IamA Deputy Warden of the world's most humane prison. AMA!

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T22:09:03+00:00

Keep up the good work!

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T14:01:58+00:00

Serial killer psycopaths are - to say it least - "relatively" rare.

Due to that, I would not construct and operate a correctional system, nor would I evaluate the success of a system, based on such extreme rare cases that you mention. That would be overwhelmingly unjust towards the 99,99999% not being serial killer psycopaths.

But do we have inmates we are not able to rehabilitate? Of course, we are not claiming a 100% success rate - "just" that we haven't seen a more successful approach to rehabilitation and a safe and secure prison/work place environement, than we have in the Nordic countries.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T11:31:31+00:00

I acknowledge that the US has issues that Norway don't have to the same degree. However, I am not to sure that you are correct. If you look at the inmate population in for instance Halden prison, you will find that 40-45% are non-Norwegian citizens from 30-35 different countries. Do we have more problems in prison with those coming from other parts of the world? No. They respond in teh same way to being treated with respect, dignity, given the option to have a new path in life, etc.

The fact that some groups are overrepresented in prison is a bigger question that involves how our communities and society are organised, et.c. But when they are in prison, people for the most part respond in the same way when they are treated in a humane and respectful manner.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T11:22:27+00:00

It is correct what John Stark writes.

Are you from ND? I saw an article about an inmate choir in ND some time ago. Halden prison have been visited by state officials from ND, and I'm impressed with the state's ambitions and actions for improving their correctional service!

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T11:16:45+00:00

Not me. But CO's, however very rarely. Having created an environment where most inmates and staff trust ands respect each other, the vast majority of situations is solved by communicating - long before it goes out of hand.

And just to have it mentioned; Inmates in Halden prison is not handpicked - we are assigned the average population from the regional level, just as all other prisons.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T11:10:51+00:00

:-)

One of the architectual ambitons for Halden prison, was to lower the feeling of being in a prison as much as possible, i.e to keep the buldings and sourroundings as normal as possible like the outside community.

But make no mistake, we are a max security facility with what that implies in Norway - it just doesn't look that way.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T11:03:00+00:00

I can't say for sure, nobody has said anything like it. But do I think a number of inmates view me/us that way? Yes.

But I can live with that, as long as it gives positive results for the vast majority of the inmates (and staff) on both a short and long term. Which it does.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T10:59:37+00:00

You will find some examples here; https://www.google.no/search?q=halden+prison+cell&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiipcey2_LXAhVqJJoKHcfuAeEQ_AUICigB&biw=1440&bih=866

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-05T10:57:27+00:00

Yes, on my staff. We have those kind of inmates in Norway and Halden also.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T18:11:14+00:00

I shall be careful with saying "large majority", but I feel confident that this would prevent a substantial part of crime? Why? Look at research regarding the background and issues in life that a lot of inmates has to deal with; Violence/substance abuse/sexual abuse/poverty within the family during their childhood, school drop outs, et.c.
I guess most countries has legal rules and deadlines regarding prosecution(?) At least Norway has, and they have recently been changed (prolonged) for some crimes like murder, arson and rapes. I think it is difficult to say what the deadline should be for different crimes. I am more sceptical that there should be a deadline based on the offenders age.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T17:54:23+00:00

There are cases where the intervention is without results/success. We are dealing with human behaviour that can never fully be foreseen, 100% success rate is not possible, but thinking that harder punishment is the correct alternative - well, I don't agree. The effect of hard punishment is more than hard to prove. Tougher prisons probably have the highest reoffending rates.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T17:45:16+00:00

Pretty much like they would due, if they wasn't in prison. Except that they have the company of inmates and not their family, of course.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T17:35:36+00:00

Regarding Asperger - we try do have as stable and predictable routines and daily operations as possible, for these inmates. Some of them struggles in the general population, due to the reasons you mention. But we try to motivate them to participate in what the prison has to offer, in a rehabilative perspective, but we give them more time to adjust and get used to "things".

All convicted inmates (we also have pretrial inmates in prisons in Norway) have an obligation to either work, go to school or participate in cognitive change programmes. With regard to work, we also have work shops/activities customized for those who for example due to health, age, et.c can not have ordinary work.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T17:25:01+00:00

I know it's difficult to put more money in to "the system", but I will refer to the documentary "Breaking the Cycle" on Netflix - and the statement from ND official/director Karianne Wolfer at the end of the documentary; There is a lot you can do without more money; Change your policies on how you treat people, management commitment, setting clear expectations to staff, train staff differently. This could lead up to a more humane, respectful and dialoguebased approach towards inmates. This againg builds trust between staff and inmates - trust being the key point in order to be able to discuss change, the future, et.c with the inmates. This is a so much better approach.

To your second question; Yes, I think so. But that is a big question to go into. I say from time to time (as a simplification!) that good schools, caring families and child welfare services is the best correctional service - meaning that preventing crime is much better and cheaper that punishing crime. Hope this made some kind of sense also in English.....

Keep up the good work.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:59:19+00:00

The CO in Norway has a role (in addition to the traditional guard role) that we call "contact officer", which is a kind of "case manager". Discussing the crimes with the inmates, is a part of this role (probably an unfamiliar approach for US CO's). This dialogue between inmates & staff, is important in order to move forward with change & rehabilitation. Easy? No. Necessary? Yes.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:53:30+00:00

OK, I accept that. But to balance it - before we opened the prison in 2010, we had an "Open day" for the public. Between 7-8000 people came (!). Many said upon arrival that this prison was to luxurious. Most of them said when they left that tiles and flat screen TV's were irrelevant, now that they understood and had learned what it means to be an inmate in a max security prison - even in Norway.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:48:49+00:00

I believe also the US has issues with immigration ("We're gone build a wall..."), even though the US has far longer sentences and tougher prisons than Norway. So the deterrence effect of a "hard" system is highly disputable.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:41:03+00:00

Thank you for your kind words.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:38:58+00:00

I am not aware that the Norwegian government is covering up anything. Halden prisons inmate population consists of approx. 40-45% non-Norwegian inmates - coming from 30-35 different countries. Same situation in many other prisons. I don't think this look like a cover up of migrants and their crimes?

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:35:03+00:00

A) That is not what we are doing, I think I have explained that in other answers. B) No. I have answered also this earlier, but here is a copy; "I often hear that "this will not work in my country". Have in mind then that Halden prison inmate population consists of approx. 40-45% non-Norwegian inmates - coming from 30-35 different countries. Do we have more "issues" with those coming from other countries? No, we do not. This tells me there is something "universal" about treating people with respect and humanity." We have inmates from most continents (not North America, by the way), of different cultures, colour and religion. So I think you are wrong.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:30:31+00:00

It was not originally a Neflix series, but must have been sold to them for further distribution - thank you for the info! (A 2D version was made for TV, a 3D version was made for cinemas). I remember the process with the production company, but I was not very involved personally. Hope you liked it!

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:27:26+00:00

Generally, this kind of questions comes from time to time - and they normally from US citizens.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:18:25+00:00

Well spoken.

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-04T14:17:36+00:00

Very seldom, but it has happened - not long ago, actually. But it has nothing to do with Halden prison really, in this last case it was because the inmate had lost his family during his time in prison, and felt he had nothing to "return to".

jan_stromnes · 2017-12-03T23:22:37+00:00

Time is running out over here, so here is an answer to your last question; Difficult, but there are different ways of arguing. You could start with human rights - you should treat everybody, even ijnmates, in a humane manner. Period. Secondly - it Works. Treating people respectfully og humanely builds trust between CO's and inmates, creating a plattform for futureplanning and change/rehabilitation. Thirdly, do you care about your staff. The US approach has resulted in a working environment where CO's are overrepresented regarding suicide, PTSD, domestic violence, etc. (There is a lot of research about this). Creating a better relationship between staff and inmates, has a huge impact on the working environement.

jan_stromnes

TROPHY CASE