Analysis
Norway has a population of approximately 5 million people; this is 12th of the UKs population. However, the UK imprisons almost double the amount of people at around 140 per 100 000, to Norway's 74.8 (JAMES, 2013). Although Halden Prison is too new to have any reliable figures of reoffenders, Norway’s recidivism rates are one of the lowest in Europe at 20 percent, compared to the UK’s 46 percent. Higher taxes have provided Norway’s prisons with a larger budget. A place in a UK prison on average costs £45 000, whereas a place at Halden costs the state £116 000. The UK’s justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, may have stated, "It is just very, very bad value for taxpayers' money to keep warehousing them in overcrowded prisons where most of them get toughened up" (GENTLEMAN, 2012). Lack of funding is reflected by the limited staffing in the UK’s prisons. At Halden prison, there is more staff than inmates, however in Wandsworth its not uncommon to find one member of staff having to look after 50 inmates, giving the inmates less support and interaction that they desperately need.
Staff members at Halden have completed a two-year university course that emphasises human rights, ethics and the law. In comparison, the UK’s officers get a few weeks training. This staggering difference hinders communication skills between the UK’s officers and inmates (GENTLEMAN, 2012).
Design is at the forefront for Halden, as they believe keeping humans in small spaces looked up all day will have no successful outcome; whereas UK prisons have been designed in Victorian times and been in constant use since. Working and education are compulsory in Halden, however through interviews I have found that although jobs and education are available in UK prisons, there simply isn’t enough staff to man the inmates. As a result many prisoners are locked up for 23, sometimes 24 hours a day. Overall Halden’s prisoner population have a much healthier and better quality of life, than those in British prisons due to their diet, cleanliness, quietness and personal space. Safety glass instead of bars, large communal areas and constant access to the outside will give a sense of normality to Haldens prisoners in preparation for their release, that simply isn’t available for those in the UK.
prison systems
design
preparation for release
Norway and the Uk offer similar necessities on release such as employment and housing. However, from interviews with prisoners, it is evident that not all that is promised prior to release is provided in the community post-release. This could explain high reoffending rates in the UK as this is one of the main reasons people start committing crimes again.
the future of uk prisons
Future plans for reform in UK prisons system have started. Nine new prisons are to be built on Brown-Field Sites across the country. The modern prisons will be significantly better at rehabilitating prisoners, and reduced costs will mean taxpayer’s money will go further. The old Victorian prisons will be used as housing to aid the housing crisis in London. Its thought this radical reform will save £80 million per year due to modernised facilities. (MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, 2015)
Background - Inmates at Halden Prison in an Educational Elass - Fig 6