case that a person can prove this is by when Anders Breivik was in prison. He got to send letters out, in particular to the Russians; therefore, allowing to spread and share his propaganda for his past, present, and future doings (Seierstad 31). What is meant by this is, Norwegians in prison are allowed to confer with the outside world via letter or postal service. U.S prisoners can send and receive letters, but all of it is searched and scanned for security reasons. Just like a person would think; prisoners do get visitation rights; there are some restrictions to the rights, but only on what kind they are. Mostly everything is based on the security. Security is a seen as a major point in prisons, and the U.S prisons do have a lot of it, but Norway’s on the other hand doesn’t. Their officers actually spend time with the inmates, as if they were friends. There are no cameras in the classrooms or most of the workshops, common rooms, cell hallways, or the cells themselves (Benko). They tend to put a lot of trust within each other. People could think that the United States should try to trust more of each other because it works for Norway, but then again that’s a big difference between
them.
In conclusion, people can see there is a big difference between Norwegian and U.S prisons. Depending what a person looks at will show them if they are more or less similar. Most people can agree that the demographics, sentencing, and their rehabilitation are different, whereas their food, visitation rights, and other living conditions are quite similar. A person can see that there is evidence showing the similarities and differences between such different countries. But, no matter the differences, the prisons are there for a purpose to help and hold people who have done the wrong and as long as they work, so be it.