Norwegian prison system
Discussion
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/25/norw...
Is such a prison a possibility in the UK?
I can't see any real problems with it, apart from a perceived lack of justice. Only 16% of prisoners reoffend, which on a societal level is amazingly positive.
Prisoners are people. They might have had rough upbringings, made great mistakes in life and done terrible things, but if we genuinely expect them to be able to live in societ after being released then we have to teach them how to live within society. That means helping them to understand the notions of respect, accountability, not being threatening etc.
Treat prisoners like animals and it will only serve to make them act like animals. On the outside they will feel more defensive and threatened by society and only go on to make themselves more marginalised / dangerous.
Unfortunately I can't see such a system happening anytime soon in the UK, not as long as we follow the American way, which in my opinion is based around short-termist reactionary thinking (hell, its part of the culture, just look at how the economic system was run).
Its a shame, because to me the Norwegian way seems quite positive as far as the larger picture is concerned.
Is such a prison a possibility in the UK?
I can't see any real problems with it, apart from a perceived lack of justice. Only 16% of prisoners reoffend, which on a societal level is amazingly positive.
Prisoners are people. They might have had rough upbringings, made great mistakes in life and done terrible things, but if we genuinely expect them to be able to live in societ after being released then we have to teach them how to live within society. That means helping them to understand the notions of respect, accountability, not being threatening etc.
Treat prisoners like animals and it will only serve to make them act like animals. On the outside they will feel more defensive and threatened by society and only go on to make themselves more marginalised / dangerous.
Unfortunately I can't see such a system happening anytime soon in the UK, not as long as we follow the American way, which in my opinion is based around short-termist reactionary thinking (hell, its part of the culture, just look at how the economic system was run).
Its a shame, because to me the Norwegian way seems quite positive as far as the larger picture is concerned.
grumbledoak said:
You'll no doubt be shocked to hear that it isn't. Hateful rags, both.
Theres a piece in the Economist ( http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/... ) as well as Time ( http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2... ) if they are any more suited to you?Ironically, its that bastion of enlightened and logical thought, Fox News (video on the Economist link) , that is most critical of the system.
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