HALDEN

PRISON
“THE NORWEGIAN PROGRAM”
JOHN BEL K. GALUMBA
 What is the
Halden Prison is a maximum
Halden Prison?
security prison in Halden, Norway. It focuses
on rehabilitation; its design simulates life
“The most luxurious prison”
outside the prison. Among other activities, Despite its fame, many critiques
sports and music are available to the points out that it is too liberal.
prisoners, who interact with the unarmed
staff to create a sense of community.

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SINGLE CELL OCCUPANCY
Each prison cell
is 10 square meters
(110 sq ft) and has a
flat-screen
television, desk,
mini-fridge, toilet
with shower, and
unbarred vertical
window that lets in
more light
FREE KITCHEN

Every 10–12 cells share a

common area with a kitchen and
a living room. the kitchen has
stainless steel silverware,
porcelain plates, and a dining
table, and the living room has a
modular couch and a video
game system.
GROCERY INSIDE PRISON

While the prison provides

food, the prisoners can
also buy ingredients at its
grocery shop and cook
their own meals.
OTHER AMENITIES
The prison has a fitness center,
library, chapel, athletic fields,
family visiting center, a school, and
even a full recording studio. The
prison itself is decorated in bright
colors and features original
artwork. A famous Norwegian
artist named Dolk was hired to
create bright murals throughout the
building’s hallways.
THE BENEFIT
The most profound benefit:
Norway has one of the lowest
recidivism rates in the world.
Only 20% of Norway’s formerly
incarcerated population commit
another crime within two years of
release. Even after five years, the
recidivism rate is only 25%. In
addition, the number of
incarcerated individuals has been
trending down in the past several
years.

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THE BENEFIT
Low recidivism isn’t the only benefit.
Norway’s rehabilitative approach also
benefits the country’s economy. Fewer
people in prison means that there are more
capable adults available for employment. In
fact, many prisoners leave prison with
additional skills. The Norway prison system
focuses not only on emotional and moral
rehabilitation, but also on job skills. That’s
one reason why prisoners who were
unemployed before prison see a 40%
increase in employment rates after prison.

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 IMPACT OF NORWAY
PRISON SYSTEM
The rehabilitative aspect of
Norway’s prison system is
credited as a primary factor in the
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low recidivism rate. Another
contributing factor is that Norway
seeks to maintain prisoners’
humanity during their time in
incarceration

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TREATMENT
“In Norway, the punishment is to take away someone’s
liberty,” while other rights stay.
Norwegian prisoners have the right to vote, attend school,
learn new skills, exercise, see their families, and even
participate in extracurricular activities. In fact, in many
prisons, the security officers participate in activities like
fitness and yoga right alongside the prisoners.
This is all very deliberate, as Norway’s philosophy seeks
to treat prisoners as human beings even as they are
incarcerated. This approach is believed to make reentry
into society easier. People still feel as valued as other
citizens, and they leave prison with skills, confidence, and
self-respect so they can become contributing members of
society.
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MEANWHILE IN
PHILIPPINES
BJMP had 93,961 detainees under its
care as of September last year, while
eight Bucor prisons was projected to
house 41,207 convicts this year, with
more than half, or 23,749, in the New
Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
 
With cells built for 18,881 prisoners
now housing 93,961, BJMP said its
facilities are 397 percent over capacity
while BuCor reports a 158 percent
overcapacity rate at present.

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The Problem

Over crowding Lack of funding
BJMP said its There is no money
facilities are 397 allotted in the 2021
budget proposal of the
percent over capacity Bureau of Jail
while BuCor reports a Management and
158 percent Penology (BJMP) to
overcapacity rate at build new jails despite
present. the festering problem
of overcrowding.
Lengthy detention Facilities Ill treatment and
abuses
According to the The lack of space Failure to meet the
Bureau of Jail frequently forces minimum United Nations
Management and detainees to sleep while standards for such
Penology (BJMP), sitting, or even standing; facilities, including
between 85 and 90 some take turns inadequate amounts of
percent of the more sleeping. Bedding is so food, poor nutrition, and
than 94,000 inmates inadequate that many unsanitary conditions.
in its custody are inmates sleep on Makes torture and other
awaiting or discarded cardboard forms of ill-treatment
undergoing trial. boxes. common.
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 Solution
Philippine prison system have
Focus on crime Utilization of Observed and
what it takes to be among the
prevention Community comply to ideal prison system in the
strategies based correction Mandela Rule world. How ever it lacks the
program dedication to truly implement
what it takes to become one!

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THANK YOU

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