American Reaction | Prisoners In Finland Live In Open Prisons Where They Learn Tech Skills

[@spumantetoni]

I don't know why, but as a German i'm so f* happy that a young american is interested in the rest of the world and how we handle things 🙂

I know right! The thing I like the most about these "US American reacts to the world"-type of videos, is that the US based reactors often end up learning more about their own country, in relation to other countries, than what they learn about other countries, just by being able to compare their own situation to others. I'm not saying all US Americans are dumb or whatever. But their general lack of knowledge about the rest of the world is often hampering them from being able to examine their own situation, as it means they lack the necessary comparative data to draw conclusions from. In conclusion, I just find it fascinating seeing all these young US Americans, like Heidi and many other reactors on here, whom have set out to learn more about the world/another region/country etc. And in the end it always seems to provide them with a looking glass into their own society.

[@paddington1670]

@ well said. very well said.

[@andreaskoch4675]

what he said.

[@lea88pu]

I think most of us would love to see them get better bcs their influence on the world is important and if it is not a good one we are all f*cked.

[@daniel4647]

@@lea88pu Exactly, if the US keep going down the road they have been then we're looking at WW3 soon, somebody needs to get them back on track. it used to be a pretty nice place that brought a lot of good qualities to the world. In another one of these Nordic prison videos, the one from the Michael Moore docu, one of the Norwegian prison guards even pointed out that we got those values from the US. It's really sad what's happened to them. I guess it's a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy, the situation they're in now is exactly why they wrote into the constitution the right to bear arms, to bad they decided to just use that for shooting school children.

[@ninjahart]

You can't lock people up for years, only focusing on punishing them and then expect them to behave like a productive member of society when they are released. If you want them to be a productive member of society after getting released from prison, you have to help them on that path while they are in prison.

[@stanislavbandur7355]

there is a saying "To lock as..le in group of as..les and awaiting turning him into good man is BS"

[@samfetter2968]

​@@michaelpucher3451not really. They didn't have a low criminal rate at the beginning. Nor are all of them that homogenous. That's just racist talkingpoints. Long debunked. The US has in general no higher crime rates than other industrialized countries. And certainly not higher ones than just as if not even more multicultural countries. It still has a...in some cases ten times...higher incarceration rate. And while white people in the US commit crimes at he exact same rate than other ethnic groups...they are convicted less, get lower sentences if convicted and are released on probation much more easily. It's not that those countries are more homogenous...it is because they are *less racist*

[@samfetter2968]

@@michaelpucher3451 and you take the very same crime statistics and check for poverty...it is the more poor that have more crime. And I call bullshit on your first claim to begin with. One of the EU countries with the highest diversity rate...Germany...has way lower crime rates than any east european country. All of whom have lower diversity rates. And I have a feeling that your second claim...over 50% incarcerated to be foreigners in your country...to be bullshit as well. What country? Just name it so I can fact check that. I have a feeling ya going to chicken out of that one...won't you?😏

[@samfetter2968]

@@michaelpucher3451 btw...the fact that most incarcerations amongst US citizens are drug crime related is racist. The war on drug was specifically started to target minorities in the US, as at the time marihuana usage Was most prevalent among blacks and those tended to vote democrat. That's why a republican thought going after them was a good idea. The more you know...😏

[@SirHeinzbond]

but america needs its thousands slaves to make it great again... oh sorry, that's wrong... the prisons owners need the millions of incarcerated slave to earn more money now...

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

People often forget that we still have high security prisons here. people there are either non violent criminals or they behaved well for years.

[@Paltse]

I never would have imagined that the prisoners in high sec are either non-violent or well behaved.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

@@Paltse people there, as in people in the prison this video is about. those 2 sentences i made arent ment to be read together, thats why there is a dot. but yeah im no english grandmaster.

[@Paltse]

@@Alexandros.Mograine Paragraphs are the building blocks of papers. Many students define paragraphs in terms of length: a paragraph is a group of at least five sentences, a paragraph is half a page long, etc. That is an example of a paragraph that includes two sentences with a period separating them but the subject uniting them.

[@loshotsos8767]

@@Paltse nerd

[@dogstar5572]

You can tell how civilised a country is by how they treat their prisoners. Someone clever said that, don’t know who.

[@eidodk]

The first one who said it was Fyodor Dostoevsky. Nelson Mandela has said the same.

[@dogstar5572]

@@eidodk Thanks for that.

[@Jantzku]

At the same time, Prisoners respect it and don't try to abuse it.

[@henrimarjoan7876]

We treat our prisoners better than our non prisoners. They have better food than our schools (atleast more expensive) newer computers than our schools. I think open prisons are good for a non violent criminals but fuck the murders, rapists and abusers.

[@WolfHeathen]

@@henrimarjoan7876 In 2020 there were ~2700 prisoners in Finland and ~1,7 million students. There's only so much money you can spend on a program. The cost for food will go up when you have fewer people to feed. You can, for example, afford to spend €5 per meal per prisoner but only €2,50 for every student because more people means you have to stretch the budget even further, and every individual gets less as a result. It doesn't necessarily mean the quality of food is actually higher.

[@agun214]

i am so jealous of finland in every way. im from wisconsin and we need more saunas. the sauna-to-person ratio is way too small and finland does saunas right. i bet there are saunas in prison in finland

[@sormiliha]

I think the inmates might riot without a sauna.

[@anttikalpio4577]

Yes. Every prison has saunas for inmates. Usually they get to use it once a week. Of course. We actually had our Parliamentary Ombudsman take part and write a note to one of our prisons couple years back because they had closed inmates sauna due to air quality problems. According to ombudsman sauna is part of Finnish culture and it is a violation of equal rights to not have possibility to use sauna

[@Screwital420]

Yes there are. Take it from someone who has been to one a few times

[@lolsaXx]

Finish people build the Sauna before the house.

[@obsolete959]

You're on the right track with your thinking. Finland has the most saunas per capita, the most metal bands per capita and most coffee consumed per capita and they're ranked as the happiest nation in the world year after year. Coincidence? I think not! What the US needs to do is to start funding metal bands from taxes, replace Starbucks with real coffee places and build a sauna to every house and apartment and it's going to get back on track to being a great country.

[@domramsey]

I guess it comes down to a simple question: Do you want to punish people, or do you want to stop it happening in future? I can totally understand victims and their families wanting some kind of 'revenge' but if treating people with respect is what solves the problem, then obviously that's the route to take. Great video!

[@MidWitPride]

Then again, there needs to be a balance. True, there are murderers that can be treated and redeemed, but at the same time there also are some absolute monsters that short of physically rewiring their brain cannot be cured no matter how many positive opportunities you give them. As a Finn, i feel like our current system doesn't have a great solution for those few monsters, and that brings down the value of the entire justice system. Some absolute psychopath who kills for the thrill of it just abusing the goodwill of the system for their own gain really does corrode the citizen's trust of the system, when said person gets like 16 years in a relatively comfortable prison for murdering your entire family in glee. People like that aren't common, but they do exist, and there really isn't much of a solution for them in Finland. Stuff like that really invites vigilante justice, which isn't great.

[@henrimarjoan7876]

There is also the other side of the coin. Many of the murderers and violent criminals are already lost causes. So "treating them with silk gloves" and letting them out just makes it them able to murder and harm others. Example: Michael Penttilä killed his mother and one of the girl he kidnapped (other run away). He got 7 years in prison in 1987. He got released in 1992 and in 1993 he strangled woman to death again and got 9,5 year years in prison. In 2009 he was released again and tried to strangle 3 woman to death but failed so he got only 4 year sentence for that. In 2012 he got 4 year again from rape and abuse. In 2016 he got released and in 2017 police wanted him be locked for planning a murder but charges got dropped and he was released. In 2018 he strangled another woman to death and got life sentence (14 years on average).

[@henrimarjoan7876]

Im not fan of the American system either but my countrys system where the murders life is more valuable than the victims is fucked up.

[@nanna2339]

Well of cource Mikael Penttilä is exception. He is fricking SERIAL KILLER. Serial killers in general, should never be free.

[@Devillunar]

@@henrimarjoan7876 That is a very good point. There are people that have strong psychological problems that could lead to such horrible acts. That's why there should be heavy psychological counseling. People can fake good behavior, but psychologists can see through most of it and can analyze if a person has a psychological disorder. Being a serial killer is not a normal human behavior. And if a prisoner isn't seen as psychological fit, the prisoner shouldn't be taken out of jail. If the psychological problem is too big that it couldn't be solved by prison, the person shouldn't be put to a prison but to a psychiatric facility. There are cases of people that couldn't be solved by psychological counseling and medication but these are very very low percentages.

[@Screwital420]

I spent few months with this first dude in a same prison years ago. He was just starting to do his time for his crime. Nice fella, hopefully doing fine now Edit: If i remember correctly he stabbed someone drunk. He told me what he told me, and i didn't feel the need to probe the matter any further back then

[@julianaFinn]

I think I heard that about him as well. The stabbing, I mean. Some kind of fight gone wrong. I don't think he was a serial killer or anything so nice to see he has some dignity given to him.

[@Songfugel]

One thing to keep in mind is that the psychotic and actively dangerous prisoners are never ever allowed to these programs. So do not worry that those people are being let loose to serve their sentences in the open prisons. In fact, mentally ill criminals are not even sent to the same systems as normal prisoners, but to more specialized mental institutions that can hopefully either "fix" them, or to keep them from harming themselves or others. However, these can be very very problematic case by case situations with no good solutions Also the fact that mental & physical health care + medication is free, so people usually don't get into legal trouble due to their conditions, since they are usually caught at an early stage and people are given guidance and medication that can help them manage their lives better. Ofc. violent crimes of passion for these mentally unstable people can be more common, especially if substance use is involved and they have not been taking their meds properly. Actually almost all crime in Finland is done under the influence of alcohol, and they are almost never premediated

[@Hansen710]

in fact some does end up in those situations.. after all some people that did very bad things do get out, and they need to take that step very slow... people kills often ends up outside the prison system, without a time limit.. those start in mental hospitals and can be in a open place in a matter of months depending on the crime and how they react to the time they are locked up.. many people would probetly not have gotten a house next to those places, if they knew who was living there 🤐 they often go to the same places, that have experience with those cases. i have 2 of my old friends that killed someone random, and one of them got 12 years in prison. and the other was free after 2 years treatment.. it was all a matter of who could fool the test that was done before their court cases.. both of them are psychopath´s no matter time i think the guy that was free after 2 years forgot to tell them he shot his dad in the foot not long before he killed someone, for example or about all the times he did pretty the same as he did to the dead guy, but people did not die and he got away

[@CPPpotkustartti]

9:55 In picture are Antti Rannanjärvi and Antti Isotalo (Antti is first name, to avoid possible confusion) who were infamous Puukkojunkkari, or people who wanted to use knife in Finland. These two and others like them enjoyed to cause troubles, chaos and such. They had lots of running with Law and at one point, Isotalo decided to assist building school, was part of founding of Finnish Youth Association and lived pretty peaceful life while Rannanjärvi continued his *Knifehood* and was later killed.

[@Aquelll]

The curfew in those open prisons is basically based on your school or work schedule. So you deliver those to the prison and they let you leave based on those times and the school/employer is required to make sure you actually are there and inform the prison if you're not. You can also apply for extra leave for things like that meeting at Reaktor Matti had or family celebrations/funerals and such. But the prison is following your comings and goings really strictly and breaking those rules will eventually take you back into the closed prison. Because getting into open one is not as straightforward either. It is usually towards the end of your sentence and if you have shown to be trustworthy during your stay in the closed prison.

[@julianaFinn]

Yeah, my father was allowed to go to work, come home for dinner and then he had to present himself at the prison by 8 or 9 pm. He stayed there during the night but worked during the day. Mum didn't tell us he was locked up until a few years later so I didn't notice that he left each evening lmao.... he sure never went back once released because allowing him to see us and work made him aware of what he was missing out on by being locked up. He was non-violent offender, btw.

[@HootMaRoot]

I know the UK doesn't have the best prison system but over the last 20 years atleast in Scotland they have been offering education with the possibility of degrees. I had a friend that was in prison for almost 10 years he didn't do a degree but came out with all the qualifications for cooking and is now a head chef of a fairly big restaurant

[@HH-hd7nd]

Perfect example of what most people why are in favor of harsh punishment don't understand: Most people who are imprisoned didn't commit crimes because they are bad people but because of shitty situations and a lack of options to live a decent life. There are exceptions of course (people like Ted Bundy or Anders Behring Breivik come to mind who are in fact just evil people that cannot be rehabilitated) but most people in prison, even people who committed violent crimes, are not like that.

[@Luredreier]

@@HH-hd7nd I mostly agree with you. However regarding labeling people "evil", I know that it's incredibly tempting. But it's just way too simplistic...

[@holmbjerg]

@@Luredreier Maybe you can call them sadist then. People who takes pleasure in inducing suffering on others. You cannot fundamentally change them. Luckily there are only few of them. The vast majority can be reformed.

[@Luredreier]

@@holmbjerg Actually, there's a *lot* more sadists out there then you think, myself included. Most sadists I know are more ethically aware then your average citizen *because* of their feelings and societies view on said feelings. It *forces* you to think. No, sadism has nothing to do with this. Lack of empathy however might... But that's a *different* group. At any rate, this is about selfish behavior and selfishness in general. But also about people with distorted world views. Brevik wasn't "evil", he *genuinely* though that he was doing the right thing. His understanding of the world was severely warped however. Something I also believe was true for Hitler. I can't even imagine the trauma he must have gone through during WW1. And then his home country was split up after the war, and he had to deal with the depression as well. And all of the conspiracy theories that tends to pop up when people get desperate. What he did was *absolutely* wrong. But I can definitely see how he got there. The same applies to most other people out there that we may think of as "evil". "Evil" is just a constructed concept that we humans have created to allow us to put people in the "other" category. And it's oh so convenient to do a "us" vs "them" separation and dehumanize "them" instead of *actually* trying to understand them. People just don't want to take responsibility for how they themselves actually may have a influence on the growth of what they think of ass "evil" around them through their day to day life, simply through not seeing other peoples humanity, not taking a stand, not being there for others that's struggling. Take the republicans that stormed the US legislature for instance... While their views are warped, and so is the republican party in general, just ignoring it all as "crazy" fails to address some of the *genuine* grievances they have. The issues that *they* face that we on the left might not see in *our* lives, etc.

[@argantyr5154]

I think we should also try and look at this investment. Sure it cost some to learn these skills, no doubt about it. But compare it to how much it would have costed if he had continued down that road, people in prison cost money, cloth, food, electricity guards etc. By getting a job, and instead of costing money, he is giving us (society) money back from taxes, and he is not ruining other peoples life by stealing, dealing or whatever he did. So to me this Investment is well worth it.

[@ExitiumNL]

4:27 That's what the incarceration rate is for, amount of incarcerated people per 100.000. The US scores 629, Finland scores 50. Some other nations: Australia: 167 Brazil: 381 Canada: 104 China: 119 Cuba: 510 France: 119 Germany: 70 Mexico: 169 Netherlands: 60 Russia: 326 Rwanda: 580 (highest after the US) Spain: 113

[@key.li.835]

You earn your right to be in an open prison by good behavior. If you mess up, you go back to higher security prison.

[@marsukarhu9477]

I think the Finnish incarceration rate in the 50's was really high because they had a horrific war against the USSR during the WW2 and the trauma and general lack of resources because of that caused a lot of havoc.

[@MrMarinus18]

If you have a lack of resources. Having many people locked up. Not only completely unproductive but also a large liability in terms of caring for them and preventing them from revolting doesn't seem like the way to way. The US prison system is a massive money drain and I wouldn't think Finland wuold want that liability at that time.

[@squidcaps4308]

My dad was building that old women prison in Hämeenlinna. He was a prisoner too but conscious objector, not a real criminal. We have conscription. They had 14 guys doing the same thing, around the same age, in one unit, it was more like a summer camp to them than a prison. He even had both of his brothers with him.. They gather to reminiscence those times every few years, but of course, there are fewer of them every time they meet.

[@millmoormichael6630]

joukossa tyhmyys tiivistyy 😂

[@eddys.3524]

I'm quite impressed by this Finnish prison programme. It takes effort to give people a (real) second chance in lif after they've served their time to a whole new level. I wouldn't be surprised that prisoners who can follow certain programmes must meet a number of requirements. I missed that aspect in the video. Happy New Year !

[@iPanicyt]

ive been very satisfied with subbing to the channel, it's nice to eat dinner and see different perspectives. Thanks a lot for that

[@Yuu_Touko]

I'm so happy to live in Finland! Wonderful place indeed, especially nature!

[@nobodx]

@7:00 - just for reference, 15 years ago (2007) was the year facebook and the iphone made their debut - if you got in prison then, everything since then you would've missed. Also as i wrote below the last video, i highly recommend the documentary "Breaking the circle" about american prisons

[@Inadharion]

4:55 Finland isn't Scandinavian, though.

[@puhistagram]

Once I was part time ice cream truckdriver and stay a home dad. One stop was inside "open house", prison and that was very profitable stop. Customers had waited for me and I felt very appreciated ;D

[@ammygamer]

That's really sweet. I hope it helped them to feel a little bit of child-like whimsy. I wonder how many still talk about that as a very fond memory, despite the circumstances. Sometimes it's good to be remembered that it's okay to allow yourself to enjoy simple things, to be included, even if you feel ashamed of what you did. You are still human.

[@julianaFinn]

My father spent over 6 months in a Finnish prison in the 80s. He got to go to work each day at his real job, even come and see us at home for dinner and then returned to sleep in the prison at night. He wasn't a violent offender so allowing him to keep his job and see his family ensured that he never wanted to go back to prison and have him done dignity. He was mortified of course but it taught him never to mess up again and he didn't. I miss home. I live in Australia now and while our prisons are not like the ones in the USA nowadays, they are not great.

[@SimoExMachina2]

The two fellows in the picture with the chains on their necks where one the most notorious criminals in Finnish crime history. They were Antti Rannanjärvi and Antti Isotalo, the leaders of a gang of knife fighters ("puukkojunkkari", in Finnish). For all intents and purposes they were the mobsters of the 19th century Finland, responsible for murders, robberies, blackmail, beatings and so on. Eventually they did get caught and the pics were from the time of their incarceration.

[@tomppa2924]

I love your videos! Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮 you have beautiful smile and I love your smile

[@wendajones9040]

I really like your reviews. Love your curiosity, open-mindedness and enthusiasm.

[@OrginalRaxor]

One thing to remember.... Crime and poverty is very much connected... When its "only" 50 of 100.000 incacerated in Scandinavia in average, one of the reason are indeed the massive social wellfare we have, and the lack of extreme poverty. Having said that, in Scandinavia in general, we kinda think about rehabilitation a lot more, as we would like convicts to be "good neighbours" after they get out, and we tend to think a little less about getting "revenge" and locking people away forever. And it kinda makes sense from an economic viewpoint aswell.... as they get out and are able to contribute to society better, and we dont have to pay to keep them in prison forever. In Denmark you CAN get life, and a few do, but mostly life is around 16 years on average as you can aply for parole. Really dangerous people (mentally ill or the likes) dont get sentenced to prison, but rather to secure wards, functioning more like asylums, and they are only getting out once the Medical staff deems they are not a danger to themselves nor the public.

[@arska77]

Hey Heidi, greetings from Finland 🇫🇮✌️

[@juhapihkanen]

8:40 Finnish broadcasting company (YLE) made a reality TV series about this new prison called Linna.

[@OldGuyJan]

No matter what kind of prison system you have, there will always be crime, but I think that giving people a opportunity to make a living after prison, and not restart from the bottom will make it less likely to return to crime. And I’m all for treating prisoners like human beings is important whatever their crimes. That said I also believe that the time in jail should be fair according to the crime. I think of a system that multiplies the sentence with times sentenced.

[@What_evil_lurks_in_the_shadows]

10:00 Btw those two on pictures was Isontalon Antti and Rannanjärvi, who are known as legendary knife-wielding bandits and i think picture was taken 1869 Edit : here litle more info :) Famous Finnish criminals Antti Rannanjärvi and Antti Isotalo pictured in 1869. They were the two famous "Anttis", who spred fear, but were also influential members in the western Finnish society. Antti Isotalo, pictured right, lived to 1911 despite of death sentence (80 yrs).

[@glaubhafieber]

One of our best tech who did network installation for customers was a former prisoner. He was one of the most motivated employee because he got another chance in life and proved every day that he deserved that chance

[@MrMartinSchou]

I can easily imagine people angrily asking "why are they getting a free education?!", but education in Finland is already free of charge. It'd be like asking "why are they getting free healthcare?!"

[@Halli50]

This is simple, really: Treat prison inmates like animals,and they will be angry and resentful animals when their term has been served. A potential "returning customer". Treat them like humans, teach them how to be useful citizens again and that is exactly what you get: Useful and harmless citizens.

[@OwnedByGalatea]

at 9:53 Thats Antti Rannanjärvi (on left) & Antti Isotalo (on right) at year 1869 when they were sentenced on murder on wedding in Lapua few years earlier, there was 2 others and one of them (Hermanni Mäki) actually killed the guest in the wedding and was sentenced in (pakkotyö) forced work in Siberia for life, Antti Rannanjärvi was sentenced of aid in the murder for 5 years forced work in Suomenlinna. Those guys then were called... "Häjyt"

[@tomi_9212]

In closed prisons the inmates do a different kinds of work there aswell, they get some payment from it but mostly it is just to have something to do they do wood work like small outhouses, children's playhouses are made i think in across the country but. Register plates for vehicles have been manufactured in Helsinki prison since 1927. All license plates used in Finland are made in the prison. Prisoners also manage the mailing of the plates. There isn't a "salary" for those in prison as they are not in in an employment relationship, they get 0,70€/hr

[@tomi_9212]

There's show called Norden where people from different areas of life came to Finland, Sweden and Norway to explore things from their pov. In the prison episode there was James Conway, retired Superintendent from Attica Correctional Facility in New York who visits 4 prison in different places in Nordic countries. His mindset is pretty awful to think that he was one to be responsible for all inmates in his prison.

[@Valfodr_jr]

USA: This doesn't work but we make money from it. Let's continue like this. Rest of the world: This doesn't work, let's fix it.

[@KilljoyTDA]

The US serves as beta version for the rest of the world. For every positive innovation they bring, there's 10 times the examples of "things we should do differently"

[@gazz3867]

Ah, but if it's profitable and you get people to invest in more prisons that means it IS working! ;) Just a matter of what goals you set.

[@Zarniwooper]

The womens prison actually had a tv-series following the life of a few hand picked women, it was amazing show, you can watch the whole series free at YLE Areena(our NBC), even from abroad, but sadly its finnish audio and subs only, but maybe some of the imagery might interest you.

[@Zarniwooper]

Oh, the show name is "Linna", ("Castle")

[@HailHeidi]

Oh that's awesome!!! I'll have to check that out, thank you!

[@Zarniwooper]

@@HailHeidi I found out that you can actually use Chrome's automatic google translation to translate the finnish subs to english on the fly since they are not hardcoded on the video.

[@scar445]

What Finland and the other Scandinavian countries understand, is that the time removed from society is the punishment. The point of the prison is to try and make that time go by as smoothly and productive as possible, so we can avoid having repeat offenders. It is a system built on trust, and I think that underlying trust is the reason that it works. Prisoners know that it comes from a position of trust, and if they adhere to it, they do not only get to keep a lot of privileges that would be taken away in most of the world, they are even looking at greater possibilities, like education, family time (Should they have a family) even accompanied leave, for special events such as weddings and the like. There is a movie from Denmark made about that called "ledsaged Udgang" Which literally translates to accompanied leave.

[@dhtran681]

I have met an American visiting Germany on his business trip and he was trying to convince me to work for his company in the US. First he was talking about American working benefits, then second about the American freedom and human rights, as if Germany has non of them. I said nothing to avoid any further conversations. Today while I am watching this video, seeing a young lady on youtube with such an open mind, warms my heart towards Americans once again. It makes me proud of the young generation. btw. There is a nice video of the *Vera Institute of Justice* about German prisons as well. Thank you for sharing your video with us.

[@formatique_arschloch]

I haven't watched this reaction yet, but you all people keep in mind that he must have been in a max security closed prison at least 10 years with excellent behaviour and psyke evaluations before this chance.

[@tomduke1297]

there are very few people who actually want to do bad stuff like stealing, hurting people or worse. the vast majority just need help.

[@UfoShotgun96]

as someone who has spent a little time in a norwegian prison i can tell you it is pretty good, the worst part was honestly boredom, but we had some light work about 5 hours early in the day, then we had the rest of the time off other than meeting up to counts, there was a library were we could borrow movies and tv-shows and we had a tv and dvd player in the room, there was also table tennis, volleyball and other "play" areas, we also had a weekly trip out of the prison to a grocery store were we could spend our own money with almost no restrictions, other than no weapons, alcohol or other intoxicants, so a bit boring but not bad

[@gregwatkins2525]

Is boring is the worst you can say about it you should see what some of these other countries do you'd be thrilled with boring

[@UfoShotgun96]

@@gregwatkins2525 yeah iknow, it wasn't meant as a complaing about the system we have here

[@ivan-Croatian]

Hail, you know, you could contact someone within the Finland about those prisons and try to make an interview with someone from Finland justice system. I think with some persistence, you could arrange an online meeting. I think that would also be cool for your channel as well. Anyways, it's just a thought 🙂

[@Raimond799]

Matti has already been almost ten years in closed prison. Open prison is final step for his release into society. There are rules in open prison that u need to follow. You can only go out for study or work. There are also zero tolerance for alcohol or drug use.

[@ArthurOfThePond]

A complete side note. It's so funny to me, how Finnish sounds so much like Italian despite having none of the same words.

[@arnodobler1096]

Finnish is related to Hungarian

[@tuikku22]

Finnish and Italian both have lots of vowels

[@leiflillandt1488]

One said it sounds like the Basque language... 🙄

[@yiannchrst]

Yeah! I'm happy I was one of the people who suggested this video!

[@formatique_arschloch]

Me too👍

[@WolfHeathen]

The main problem with the US prison system is that it's a for-profit market. The higher the reoffending rate, the more prisoners you create, the more money you make. There's no interest in rehabilitating prisoners because if you do, the private prison system won't make as much money. In Scandinavia and Finland, the primary interest is public safety because the government runs the prisons, and there wouldn't be much point in the government paying itself to incarcerate people.

[@oplkfdhgk]

5:57 yeah and this is finland and finnish people don't usually smile alot atleast compared to like north american people.

[@Medley3000]

Treating people like animals for years or decades does not make them better members of society. Quite the opposite. Of course, criminals must be isolated from society. But they should be given a chance to change their behavior. As you can see from the example in Finland, this is the better way.

[@TheGuilty11]

In Finland life sentence is what it says. But in most of the times president pardons those prisoners after 12-16 years. Ofc it depends on many things like what was the crime and how likely it is that they will repeat it etc. But in general those long term prisoners are much higher educated when they get out than what they were before. And this "Matti" who was in this film he probably was in much more closed prison before and then "advanced" to this open prison where he can finish hes education.

[@topilinkala1594]

1:54 There's a mistranslation on the facility name that the woman serves in. It is not Criminal Sanctions Agency but Crime Ramification Agancy, Rikosseuraamusvirasto in Finnish. So instead of focusing on criminals Finland is focusing to the crimes. And the ramification of each crime is different. That's why just lumping sentenced crimanls into prison each prisoner is treated by the crime they made. This guy walking almost like free man is on the last two years of his mandatory sentence. He was in closed prison the first 10 years and because there was no sanctions there he got to the open prison for his last two years. For murder there is minimum of 12 years in prison in the Finnish criminal law but the sentence is for life. So after this guy gets out he's on parole rest of his life.

[@finnishculturalchannel]

Some of the oldest and most infamous prisons have been turned into hotels. Who doesn't want to spend some time in a prison, right? Here's one of them, called Kakola, with some Finnish prison history to go with it, if you like to look into the subject: "Elon Travel Kakola, Turku, Finland" and "focusvideofi Kakola - Entinen vankila".

[@lassekankila3807]

The reason why Finland had so many people in prison at 1950's where as sweden, norway and denmark didn't was that we had just had a war with The Soviet Union in the 40's. Sure Denmark and Norway fought their parts too, against Nazi Germany but they didn't lose land and after the war they didn't have to pay anything to other countries where as Finland lost parts of it self(about 12%) to the Soviet Union and had to pay harsh war reparations to keep the peace. Many finnish Karelian families lost their homes and they were forced to move to other places in Finland and at first other finns didn't really want the Karelians to move into their neighbourhoods or to come to work with them because they spoke different dialect and there really wasn't extra space for them. In the 50's Finland was a poor country where there was less of everything for more people, so crime was the path for many to stay alive and feed their family. As years moved on Finland got back to it's feet and more people made space for themselves and less and less people were forced to steal. Also the war left mental scars to the veterans and many "drank themselves into prison". You know. Fighting and accidentaly killing someone, burglary and other basic shit that goes on when you are mentaly damaged and drunk.

[@ossihurme7572]

Every now and again you read about escaped convict from papers here in Finland. Then you read more and it's usually that they were on holiday from prison and didn't return :D

[@prmediagroupdk]

Also in Denmark if your sentence is max of 6 months.. you can serve in your own home with a footlock.

[@johnwilson5743]

Have you noticed how many of the staff and prisoners, actually speak English? So many Europeans are at minimum, bi-lingual? Many know 3 or 4 languages.

[@Pappa_66]

You are right! This is possible only just before your release, but early enough to complete the studies. You have to earn the right to go outside, years of good behavior and activities in prison. He is constantly monitored and he has a tight schedule where and when he needs to be. And if you do anything "illegal" or even try to deviate from the plan, it is over and you will be thrown to a very unpleasant place and your sentence will be revaluated. Every prisoner has all the rights to study and work, but not outside.

[@MrMarinus18]

1:10 Ice baths is very typically Finnish, they are very well known for it. In Dutch an ice bath is called a "Finnish bath"

[@MrBanaanipommi]

nothing really changed than the specific prison moved from laukaa to jyväskylä.. and the bridge near the prison was made new one... :D

[@Bot.number.69420]

My childhood friend did robberies to get in prison for winter. He had better life in Finnish prison than outside. He studied, did weight lifting, swimming and had nice tv in prison. Outside he was on social support money or low pay work and kept struggling to pay bills. Partly because he had alcohol and drug problem... In prison it was easier to stay clean. He sometimes stole bottles of rc motor methanol fuel and went to hospital to get treated... Treatment is few days of alcohol drip to keep liver saturated. Public healthcare made that possible. Things he did when he had no money was interesting. May he rest in peace.

[@zami8827]

That old picture is from early 1900's where those two were biggest brawlers & murderers in Finland.

[@kaletsu2270]

Prison and Probation Service of Finland is in charge of eleven regional Prison and Probation Centres, which consist of 28 prisons. Prisoners serve their sentence either in a closed prison or in an open prison. The prisoner places are divided so that 70% are in closed prisons and 30% in open prisons or units. Prisoners, who are deemed to adapt to the freer conditions than the conditions in closed prisons, are placed in open institutions

[@Joonatan75]

I'm not the best to answer, but if you don't return at the agreed time in the open house, for example, you'll go to a house with a higher security classification to sit, but the whole thing is based on the fact that those who have served long sentences are taught to live a normal life in the open houses, and then they really have a much better chance of not returning to prison .

[@Aquelll]

Prisoner upkeep is really expensive so turning inmates into effective tax payers while they are serving their sentences is the best business deal for the government.

[@leonfa259]

Also if they don't reoffend because they are trained to live a structured life afterwards outside it reduces crime.

[@peterbondesson5481]

You should React more to the northern countries. 🇸🇪🇩🇰🇫🇮🇧🇻🙌 And the channel geography now!

[@mikoske]

Thanks for the video! Being Finnish, I know this doesn't always work, people escape from the open prison, but usually get caught fast. There are also people who really should not be released from the prison at all. But it's a minority and country is still fairly safe, at the moment I would think the immigration crisis and our lovely neighbour Russia are the two top things making the country less safe. Also I think the video had a mistake, the second guy was said to serve 15 year sentence. Life sentence in Finland is 12 years, however all life sentences need to be pardoned by the president before they can get out, so sentences strech. In general some crimes should really be given harsher sentences.

[@snooks5607]

it'd be good if it was possible to find some better ways of testing rehabilitation. maybe idealistic but especially with violent criminals reoffending should never happen, that's essentially the government committing the crime against the victims for having let the person back into society when they were not ready. I have no expertise on it but I doubt someone who's killed multiple people on at least two occasions is ever going to change enough for it to be fair to society to have to risk their release, people like Esa Åkerlund, who's about to be freed once again in couple years

[@mikoske]

@@snooks5607 completely agree

[@RoyalMela]

Finland has the second lowest number of prisoners per capita in whole world after Iceland (out of countries with atleast 300.000 inhabitants) Higher numbers in the 50's and 60's can be traced to World War II where Finland had a long and gnarly war against Soviet Union and many younger men spent even 5 years in the war zone. Murders, domestic violence and drunken fights were extremely high in some years. From the chart you have at 3:15 you can see other Nordic countries having a low and level rate, also deflects the same history. Sweden was able to stay away from the war, Denmark and Norway were occupied, but did not have massive losses of men or having their country destroyed.

[@LiekkeenValve]

"Only by giving people a chance can they surprise you."

[@novoiperkele]

From Reddit: "One thing to understand here is that you don't start your sentence from a violent crime in a nice open prison. This guy has spent years in a closed one showing good conduct (no violence, no drugs, etc) to get to an open prison. The idea being that prisoners do the end part of their sentence in an open prison being thought how to live in the world (schooling, job skills, getting caught up on computers/internet, etc) Also another note is that as this guy said he was sentenced for murder means he is serving a life sentence (the only sentence for murder in Finland). In Finland that means the sentence has no end date but it can end if you are deemed to be rehabilitated with the average being around 14 years. Also after getting out of prison they will be on parole for the rest of their life with the smallest crimes sending them back into prison (only presidential parson can get rid of that part)" www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/jq1bmb/prisoners_in_finland_live_in_open_prisons_where/

[@HailHeidi]

Thank you so much for the info! 💜

[@JPK90]

I need to comment the part that might not be obvious: There still are high security prisons with tall walls and it's not likelly to change any time soon. Open prison is just one of the tools.

[@Yuki_Ika7]

this is how prisons should be handled, well possibly include some punishments depending on how severe the crime, but it should be focused on rehabilitation

[@Nintentohtori]

I watched a documentary series where they were following couple inmates in that high tech womens' prison, seems like they had lot of problems getting the smart features working as intented :D Looked nice though.

[@osamaaru]

this is based on education and trust, will be hard for the US to get to this point

[@jroutasula5250]

Well done, again. React something about education system in Finland.

[@jroutasula5250]

@Hit_Me_On_Nicegram_HailHeidi I don,t know what is Nicegram, sorry 😁. Too old to learn ... .I'm stupid with computers. Check out: "Why Finland's outperformost across the Developed World". All the best for You year 2023. Greetings from Finland.

[@QuayNemSorr]

2:50 Just for comparison, USA has an Incarceration rate of more than 550

[@spyro257]

u have to prove your self, A LOT, to get in an open prison, if u were found guilty, of murder...

[@24jh42]

Not really. It depends on the circumstances and if the court deems you a danger to society or others. Not all murderers are alike. Some got a reason that is illegal by law but justifiable by morality. It is also not always intent or passion, but simply neglect or an accident. I know a prison guard and he has told of some convicted for murder that served their entire time in the open prison where he worked.

[@samhartford8677]

Without googling anything Matti was likely to have been involved in criminal gangs of one type or another, hHe received a really high sentence, which typically is about 12 years for premediated murder in Finland minus good behavior, which means he was involved in really bad crimes on our scale. In order to improve their behavior the inmates get psychological councelling and if personality disorders etc. are suspected they get further assessment, as far as I understand. Matti would not have gotten into this programme without having prior good assessments and behavior. That is, he's working to get himself out of the hole he put himself in. And that is exactly what we expect him to do and will reward him for doing. If he commits new crimes, he'll be under a worse regime. If he chooses to get himself out of the hole and live a normal life - that is also up to him. I root for Matti as a Finn. We need people to get over their problems and live a balanced life like the rest of us. It's much better for him and the rest of us if he succeeds than if he does not. Maybe the system failed him as a child, maybe not, I do not know. Nevertheless, he deserves a chance of improving himself after he has come to terms with his crimes. Nobody can bring back to life the people he was involved in murdering. Locking him up for life makes no sense either. If we are a Christian society, we need to leave the final punishment to God.

[@garryellis3085]

The US also has the highest per capita rate for incarceration in the world.

[@mukkaar]

While open prisons are common, thing to remember is that it's for mild crimes or people returning to society, last few years of their sentence. This guy definitely spent more time in closed prison, though those too are much more humane than in US. Obviously this is not unconditional, you need relatively good behaviour. But due to way people are treated and focus on rehab, prisoners are much more well behaved.

[@miskbalder]

U have the most welcoming smile and great thoughts 🙂 -stigmatization is never good in a society, unfortunately we humans do create it to make ourself feel like we are better than others lifting up those that has taken the wrong turn in life might give them a better perspective in life, while making them feel like they are worth nothing only gives them a feeling like it doesn't matter what they do since they won't be accepted by society anyways

[@akitahvanainen]

Yeah of course looking at percentages is more accurate when there's more data points. Still amounts video gave are pretty easily converted to percentages. That sums up to something like 12 times more people in prison compared to the population. That is a huge margin, but yeah presenting percentages are more easily compared.

[@HH-hd7nd]

4:35 Then compare the USA to countries with a larger population than Finland. Here are the numbers for the 6 countries with the highest poplation: Inmates in the USA (population 336 million): 2.3 million China (population 1.44 billion): 665,000 India (population 1.375 billion): 554,000 Indonesia (population 274 million): 275,000 Pakistan (population 221 million): 86,000 Brazil (population 213 million): 835,000 The USA have the highest amount of incarcerated people per capita BY FAR btw, with people in the USA making up about 23 % of people incarecrated worldwide.

[@paanikki]

When looking at percentages, US has roughly 10 times higher incarceration rate than in Finland. US: 500 prisoners /100 000 people, Finland: 49.6 / 100 000. This is mainly because of the astronomically long sentences. It has been proven by several studies, that the main factor in crime prevention is having a high probability of getting caught. The severity of the punishments has very little, if any effect. In Finland, people who have a very short sentence from things like drunken driving or not paying their traffic fines may serve all of their sentence in an open prison. But those who are convicted for serious crimes, involving violence or drugs always start their sentence in a closed, maximum or medium security prison. It depends on the behavior and rehabilitation when (or if) the prisoner is transfered to a minimum security open prison. By the way, there is also a significant difference in the digitalization of the society in Finland vs in US. Applying for jobs, paying your taxes, applying for various benefits, getting a prescription from your doctor, or a new ID card. All these things happen online in Finland.

[@davidjack9217]

Unfortunately in the US the general thought that 'my' tax dollars would actually help someone (as opposed to 'punishing' them) is a complete anathema to Americans, even though it would ultimately 'help' improve the life of the average citizen! Also the 'rulers' of the US don't want too much critical thinking done by the average citizen, i.e. keep plenty of guns and reduce education !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jbird4478]

Yes, even though it is ultimately going to be cheaper if it prevents them from going back to crime.

[@austinhernandez2716]

That's conservatism for you. Keep doing things that have been proven not to work.

[@moonliteX]

as far as i know, some random dude killed mattis friend or relative and because matti knew prison in finland would not have been a punishment enough he just murdered the dude. he's not a violent bloke and has aLOT of potential. on the other hand, the best quote i've heard about treating prisoners like normal hyman people is: when the prisoner gets out, they might turn up to be your neighbor; would you rather have them abused for 15 years and have them join gangs etc or would you like them to get education and therapy to deal with their problems? in the sciviliced world, convicts just plainly are forced to be better citizens instead of beating them down to pulp. that does not make any sense when you think of it. beating a "bad kid" with your fists might work for like 1% and they have the mental strength to better themselves. but in the end it's like beating up people who have mental disabilities until "they get better". i understand people want to punish people who do the wrong thing but hasn't psychology already evolved to realize that helps literally nobody?

[@moonliteX]

i also want to add that the way you americans deal with pretty much EVERYTHING is totally screwed up. homelessness. healthcare. education. prices of housing going ballistic. americans NEVER want to make things better for other people. just for themselves. the money the usa uses for giving tax cuts for someone like trump, the civilized world uses for making things better. in my humble opinion the united states is quite the 3rd world country they dispice when they see that abroad. aka a "shithole country". it is WELL within your means to fix everything. everything. but no. i'll just buy more guns and security and just more and more money because that's what makes me happy. and makes me feel secure. how about thinking the more other people are secure, the more secure you yourself are too. i'm coming from the happiest country in the world, where EVERYONE is taken care of. and treated well. and, even i'm a huge fan of american culture and my english accent is american (my fourth language btw). you are an extremely screwed up country .. you live like in the middle ages with your politics.

[@troublesometoaster4492]

@@moonliteX The US bombing other countries to oblivion to "free" them is the most ironic thing considering they have no freedom in the way us Europeans think of freedom: Freedom from healthcare debt, freedom to quit your job due to education, illness, or lack of conditions and not fear going broke, freedom to know your poor kids will have the same level of education as rich kids, thus increasing their quality of life, freedom of not having to worry about owning an arsenal of military weapons in case "the government comes after you"...

[@partyman71]

What it actually comes down to is, what would you like to have, to live next to you, When they coming out of prison again.

[@daschevicidorin1230]

Must react to "Top 100 Places To Visit in Europe Ultimate Travel Guide by Ryan Shirley" please. Happy New Year 🥂

[@cellevangiel5973]

We in Belgium have a similar system. For a short sentence you can hold your job, go to work daily and come back in the evening. And think, if you have less recidivism, you have less victims as well. So you serve the community. If you treat prisoners like animals; you will release animals. That's logic isn't it. But not in US state of mind.

[@prmediagroupdk]

Exact same in Denmark. We go to school every day in our own cars or by train etc. outside the prison. In the max security prisons you can get eduacated as a chef, carpenter, software developer, engineer etc. Laptop, tv with 30 channels, Playstation 4 etc. in your own room. You cook your own meals everyday or can order from the local pizzaria... We go yo NA, AA meetings etc. 3 times per week outside side prison.. all by our selfes. The punishment by going to a prison is that your freedom is taken away. We dont want animals in our streets after their sentence is over. If you threat oeople like animals you will get animals... Inmates who can work after their sentence will pay tax.. It costs millions to have inmates... waste of money. So to educate inmates benefits everybody in the end❤

[@snafaofficial]

but if you count the total number of prisoners in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the number is probably still better than in the USA. I think 🤔

[@DJNoppamies]

Those open prisons are not for everyone. Only well-behaved prisoners can get into them, as well as before release. In open prisons, you can practise civilian life, not by being thrown out of prison immediately when your sentence ends. You can starting work or school during your imprisonment and finding freer things to do when you are released. You are immediately integrated into society, rather than only being able to start when you are released. Those open prisons are very strict. If you are late at night (they have arrival times), drink alcohol or break other rules you go back to a closed prison. So an open prison is not for everyone

[@mikitz]

The best way to describe this to Americans is that their prison population is enough to fill 511 American football fields. And yes, I actually did the math.

[@REMPLACEMENT-TV-2]

it can only works in monoethnical country...

[@rekkaus]

Considering that we (and pretty much rest of the world) had world war II (I know it is not exceuse) Finland had plenty of problems after it (like 1950's and so). Things have changed a lot. I do remember how at least 2 of my father's little brothers were shot under age of 7 just by walking in road (some kind of war psychosis) back in 40-50's...

[@nedludd7622]

To be sentenced to 15 years in prison in a Nordic country, you had to have been convicted of a very serious crime.

[@jupehe5703]

In early 50's times were rough in Finland for young men who had returned from WW2 and trying to start a new life and made some mistakes. Since then number of prisoners has declined and population risen a lot. By the way, a huge error on the video: Finland is not a Scandinavian country...

[@Benderkekekekekeke]

High mount of prisoners in Finland in fifties and later was mostly because of WW2 veterans. Id still say, thank for their service.

[@martinschmidt8616]

this video on this very topic is a few years old by now... but still an eye-opener I think: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raW5Zpisa51kaas

[@torpmorp1324]

Not all of them. Those who don’t pose a threat.