Halden, the world's most humane prison

Halden, the world's most humane prison

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Halden, the world's most humane prison

Halden is one of Norway's highest security prison, holding the rapists, murderers and pedophiles. Photos: Gughi Fassino

Halden prison smell of freshly brewed coffee. Hits you in the workshop, stay alive in the game room and the apartment-style communal area where inmates live together in groups of eight. It is a lot of coffee makes you hungry, so a few hours after lunch, the guards in the Unit A (wing, which still separated sex offenders are held for their own protection) carries a high pile of steaming resistance, heart-shaped waffles and pot of jam, which they set in checked tablecloth and eating together, whiling away the afternoon.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

More remarkable is how quiet the prison. None of the banging, constant anger from the door you hear in a British jail, not least because the prisoners are not locked during the day long. Governor, Do Høidal, was surprised when I asked about the figures for attacks on prison guards, inpatient staff, restrictions on guard prisoners or detainees in-attack. I explained that British prisons are required to log this data, and that the last prison that I visited had a problem with the screws to detainees melt plastic pens, for use as a stabbing weapon, he looked surprised, to say no a lot of violence here and he can not remember when was the last time there was a fight.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

Halden is one of Norway's highest security prison, holding the rapists, murderers and pedophiles. Since opening two years ago, at a cost of 1.3 billion Norwegian kroner (£ 138m), has gained a reputation as the world's most humane prison. This is the flagship of the Norwegian court system, where the focus is on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

There was speculation earlier that Anders Breivik, currently on trial in Oslo for the murder of 77 people, may end up here, given that there are some high-level security options in Norway, but now looks unlikely, at least for the first piece of his sentence. If she judged insane, he will probably remain in isolation in Ila prison where he is currently on hold, the former Nazi concentration camp with a less utopian vision. However, the underlying ethos of the prison Halden Norway provides insight into attitudes towards justice, which is under the supervision of a state judge how to deal Breivik.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

When Halden opened, attracting global attention to the design and the relative splendor. Located in a forest, prison block is a model of minimalist chic. Høidal lifted down from his office wall a framed award for best interior design, gifts given in recognition of stylized white laminated tables, tangerines, and elegant leather sofas, chairs decorated thin all over the place. Sometimes, the neighborhood feels more Scandinavian boutique hotel of class A prison.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

Hotel frequent comparisons. Høidal just returned from visiting a British prison and had to stay overnight at a hotel of Oxford Street. Luckily for the hotel, he did not remember the name, but he saw his room would be smaller and probably less good than the cells in Halden. Each cell Halden has a flat screen television, toilet itself (which, unlike the British standard prison cell, also has a door) and the bath, which comes with a large, soft, white towels. Prisoners have their own refrigerator, cabinets and new pine table in the bright, white magnet pinboards and large windows overlooking the mossy forest scenery unbarred.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

"There are a lot of focus on design," said Høidal. "We want to be bright and positive."

Clearly hotel is a stupid comparison, because the problem was in prison, did not like living in a hotel, is that you can not go. Even if the prison compound has more in common with the campus, modern university village, a young and enthusiastic staff (who push themselves around the complex in the fashionable, silver two-wheeled scooters), a key point about it is that hidden behind the silver birch tree is walls, thick concrete high, it is impossible to scale.

Given the constraints have to watch 245 high-risk people in prison, creating a similar environment is a priority for unprisonlike may Høidal and prison architects. "Architecture is not like other prisons," said Høidal. "We're not going to look like a prison We want to create normality .. If you can not see the wall, it can be anything, anywhere. Life behind the wall should be as much as possible to live outside the walls."

Halden, the world's most humane prison

This principle is regulated in part by the key features of the Norwegian penal system, which does not have a life sentence and set a maximum period of 21 years.

"Everyone who was jailed in Norway prison to be released - Breivik .. Maybe not, but others will go back to the community we see what kind of neighbors you want to have when they come out if you live in a box for several years, then you're not a good when you get out if you treat them hard ... well, we do not think that will make them hard to treat them better people .. We are not thinking about revenge in the Norwegian prison system we have. focus more on rehabilitation. It is a long time because we are a fight between inmates. this is the building that makes people more gently. "

Inmates will be opened at 7:30 and locked for the night at 8:30. During the day they are encouraged to attend work and educational activities, with a daily payment of 53 kroner (£ 5.60) for those who leave their cells. "If you have very little activity, you are becoming more aggressive inmates," said Høidal. "If they sit all day, I do not think that it is very good for someone if they are busy, then they are more happy .. We try to not let them institutionalized."

Halden, the world's most humane prison

"We're not thinking about revenge in the Norwegian prison system," said governore Do Høidal, 'if we focus more on rehabilitation. "

The role of prison guards are very different in England. While officers in England get training a few weeks, Norway will have completed two years of university courses, with emphasis on human rights, ethics and law. No member of staff at the Halden 340 (including teachers and health workers) to 245 male inmates. Staff are encouraged to mingle with the inmates, talking to them, counseling them, work with them to combat their crime. Much attention is given to ensure people have homes and jobs to go when they leave, and that the family bond is maintained. (There is a villa-style house with a complete collection for prisoners to receive visits from their families last night.) "We have more prison officers of prisoners They talk about why they're here, what got them into trouble in this crime .. We played to help them and to keep them in prison governor is a unique role in Norway .. They are meant to be a coach, motivator, role model for other prisoners. "

Halden, the world's most humane prison

The regime is expensive - about 3,000 kroner (£ 320) a night, compared to about 2,000 (£ 213) in, an institution that is more fundamental Norwegian parents, such as the Oslo prison where inmates are locked up for 23 of the 24 hours, but less expensive than the Ila, in where the number of guards is higher and costs 4000 kroner (£ 426) a night. Halden year in state costs of about £ 116,000, while the average cost of a place in the UK is £ 45,000.

The cost is only one of the reasons prison reformers in Britain do not think there is a prospect of the model adopted here Halden. We have doubled the number of prisoners that Norway has (approximately 140 per 100,000 in England and Wales, to 74.8 Norway), and has a smaller prison population keeps things simple for the Norwegian state. Halden is so new, there are no figures yet for how quickly and often drift back to prison inmates after their release, but has one of Norway's national recidivism rate lowest in Europe, only 20% after two years, compared with about 50% in England. Most of it into the prison system, but it also results from the welfare system is much better. There is little popular appetite for the softening of the prison regime in this country. Justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, may have stated, "It was just the very, very bad for the taxpayers' money to keep their warehouses in overcrowded prisons where most of the time till they get", but the initial commitment to address the growing number prison is not well received.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

Large amount of money and thought devoted to the inmates at the Halden did not stop them (politely) express their distaste for the place and their desire to leave as soon as possible. An older prisoner, with terminal cancer, a long serving for drug smuggling, is in the space craft, knit teddy bear toy with no enthusiasm for his job. He acknowledged that the Halden smell better than others he has been in prison, because it has no smell moldy old buildings, or the stench of the body is squeezed together in a cell near. "The only fun is building," he said. "People think that you are staying at a five star hotel, but jail is jail They locked you up .."

Kent, 43-year office manager serving three years for violent attacks, was sitting in the studio mixing the prison, where inmates were prerecorded music and create a program that is broadcast every month by a local radio station. He has formed a band with three other inmates and two guards, and performs regularly for fellow inmates. Leaning back in his swivel chair, sipping on coffee and playing with a red baseball cap, he admitted he could focus on enjoying the music, but said, "Prison Halden has been compared to the best hotel. That's the impression I have friends and parents from reading the newspaper Not true .. The real issue is freedom, which is taken from you. That is the worst thing that could happen to you. When the door slammed in the evening, you sit there in a small room was. always a difficult time. "

Halden, the world's most humane prison

He has a son aged 10 and 12. "I think about them 24/7 I talked to them three times a week for 30 minutes. But there is so much talk, so I need to do to them. I thought I would never commit another crime. Freedom means a lot to me."

There is some interference from the staff focus on building, not on principles that encourage prison rehabilitation. "One of the politicians when it opened said," I could stay here for a year, no problem. 'But he's in a cell for two minutes, "said Janne Offerdal, who teach English to inmates (especially for foreign nationals caught smuggling drugs into the country; the prisoners Norway all speak perfect English)." They compared the prison facility But if your parents are building a new building now, you will not build the old .. "

Halden, the world's most humane prison

Høidal is confused by the popular fascination with the prisoners flatscreen TV, shows that it is now possible to buy the old model. "I do not call these cells is 10 square meters of luxury, toilet, shower, that's all .."

Nothing is pleased to be here. Admissions officer explained that the most positive reaction is a sense of relief. When they brought in, "some of them are crying," he said. "They do not know what they will do with their dogs aggressive There are those that are high on drugs, or withdrawing from drugs, which is not always easy to handle .. Only the old people who've been in prisons others are happy to be in Halden. "

As we walked around the compound, a prisoner appears to require Høidal, "Can we have a pool?" He laughed, and remember the shock of the Russian prison governor who recently visited and horrified to see that inmates do not stand to attention when it comes Høidal past but clustered around it, seize the opportunity to register their complaints.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

Halden has the award for interior design. Sometimes, the neighborhood feels more Scandinavian boutique hotel of class A prison.

There are no plans for a swimming pool, but Høidal not want to make a jogging track through the woods, and the young gym teacher (who worked on the special program for recovering drug addict) said he hopes to begin learning rock climbing in summer.

I wonder if it's a good idea to teach inmates how to scale rock faces, but he responded in amazement injured. "There will be no security risk I would not teach them how to run away .." There was no escape, or business.

Sports center is focused on team sports, especially football. There are some bits of training equipment, but no burden, because Høidal not approve them: "I see the negative effects of too focused on the muscles It is a violent thing.".

Halden, the world's most humane prison

The detainees said they were disturbed by Høidal recent changes to the routines, but they respect when they greeted him. He listened politely, agree that the prison can be a mild irritation of the frustration, but said that people outside the building would laugh at the trivial nature of their complaints.

In winter, when the compound was covered with snow, one of the prisoners went out and stamped around for a while. Look out of the canteen staff later, the guards saw him writing Help Me with his footprints. A British detainee may burn his cell, even this is done to attract attention in the most non-aggressive.

I see only one part of the prisoner graffiti, doodles rather half-hearted in A4 printed notices (to avoid causing permanent damage): "Screw the rules" (only the pen has stopped working, so all you really read the hell r) . If not, there is a prison-sanctioned graffiti, repeated logo inmates in striped uniforms, it seems to be throwing the ball and chain for the wind, which adorn our walls and the toilet door, and was assigned to the considerable cost of the Norwegian artist Dolk graffiti, from the prison kroner 6m (£ 640,000) budget art.

Large, blown-up photographs of lilies, pictures of Paris streets or Moroccan tiles cover the corridor. Høidal not have a clear answer whether the image has a positive effect on inmate behavior, but said that whenever a state building opened in Norway, 1% of the art ongoing development budget.

Halden, the world's most humane prison

One wild-eyed former amphetamine addict Høidal slap on the back, telling him that he was a good man, but said he missed his old prison, Oslo, where he served the previous sentence. More of the drug problem in prison, he adds wistfully. Høidal Halden agreed that prison style, with the presence of non-stop from the keeper wants to talk and help the prisoners, did not suit everyone. "Some people do not like them being around all the time If you want drugs, you prefer Oslo prison .."

Another prisoner, lived in relative seclusion from the Unit A, where he was a year to the sentence for sexual abuse of a minor, to pay tribute to the humanity of prison staff (as opposed to that of the fellow prisoners, who, when they discover what it is in prison, announced they would cut up her). "The people who work here do not look down on you," he said. Compared to the 1850's Eidsberg prison, where he was before, Halden is a relief: "Being there and being here, it's like heaven and hell."

Two prison officers were sitting with eight prisoners in the block-A, encouraging them to knit wool hat. One also has an oil canvas expensive for them to experiment with, but there is no appetite for a lot of activity, so after the waffle is finished, they returned to play card games.

The politeness of staff and inmates can be seen everywhere. Information for new prisoners translated into English for those who do not speak Norwegian. Text is apologetic about the possibility that they may have to wait before they moved into the cell, and concluded: "We hope you have understood to wait it out and hope to assist you as quickly as possible with the greeting, reception staff .."

Maybe I was not there long enough to be angry or latent sense of deep despair, but Halden did not feel like a place where you have to look over your shoulder. An official at the health division said that about 40% of the inmates will take sleeping pills, and between 10% and 20% were anti-depressant, but overall the atmosphere is calm.

Although the food is provided by the prison, inmates can buy ingredients to make their own food. Prison shop has wasabi paste for those who want to make sushi. You can buy garam masala, vanilla pods or halva, and no prime beef fillet at 350 kroner (£ 37) a kilo, the prisoners club together to buy when they want to make a special dish. The books most frequently borrowed in the library are cookbooks. Refrigerator most prisoners' full of cheese and yoghurt drinks; some said that they had put on weight as they arrive.

3 pm, the table is set for 10, with white china plates, cups and white napkins, the drug rehabilitation unit, where Robert, 45, and a former addict and dealer, lived. Some prisoners are sitting on the couch watching television with brown wool. Looks like an ad for a family ski chalet, complete with beautiful forest scenery. This is the main meal of the day, after that, between four and five prisoners would be locked in their cells for one hour to allow time to break the prison guards, then there will be free time to lock-up at 08:30.

Sometimes the prisoners spoke Breivik trial, which followed on television. On the whole they do not believe the liberal regime from which they benefit should be extended to him. "He can not stay in a place like this," said Robert. "If I see it, I'll knock him down I was a good prisoner. But I will do it and I'll brag about it. Everyone wanted to take him out."

A prisoner, Patrick, is serving 12 years for smuggling drugs, is one of two prisoners who organized a collection of prison-wide to buy flowers for the victims of the attacks that Breivik. All the people give up their daily wage of 53 kroner (£ 5.60), even the prime minister was moved by the gesture. "That's terrible, what happened, and we feel helpless," said Patrick. "We wanted to do something that I was surprised that it gets so much media attention, I was surprised that people think, 'You're prisoners, but you are so good.'. We are also human beings we also have daughters, sisters, children .. "

Halden, the world's most humane prison

Høidal said, with some help, that if Breivik who had transferred to Halden, will not be for at least a decade, by which he will retire. Although special arrangements may be made to the first phase of detention Breivik, he believes the Norwegian principle of fair and liberal punishment will not be threatened by the cruelty of it. In the days after the attack, the prime minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, said, "We were shocked but we will not give up our values ​​our response is more freedom, more democracy .."

Høidal echoed his words: "If it happens again, then maybe we will have another discussion about the system For now, I do not think that this case will change the thinking Norway .."

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