How Norway's Prisons Are Different From America's | American Reaction

[@torehermansen]

I read an interview with the same prison warden some years ago. He was quoted saying something like: These people are already hard enough. We don't need to make them harder, we need to make them softer.

[@Delibro]

I think this might be the most important sentence in this video.

[@lindachatrin7221]

I have once been servering my sentence in prison in Oslo. It helped me back to life. And its hard to be isolated from family and the life in general, but I had plenty of time to consider what i wanted to get out of my life.....Luckily i had been to rehab and was actually pregned when i was taken to prison. If I was addicted and sick, the only thing i probably have had on my mind, was to get out and get high.....But the pregnancy and desire to stay clean gave me strenght.....I went back to rehab in Denmark, and now Im working as a nurse, have 2 amazing young girls and are married.

[@uzetaab]

Well done. I hope you continue to have a wonderful life.

[@andersrefstad8235]

❤ Herlig ❤ GULL Å HØRE !

[@lassmalgehen]

Wow. I'm proud of you. You made it. ❤

[@lindachatrin7221]

@@lassmalgehen Thanks ❤️

[@lindachatrin7221]

@@uzetaab Thanks ❤️

[@reprobatic5485]

There was an incident in Sweden a number of years ago where the cells and doors in a prison were accidentally left open one night. What did the prisoners do with this unexpected freedom? They spent all night baking brownies, making blanket forts and watching movies.

[@pugnacious6290]

Holy shit that’s wholesome

[@TullaRask]

Living on the run is much harder than just taking your prison sentence and get on with your life

[@johnnygood4831]

Such violence. They were probably beating eggs!

[@michaelgrabner8977]

Most US prisons are privat businesses, aren´t they...So their interest is to have as much prisoners as possible in order to make money and profit..So the concept of reintegration of prisoners into society has to be a concept which totally works against their business model...There you have it, why US prisons are as like those are..

[@jamesrowe3606]

This is exactly the point. There's no profit in rehabilitation and the USA is entirely about making as much money as possible, with human life and dignity coming a long way behind.

[@imajinallthepurple]

Spot on. 👍

[@Garbox80]

Yeah. The US would have to create a system where the company running a prison would receive MORE money if the inmates DON'T return. And maybe even pay them less if they do return (as in pay less per day than the first time). That would boost those companies' interest in reintegrating their inmates.

[@jamesrowe3606]

@@Garbox80 Or, they could have their prisons run by government without the profit motive driving perverse incentives towards recidivism.

[@Garbox80]

@@jamesrowe3606 Yeah, but I just thought to throw an idea they actually might apply 😉😁

[@kennethAmos8929]

In Denmark it takes 3 years to become a prison guard… - and our system looks a lot like norway’s

[@bonchidude]

It is like going to college!

[@bonchidude]

@@FenrisEx The education system is better there. Those nurses have too much power. They need to be fired for risking patients' lives. thank u for the info

[@IstadR]

Loved this reaction, because you did really show emotions, and how much compassion you have for others. It's so good to see, there is still hope for USA. It reminded me a bit about Jessica Kent's reaction to Norwegian prisons, she is a former inmate from the US an just seeing how she react tells a lot of how prison is in the US. Keep the videos coming, keep learning. I think you maybe would like Norwegin King's speech - We are one. “A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens but by how it treats its criminals.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

[@Pappa_66]

Thank you very much! Halden is/has been "history" for a while now. They have built a much bigger max. security prison to replace it, just like this one, cause the "results" were so good. These type of prisons are very common in the Nordic and Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) and like in Germany and many other EU-country prisons. They learn a profession or get a degree also to be able to integrate to Society. Police Forces are a very good example of the drastic differences in the EU and UK compared to the US. There are good videos here. Police training in the US is much shorter than like to be a barber, which is quite shocking but explains all the disasters. Police training, in countries mentioned above, is a 4 year college level education. And the Police has been always one of the most trusted institutions in these countries.

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

Not the UK, too much influence from the IUS and a right wing that admires all things American. "Lock 'em up and throw away the keys!" Crime and prisoner numbers are high by European standards, as a result.

[@CR-dq1ch]

I've worked as a high school teacher in a Swedish prison. Very interesting and rewarding.

[@bonchidude]

@@jonathanwetherell3609 In some cases locking them up and throwing away the keys is necessary.

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

@@bonchidude This is true but applies to a very tiny percentage. It has been shown that it is both cost effective and socially desirable to, firstly, spend money on prevention (youth programs, etc.) and then on rehabilitation. If harsh punishments worked the USA would have one of the lowest crime rates in the world rather than one of the highest.

[@reyalPRON]

Karsten is a good guy, there was legal kerfuffle in brazil.

[@JarlGrimmToys]

It’s also worth pointing out that Norway has one of the lowest murder rates in the world. With 0.47 murders per 100,000 people. The UK has a rate of 1.2 murders per 100,000 people. While the US has a rate of 4.96 murders per 100,000 people. You’re 4x more likely to be murdered in the US than the UK, and 10x more likely than in Norway. Only 20% of Norwegian prisoners released from prison will go on to reoffend. Compared to 44% of American prisoners who will return to prison within 1 year of being released. 77% will have been arrested within 5 years of being released from prison. The US prison system doesn’t work for reducing crime. It does work for making a profit either for private prisons, or the forced labour of inmates.

[@vijay-c]

My country, the UK, are sort of halfway between US prisons & Norwegian ones. As a result, we get both high rates of people going back to prison and they don't get the harsh punishment of US prisons, either. I really wish we had the Norwegian system here, but the general public in the UK isn't yet ready for it politically (though we do have some great charities who campaign for prison reform) Though, I'm still thankful we treat our prisoners better than the inhumane things I've heard about US ones! (BTW, love your channel!)

[@TheOystei]

the thing is, this is not even a thing that is a big political topic here. Idk how it was back when they restructured it, cause i was born in 91, but i learned that our prisons were like this as a late teen, mostly from online media. But given that we don't have life sentences nearly all prisoners will get out at some point and as a society we are better of with them being employable functioning members of society, so as long as the model works, i'm all for it. also, fun fact, when translated, the department running our prisons is called "Criminal Care"

[@phueal]

@@TheOysteithe basic problem is (I’m from the UK too) that as soon as someone proposes this, all our right-wing newspapers will run stories about paedophiles having PlayStations in their rooms while pensioners starve in their homes. And unfortunately those right-wing media outlets are the biggest in the UK, especially popular among swing voters. Of course one solution would be to improve the lives of pensioners (and other welfare recipients) so that they’re no longer worse than prisoners, but I’m sure you can imagine how those newspapers would feel about that as well.

[@vijay-c]

@@TheOystei That's the thing, the way out prisons are here at the moment isn't a big political topic, either. Our parties pander somewhat to the worst of society to demonstrate that they're "tough on crime" - not because it works, but because it gets votes. I'd be interested to see how other European prison systems manage - I know you guys are well known for the good way you treat your prisoners but it'd be interesting to compare some other European systems. I suspect we all treat prisoners better than America but unfortunately very few treat them as well as you guys.

[@donkarnage6986]

its all about money!

[@raymondmanderville505]

The US has the unique condition of the residual ripple effect of slavery & decades of racism to overcome . Then with the added unforeseen effects of the welfare system causing the single female parent , which has a direct correlation to the rise in crime in the US , will never be solved until these other problems are addressed

[@FuFightersStudio]

Relatively speaking prisons in Norway are very much like this - this one is just special since it is the highest security prison there. Is a maximum-security prison so you need to do the largest crimes to end in there - Murder, Physical Abuse, that sort of stuff. To be fair the other video I suggested is explanation of the US system so it would have put this into even more of a perspective. Really glad you saw this, it blew my mind when I watched it and I am European :D

[@beldin2987]

I guess you have, just like me, seen too many US movies about prisons and in the end we have mostly those images in our heads and mostly don't really know much about the prisons in our own country. I mean i know that its here in germany by far not that bad as in the US, but thats it more or less.

[@annasaddiction5129]

I think the movies aren't so wrong from what I have seen in documentaries about prisions and police in the USA. From what I have heared from Germany we're like 1/4 leaning towards Norwegian idea bug no one wants a murderer as neighbour either here. Like, I honestly doubt the Majority of Germans could fathom this concept most of the time we want them punished for what they did.

[@donkarnage6986]

Then you should had known stuff like this ;) come on.... its common knowlegde

[@sulliken77]

Well. Not quite correct. We have Ullersmo Landsfengsel and Ila Fengsel og forvaringsanstalt. These are maximun security. And don't forget the Prison where Anders Behing Breivik rots.

[@ssirfbrorsan]

The Nordic countries - Norway/Sweden/Finland/Denmark/Iceland- see ALL as people. The punishment = prison! In prison, one must no longer be punished or mocked. In prison one must learn and understand what one has done, but above all get tools to develop and integrate OUTSIDE prison.

[@donkarnage6986]

It sounds awesome what you say, but it isnt true.. People will get punish with isolation for up to 6 month, the unlucky oones gets maybe a year.... You dont get any tools when you are in prison.. You will get an oppotunity to be a better person and then get access to a better life... be carefull of what you belive ;)

[@diffyiffy243]

The system is not great. We now have 14 year old murderers because they cant get punished. But in the long run maybe...

[@Alex-ir9nx]

There are so many weird things I as a Norwegian see in the US system. The time in prison is so long, the lack of help to get better, the loss of freedoms after one is relased (like not able to vote), that you end up in debt to the prison... There is no wonder you end up having a system with a huge recidivism rate.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

In some states you will never be able to vote again after a conviction. That is contrary to all principles of punishment I know.

[@Alex-ir9nx]

@@ronaldderooij1774 Also not getting to buy firearms, in itself I can see how that makes sense but it really headbutts the anti regulation crowd that always say criminals can always get guns anyway. If that was the case, just let them buy guns and get taxed...

[@radogface]

@@Alex-ir9nx In some European countries prisoners can vote from prison.

[@cyberneticbutterfly8506]

I'm not too opposed to the length in some cases depending on the crime, but unless a judge is wiling to admit he is sentencing you to every piece of suffering you get in prison, you shouldn't arbitrarily suffer in prison just cause you are weaker or more unlucky than other inmates.

[@danielpersson7483]

The thing is this,prisons should NEVER be private,they should always be state run without a financial gain to be had.Aslong as prisons stay privatly owned its all aboiut the money...they dont want the criminals to become a better human being because then they loose that all important money,sigh

[@michaausleipzig]

You know it's not really Norway that stands out with focusing on rehabilitation and "normalty". It's the US that stands out for fully ignoring rehabilitation. Most european countries at least try to do it this way. After ww2 Germany gave itself a new constitution. Article 1, the most important principle our society and government is based on reads: "Human dignity is inviolable. To respect and protect it is the duty of all governing powers."

[@ReisskIaue]

Yes, there is a video on YT, when a US prosecutor holds a lecture of how he visited Germany to learn more about its system (because of its very good resocialisation rates compared to the USA). By the way he is jewish with German origin and his parents have been inmates in Dachau so he had quite prejiduces against Germany. But what he experienced blew his mind and really made him change his view on the American system and on Germany as well. He also mentions the Norwegian system.

[@michaausleipzig]

@@ReisskIaue I already suggested this very video in an earlier comment. 😉😊

[@wykydytron]

Nah, almost no eu country does that and our prisons are notorious for doing nothing to rehabilitate people. Vast majority of prisons in eu are exactly like in USA but much more overpopulated. In my country it's norm to have 6 prisoners in cell designed for 2 and since all prisons are full sometimes people literally wait 2-4years to go to prison and wait time is not included in jail time... That retarded system made judges to simply give everyone gps anklet and ban on travel outside of work and shops, so generally for small crimes it's actually not even possible to get jail time anymore as we physically don't have room in prisons. And we share similar rate of returning criminals of about 60% as there is no rehabilitation and for many criminals jail time is badge of honor and something to be proud of...

[@GoldenTV3]

There was a documentary where the American host went to Bastoy island and remarked to the prison guard that most Americans would find this strange. He said "Wasn't it your founding fathers that stated 'no cruel or unusual punishment'. YOU said that." kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnrIoX2nrbd2kLssi=5LUVo8jsLYzwUP9s&t=189

[@martinhuhn7813]

5:15: Halden was built as the top high security prison in Norway. It is designed to hold people like norways most infamous terrorist (Breivic) and other prisoners which are potentially very dangerous. Not all prisons there need or have that grade of security. Another prison which holds prisoners who commited murder is surrounded by a lake in which the prisoners may even swim.

[@Fay-el]

prisons in Norway work to help the prisoners back to a normal life when they are being released. Many take educations while in prison. North Dakota i think it was adopted this method after some representatives from the USA visted Halden prison

[@24jh42]

You missed the knife block in the kitchen area. That is something many notices that prisoners (inmates) in open or medium secrity incarceration institutions in Denmark prepare and cook their own food. Can not do that without knifes. In another youtube video about prisons in the Nordic nations there were US Amricans freaking out about the casual 30 cm long knife on the kitchen table.

[@HailHeidi]

That is definitely something that I didn't notice, but that's really fascinating!

[@brianbice1427]

besides the massive problem of for-profit prisons in America the Constitution specifically states that a prisoner is a slave

[@W210E50AMG]

Much of the difference is based on difference in society, the US society is mostly a "power/money" society - whereas European societies are mostly humane...

[@gindrinkersline3285]

2:08 That building is Norway's parliament the Storting.

[@ivindhimsett9803]

If this blows your mind, check out Michael Moores look at the Norwegian system. He visits Bastøy low security prison also.

[@avienated]

True, that's a good one :)

[@AmauryJacquot]

one of the issues with US prisons is that they're a large provider of slave workforce for US industry. the US complain about china using slave workers from their corrections facility, they do the exact same thing.

[@thehoogard]

Heidi, if you search youtube for "the Norden" you'll find a series on range of topics (prisons, religions etc), where they compare Nordic countries to america, and bring in guests (similar to this video you just watched). Could be a nice reaction series. Of course, Nordic/scandinavian countries aren't the end all, be all, of comparisons to make.

[@tomitiustritus6672]

4:57 *Shows norwegian Prison American: "So, hypothetically, what would i have to do to get to live in there? Is there a certain level of crime you have to commit or does everyone go to that prison... Asking for a friend."

[@DLord227]

I am American but live in Norway. The town I live in the jail which doesnt hold the absolute worse but are still pretty bad is a 10 minute walk form my house which is near the city center. We had furniture made by them and I never felp threatened. If not for the special fence youd never know it was a jail.

[@jcleese9651]

FYI, Halden prison is considered a high security prison and yes it houses people who have done really bad things, some of these prisoners are murderers for instance and yet they are being treated this way in order for them to be able to handle themselves outside of the walls eventually. Most (but not all) of them will get out one day as there are no such things in the nordic countries as "8 consecutive life sentences".

[@Sados1967]

I really like your reactions! Greetings from Germany.

[@klaus2t703]

Never seen this before. Thanks Heidi. The goal of this prisons is to change the prisioners into better persons. So - in best case - they never come back. Other prisons just "keep them away from the public". So there is a good chance that they get even more crazy, maybe even more lose the ability to adjust to normal life.

[@Galantus1964]

It'll never catch on in the US, aslong as prisons are run like a business... they rely on their "customers" comming back ....we have "life sentences" here in Denmark but ppl are released between 15-17 years... you can be in jail for longer time , we have/ had 2 special inmates one called Set Sethsen ( predatory murder 1986 ) still in jail and Palle Petersen ( killed 4 policemen in 1966) pardoned in 1998... anotherway is to be sentenced to detention for an indefinite period of time, if the person committed crimes dangerous to persons and if the court finds that the person in question is a significant danger to others. After three years, a psychiatrist in the prison must assess whether there are grounds for release.

[@bonchidude]

That is unfair! What do the victims think about that, of they still breathe.

[@gpolonia]

The big issue with US prison is that they are private. Their goal is not rehabilitation, it's profit.

[@danielfrisk925]

The norwegian (scandinavian) prison system is based on scientific research, thats the difference. Low incarceration rates, better outcome and integration with society after imprisonment, and a huge drop in crime being comitted again after being released. The most fucked up thing about US prisons is the fact that they are allowed to be privately owned - for profit, and can legally use the prisoners for literal slave labor, to make profit go up.

[@ThSkBj]

At 11:30, the prison in the background is Ila Prison. That's another max sec prison. So the lady wasn't talking about Halden, but another, older prison. Built pre-reform. Point being, the "luxury" isn't what matters, but the approach to correctional methods.

[@illomens2766]

The problem is that in the US the vast majority of prisons are run for profit, and whenever that's the case in America, change is unlikely. They do not want prisoners to get better and start living normal lives again once they're out, they wanna keep them imprisoned for as long as possible and they want rate of recidivism to be high so the never run out of free slave labor. It's all by design.

[@helfgott1]

Yes We respect humans you respect money

[@YANDERE_DALEK2]

Norway prisons:Hey bro, what you did was bad m'kay... anyway, wanna play cards? American prisons:Buckle the fuck up, little doggy

[@bonchidude]

@@YANDERE_DALEK2 If the person is a mass murderer, pfft, life w/o parole and in misery or lethal injection. fair, yes and just

[@Valfodr_jr]

​@@bonchidude Every comment I read from you makes me more and more convinced you're not playing with a full deck of cards.

[@bonchidude]

@@Valfodr_jr In the world where most people are mass murderers, the ones who are not crazy are crazy. You and 80% of the world is full of crazy people like you causing murders to animals. Oh well, thanks for paying to murder animals. You are a hypocrite.

[@Slainby]

stop, as a dane, we need to punish harder, we have murderes and heavy assault or worse people getting ½-5 years, its a joke, if you put another person in danger, you deserve what you did to your self.

[@cellevangiel5973]

We in Belgium don't have an equivalent system and it is not all shiny up here. But in the new prison the doors during the day are not locked. So they can have contact and go to the in prison gym room. . People with a short sentence can go to work outside. They take their car and come back in the evening. So they can keep their job. Nearby is an open prison, but that of course is for the good guys. If you put people in a prison and treat them like animals; it will be animals when you release them.

[@emiliajojo5703]

In norway there is a museum showing how horrible prison once was.still more humane than present day american prisons.

[@thomasroth4533]

The Norwegian lunatic who killed 77 young people some ten years ago was sentenced to 21 years in prison. There is, however, a possibility to keep him in prison for life and I hope they never let him out.

[@tindikukka]

Yeah, and he dares to complain about human right issues time to time.... He really has no shame. Greetings from Finland.

[@thomasroth4533]

@@tindikukka Exactly. And he has not shown any sign of regret either. 77 young people with their lives ahead of them. Greetings from a dark south of Sweden.

[@dan_kay]

He'll be in preventive detention until forever ends.

[@bonchidude]

If he would have been executed he would not have complained.

[@thomasroth4533]

@@bonchidude True, but since we in the Nordic countries left the stone age a long time ago we don't execute people. Only barbaric countries do that.

[@gavinr5576]

Really enjoyed the video, got me thinking. Thanks! ❤

[@Luredreier]

Check out the Neoslavery video by Knowing better? It puts the US prison system in perspective.

[@steinarhaugen7617]

Hallo. How are you?

[@Stiffdistantandweird]

The biggest difference, unfortunately, is that the USA has a for profit prison system that feeds low cost labor to corporations. There are incentives to incarcerate people in the USA…the focus is NOT on reintegration into society. Norway is a great example of a society that actually cares about its people.

[@rashkavar]

I'm not sure if the video version of this is available to you, but there's a 60 minutes article entitled "This is prison? 60 Minutes goes to Germany" that discusses the differences between prison systems in the US and Germany and, as I recall, it does much more to show what conditions in some of the prisons in the US are like. This aired quite a few years ago, now, but you might be able to dig it up. It's also kinda interesting hearing a mainstream media version of "American Reaction" to the reform-based prison system. (And yes, Germany does something like this as well. Details vary, of course, but the reform idea is not unique to Norway.)

[@ronaldderooij1774]

This was the short version. I saw a longer version too on KZbin where a prisoner from this very same prison with a life sentence goes out of this maximum security prison during daytime, and goes to university to study information science. That blew my mind, even as a northwestern European. I think even if such a person would cause a traffic accident, the (Dutch) parliament would force the minister of Justice to resign. Unbelievable.

[@Brainreaver79]

i remember a similar video but in my memories it was video comparing american and german prisons.

[@Valfodr_jr]

It wasn't from this prison, not even the same country. The video you are referring to is from Finland. In Norway we do not have life sentences, although we also practice parole for our prisoners so they can work outside prison as part of getting used to an impending release. This usually happens when there is a small part of the sentence left.

[@JanGaarni]

Yeah, like Valfoðr said, you're thinking of a video about the finnish system. :) They have a similar viewpoint on it as us though (or we them, however you wonna look at it). All the nordic countries do I believe.

[@NATIK001]

We recently had a prisoner in Denmark "escape" prison after being allowed out in such a way. It was a minor story, despite him escaping a high security psychiatric ward. He was allowed to go outside to have a smoke and feel some normalcy and walked off. The story was basically that, and the response was "we have to take some chances with these people to help them get better, dumping it all on them at the same time when they get out only breaks them." You cannot spend X years treating someone as worthless, vile scum and then expect them to be magically better after the sentence is up and be perfect model citizens.

[@bonchidude]

@@Valfodr_jr that is not fair if they are murderers.

[@martinaklee-webster1276]

In Europe ,it is not to punish People, but to make them a Part of the Sociéty again. Mörder Centence in Germany is 15 Years. If you remain a Danger to others, this can be seized. Also you are able to go to College while you are imprisoned. Own Rooms, included Bathroom is mandatory. If you spent a amount of Time in Prison you become a Freigänger, you can spend the Day outside, working and come back for the night. Greetings from Germany

[@martinaklee-webster1276]

By the Way, if you are under the Age of 14, you can not be punished at all.

[@martinaklee-webster1276]

Sorry, but one more. If you try to escape, you will not be punished for that, brcausr, it is a human desire to be free. Greetings

[@HuberHans]

@@martinaklee-webster1276 Your statement is correct regarding the children, with one caption ... the parents might be held accountable for "Verletzung der Aufsichtspflicht" (sorry, I don't know the English phrase for this one) and it also is send - depending on the "crime" - to a social worker (Jugendamt).

[@martinaklee-webster1276]

Huber Hans, you are right 😜

[@bonchidude]

The victims relatives are not too happy with that.

[@davidjack9217]

Remember a lot of US prisons are 'for profit' 'private'. The more inmates - the more profit. How can it be fair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DaDunge]

11:15 It is a punishment, loss of freedom is th epunishment. No need for any more. Also prisons lose a lot of their gangland romanticism when it's not suffering but boredom and constant waiting for being freed.

[@wandererz1724]

@hailheidi this is max security, so basically you go there if you are found guilty of a major crime and aren't in need of psychological treatment. So stuff like murder, armed robbery, the guy they interviewed said he was in a brazillian prison and got extradited back to norway, so probably highscale narcotics smugle of something of the sort

[@Gazer75]

@2:05 LOL, no that is our parliament building actually :)

[@HailHeidi]

Lol it's absolutely gorgeous. 😊

[@Sahnor]

@hailheidi If you are interessted in a german view on prisons through the eyes of an american jewish Senator, there is a very nice tedtalk from Jeff Rosen on youtube Germany: Low Crime, Clean Prisons, Lessons for America | Jeff Rosen | TEDxMountainViewHighSchool

[@Gameviewsblog]

i had a discussion with an American over the differences of "punishment" and "rehabilitation" and i thought up a scenario i've used ever since to try to explain the thought process of why it works and our recidivism is so low because he just couldn't see how this is punishing anyone, like, why would'nt you misbehave if your punishment was to stay in what can only be described as a hotel room? well here it is: Imagine you slapped me across the face, for no reason really, i'm almost 2 metres tall and i work out, so i lock my arms around you and i squeeze you really hard. we stay put in that position for 3 whole days, me completely silent just staring at you with disgust, and you in constant discomfort and pain. then i let you go. Now, you're standing in front of the guy who's been torturing and squeezing you for 3 whole freaking days! there's a decent shot you'd want some revenge, so maybe you punch me this time, and we repeat the process. Now imagine the same thing, you slap me, i grab you, but i hold you gently, comfortably, but restrained, and i ask you why you slapped me, i try to see it from your side, empathize with your position, and try to work it out. after 3 days i let you go and tell you i'll help you find an anger management class or therapy and we'll go through the process of healing your violent tendencies together. in the second scenario, you might not want to be my friend, but personally i find it unlikely you'd want to hurt me again and spend another 3 days restrained

[@your_neko]

Some people would see a kind scenario as a sign of weakness, or as an invitation to keep using violence. But those cases are rare, i may believe

[@pajander]

That's a great analogy but shouldn't even really be necessary. Even if you have zero empathy towards the prisoners, you can just look at statistics to see what works (this) and what doesn't (US prisons).

[@Nekotaku_TV]

@@your_neko But in this case it can't be weakness since he still held him for 3 days and couldn't do shit.

[@Trendkilla]

Another big thing to mention is that there is no death or lifetime sentences in the Nordic countries. These people will be out and among the rest of the public at some point so it really is in everybody's interest. The harshest sentence is being institutionalized until doctors and psychiatrists no longer consider you a threat.

[@jeschinstad]

Right. And when you don't give up in advance, you sort of have to try to fix the problems that led to the prisoners being in prison.

[@donkarnage6986]

you think anders breivik will get out? Palle sørensen never came out, he shoot 4 officers... you get 15 years and tthen you will get another 15 years... some peope will never get out...

[@sasor098]

for the absolute worst and twisted (type one in 10-100 million worst) there exist a loop hole in at least the Norwegian rules that allows them to keep someone in prison for the rest of life, but to do this they have to get (I'm not totally sure but something like this) this treatment, it has to be so bad they get the full 21 years and the point of being reevalueted at the end of that sentence for a chance of a new 10-21 years, and this can continue until death. but there is only one person that may, just maybe get this treatment in my lifetime and he did the biggest terrorist attack in norway in many decades and blew up a many 100 kg bomb in the region of the capital where the controlling organs are, like around the white house in the USA

[@jeschinstad]

@@sasor098: No, there's not a loop hole. We have two forms of unlimited confinement, both of which are used to protect society. There is no requirement that the sentence has to be 21 years, but only that the offence is of a special type. We have many people on both "sikring" and "forvaring".

[@AinzSama]

~4% get Back in prison in Norway. In the US it's like ~66% i belive, and the US Goverment have contrackts to fill those prisons to at least 80%. Maybe the reason for some unjustified imprisonments and Police brutality.

[@rkw2917]

The US has prisons as privately run for profit businesses What could go wrong

[@einarcgulbrandsen7177]

Maximum prison time is 21 years. There is no death penalties or for life centenes so basically all inmates will be normal citizens again. That why its importen they can improve themselves, perhaps get some education or get a degree so they can have a better future life. ‎Michael Moore also did an video about this prison, its worth watching.

[@andreanecchi5930]

There is a video of a British politician who goes to the same prison but interacts more with the prisoners and shows what is inside the prison

[@ThomasKnip]

Similar in Germany, the main objective in prison time is resocialization, not punishment. Prisoners are not supposed to be given a hard time, so they can reintegrate into society after they served their sentence.

[@Nevis1988]

Great reaction again :) Ya Should check "Prisoners In Finland Live In Open Prisons Where They Learn Tech Skills | On The Ground"

[@autohmae]

1:07 it used to be trending toward a 1000 out of a 100 000 people in prison in the US. Which would mean: 1 in 100 people would be in prison. Luckily that trend was broken.

[@KarlStoascheisser]

It always depends on what you aim for. Revenge or resocializing

[@bonchidude]

Take a life, forfeit your own life. This is fair esp in cases of murder.

[@KarlStoascheisser]

I get your point. It´s only human to long for revenge. But if you come over this basic instinct and give it a second thought, you´ll find that it leads to nothing. Neither does it heal pain nor loss. It just creates more suffering.

[@bonchidude]

@@KarlStoascheisser Ask the families if they should let a creep live a good life in a country club prison. Justice means one pays a steep price for costing someone their life.

[@bonchidude]

@@KarlStoascheisser It is not revenge. It's justice. It is the balancing of the scales. One takes, then another takes from the taker. balance

[@KarlStoascheisser]

@@bonchidude It´s just taking. only one side of the scale carrys weight... no balance

[@The_Tortoise_and_the_Hare]

this is an old video. but my grandmother was a prison guard at a regular prison in oslo, and there was one day a year where the staff could bring their family to say hi to the prisoners and they'd show off their rooms and stuff, and so we used to visit on that day and get cake and soda, and talk with the prisoners, they had their own kitchen even a fish tank, and one of those pingpong tables, and they all had their own room, but the toilets were another place. The rooms were relaxed like the one showed here. This was the late 90s early 2000s, so yeah, prisons aren't as fancy as this one, BUT the staff treats the prisoners with respect! They treat them like regular human beings and not animals.

[@larspeterthomsen9798]

I recommend "Where to invade next" by Michael Moore. Among many other subjects, it touches upon the prisons in Norways as compared to the US.

[@thomasschliffke9185]

Finaly a heidi! Hello from switzerland, please come back heidi we miss you!

[@sundhaug92]

2:10 No, that's the Storting (parliament)

[@timpeterjensen2364]

In denmark fon nonviolent crimes, you typically go to an "open prison" meaning, you can leave during the day, but have to report back for the night to sleep. Only the most violent go to closed prisons. The really violent, that are deemed a danger to society, typically are goint to a prison mental hospital, where its more about care and keeping everyone save.

[@MrFengen]

If you think Halden is strange.. Check Bastøy Fengsel. It's open - no fences. You can walk out and take the ferry in to Oslo if you like. Some prisoners work - take the ferry in to Oslo in the moring. Goes to work and take the ferry back to Bastøy and the prison at the evening. Here you can, as an inmate; get an education, vote, learn trading skills - hell you can even record an album. It all boils down to. Who do you want as a neighbor?

[@eddebrock]

There is a short video series, probably close to 10 years old now, called The Norden which explores how the north does things like prisons, policing and religion.

[@slow074]

The prison system is run by Kriminalomsorgen, that when translated means The Criminal Care. That says a lot. If you want to see American prison vs Norwegian prison, you should take a look at «Prison Project Little Scandinavia». This is a longer film (17 minutes) where you meet American prison officers going to Norway to learn about how things are done in Scandinavia, and then take some ideas with them back to PA..

[@hratgard]

Every prision in norway are like this. These one were even Maximum security. So its not even the ones with the most freedom. You should look up Bastøy prison (bastøy fengel). Prisoners in other prisons can apply to get transferred here after serving a certain amount of their time. This is an Island prison at the outlet of the Oslofjorden (Oslo Fjord). Here you basically live in a like village community on the island. And you are free to actually leave the island every day by buying tickets on the prison ferry - but you must return by the end of the day. You work either in the prison, or in the surrounding area, to make a living inside the prison.

[@alexandermills9965]

Ahh finally i was wondering when you'd come to this

[@alexandermills9965]

The prison you were seeing is a MAXIMUM security prison

[@Runemonk]

Really? As a European, how they deal with mass murderers, psychos and other criminal cases like that? I mean, there must be more protection especially for guards. You cannot leave someone who is killing people just for fun and raping them without guard.

[@alexandermills9965]

@@Runemonk They never leave. The shops that you see are still inside the prison, but they are just run by guards and other in mates. It's the same whey they are at work learning a trade or getting an education

[@bonchidude]

@@alexandermills9965 Well, they need to have the rest of their life be miserable. Fair is fair. They took a life, well they can live in misery till their last breath or be executed. Simple, and fair.

[@Runemonk]

@@alexandermills9965 If they never leave why there is a need for educational program? Maybe it's good for prisoner's mental health but quite pointless in the way of financial expenses. Especially when they're terrible people as I mentioned. I understand it's great for low crimes but I'm not sure about the serious ones 🤔

[@alexandermills9965]

@@Runemonk In Norway that just how we see things. To give people a second chance, that's it

[@gindrinkersline3285]

5:10 Halden is a maximum-security prison.

[@vadympavlovskiy8398]

The most funny thing in entire video when US secretary told about the store in prison. So, everything he got from his trip it’s an idea to open Walmart in prison and obligate prisoners to buy a desired food 😂😂

[@raistormrs]

Norway: We give our Prison Guards 2 years of College Education. *USA left the Chat...*

[@bonchidude]

Not quite but more like left the chat after 2 min.

[@belinajewel]

This is a high security prison, this is for the hardest amongst the criminals and often they’ve had the most crappy upbringing, domestic violence and abuse, so it’s important that they in some ways can flourish abd grow into a person they would like meeting in the mirror every day ♥️🕊️💖

[@beldin2987]

As far as i understand it, prison in the US is only for punishment and of course also for business, so they don't even have an intention there that people ever get out of it. Or if they do, they want them back as soon as possible, so better train them already in the prison to get more criminal instead of get better members of the society. Treat them all as if they are less than animals helps a lot with that. Am i wrong ? Oh and of course, many people in prison shows how great the US is .. because "Freedom and Freedom" (to quote that guy from "The Newsroom")😄👍

[@HideousConformity]

The US has a Prison Industrial Complex that makes a lot of money from the high incarceration rate and high recidivism rate. They also have lobbyists that are working to keep that gravy train going. Prisoners in the US are slaves in all but name, laboring to make money for the shareholders of the prison corporations.

[@Rikard_A]

2:01 That is Stortinget Norways National parlament.

[@glacieractivity]

Since you are an American - Norwegian prisons are run under one regime since we do not have private companies owning prisons. It would seem like a break in human rights if the nation's lawmaking arm and the nation's juridical arm sent a prisoner to some private company to serve the sentence. Thus it is the nation's law-enforcing arm that takes care of the prisons under a single regime. Sort of a situation where "the nation sentenced you - thus the nation will take care of your sentence". It would be utterly wrong to mix private company profit margins into this mix. Norway only has one set of laws, the national. We do not have "state/regional" laws, and thus of course no difference in city laws as you have (where you can go recreational with drugs in some places but not in other places). As such European nations are legally horizontal within borders with very few exceptions. It should be added, Halden as a high-security prison is to a degree a place you must show yourself worthy to be, because of some of the "perks" (like having access to kitchen knives in the kitchen). Clearly, you can not have a psychotic person there with the risk of attacking inmates or guards). Thus it is normally a place to apply for after a couple of years in prison with the same basic rules but with some more restrictions. Proving that you want out of the crime circle is kind of the first thing to demonstrate by showing some motivation. All the way to the point where you can go to an even more open prison for your final years (without walls or cells at all, you basically live in flats with other prisoners and guards).

[@scottevil4531]

If you want to look into that subject a little more, there is a Micheal Moore video on prisons in Norway and if you want videos that compare the US system there is a TedTalk with DA Jeff Rosen and a video by the TV show "60 minutes" about how German prisons compare.

[@HH-hd7nd]

5:10 Halden Prison is a maximum security prison and the inmates unclude murderers, rapists, drug dealers and the like. 11:25 Norway may be the leading example, but most European countries (especially the Nordic ones) follow similar guidelines than Norway. About recidivism rates: In the USA 78 % of people released are rearrested within 5 years and 96 % within 20 years. In Norway it's 18 % after 5 years and only 24 % within 20 years. If you want more comparisons I recommend this video: Germany: Low Crime, Clean Prisons, Lessons for America | Jeff Rosen | TEDxMountainViewHighSchool from TEDx Talks

[@JJJnl]

Here in my country we have the same type of prisons If you can't afford your rent you can always consider this option lol 😆

[@bonchidude]

That is so unfair.

[@bohomazdesign725]

Ok, Im going to feed you another video that talks about an issue that is huge in the US - homelessness. Video Title: "how finland solved homelessness" Creator: Second Thought (you already watched a video made by him)

[@Killy5445]

I came for this. Greetings from Oslo. Do come visit soon! Edit: Dunno if anyone has said this but our country’s rate of recidivism - the number of people who return to prison after release is 20%. In contrast, 2/3’s of the nearly 7,6 million released from US jails and prisons each year will be rearrested. Staggering isnt it.

[@citizenkane4831]

I recommend you watch Jessica Kent´s vlog, Former American Inmate Reacts To Prisons In Norway. Watching this compared how prisons in usa that ex prisoners onnly option seems to be the street. In comparison to exprisoners in norway. But after that serial killer was senteced to only 21 years there has been those who revalue the sentencies the prisoners get

[@PaiMei667]

Germany does the same, check out: "The German prison program that inspired Connecticut"

[@canadianicedragon2412]

Yeah, this is what happens when you focus on "reform and rehabilitation" rather than "punishment" or outright torment of prisoners. I want to say it is Norway... but I may be wrong, but there is a country that refuses to extradite prisoners to the US for human rights reasons. I think everyone can learn from this. Sure there may be a "handful" of people in the world that just want to run wild... but most people can be made better, in or out of prison. Someone... who is the US woman who was in Prison, had her daughter and got out - now does you tube and sometime "reviews" prisons around the world watching videos like this? Heidi would probably enjoy her content.

[@albertusklijn]

You should watch this video of Mickel More he went to norway and showed a normal and a maximum security prison with murderers. Even the only mass murderer who shot 54 kids on a summercamp went thare. Look for "Mickel More goes back to Norway". Realy look at it it is impressive more than this video you just watched. And after that one look for "Prison Project: Little Scandinavia (extended trailer)" It is the first try of the American prison system to take some of Norways takes on how prison shout be.

[@malizelenigreen3081]

Michael Moore did a really good section of his movie "Where to invade next?" (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZjZq6qPYtSsjs0) on Norwegian prison system (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnrIoX2nrbd2kLs), and also other things done differently than in the US from all around Europe. Proud to say, that there's a section of the movie showing my little country (free university).

[@KamillaMirabelle]

@HailHeidi look at it this way norways prisons are state owned. The state are trying to minimizing cost on the long run, this is done by minimizing the total need for prisons. An inmate are expensiv. Also ponder upon on this, what would you like most? Revenge or minimizing the change that the person who did you wrong doing the same again to you or others, and be a active part of society? Also when prison are private entities like in US, they try to minimize cost for each inmate, but their revanue comes from people being send to prison, so they have no incentive to help inmates when they are inmate nor do they have incentive to resocialize inmates for the life after prison since this decrease their renvanue

[@oO_Reven_Oo]

The guards from this documentary also travels to us to talk to prisoners and guards in America

[@ToreHansen]

One thing that is not much mentioned is that police in US got a couple of months training, Norway got 3 years and also needs a ok basic education...

[@Pervatar669]

See "why other countries treat their people so much better" Get your passport ready

[@HailHeidi]

I actually reacted to that recently and FOR REALS that's how I felt. 😂

[@Pervatar669]

@@HailHeidi I just noticed and was about to delete my comment :) I'll watch it now

[@coralinemartinsen7590]

I think that the number one difference between the US and the Norwegian system is that in Norway the prisons is run by the government but in the US it is run by companies. And what does a company want? Returning customers. So rehab is not wanted. And then you are also branded and your sivil rights , like voting, is taken away from you.

[@ralfeicher8179]

I understand you would like to have more info on US prisons and how they compare.: - comparison between US and German crime rate and the role of prisons in various contexts - link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raW5Zpisa51kaas - examples of a German prison and of a US prison - link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4DQlINvqLKqf6c

[@Valfodr_jr]

To answer your first question first; Yes, all prisons in Norway are run according to the same philosophy and all prisoners have the same rights such as the right to education, health care, mental health care, weaning from drugs, the right to their own room, etc. Halden is just newer than most others and is one of the first to be built solely to meet the requirements of Norway's restructuring and reform of the prison system. All new prisons in Norway are now built to this standard. The philosophy is plain and simple that your punishment is to be deprived of your freedom which is done by the courts. The prison's task is solely to receive convicts and rehabilitate inmates so that they can come out after completing their sentence as socially useful, tax-paying citizens. Punishment and revenge are not words in the Norwegian prison system's vocabulary as they are in the United States. The fact that prison officers have a long education with an emphasis on psychology and the treatment of people makes an enormous difference to the outcome of an individual's stay in prison. This is a huge advantage when it comes to recidivism rates. In Norway, you can get out of prison with an education and good prerequisites to get by without having to resort to more crime. Moreover, there is a big difference in how society generally views ex-prisoners when they have been released. We see it this way; A person commits a criminal act, is caught and punished. When that sentence is served, the person's debt to society is paid and the person gets a second chance. In prison, they may have received a relevant education, which I am looking for for my company. I then choose to employ this person in my company and that way I have got a worker with the qualifications I was looking for and that person has got a job and an income that that person can live on. Win for me and my company, win for this person who doesn't have to commit crimes to get by and win for society who has one less criminal but also one more taxpayer. The Norwegian system is in stark contrast to the US where you only see individuals who have been in prison as x-cons and criminals and under no circumstances want to have anything to do with them or employ them. Which is the reason why former inmates struggling to find a job have to resort to more crime to simply survive and explains the huge recidivism rate you are struggling with. The problem is, that's exactly what your system is designed to do. For profit prisons rely on the regulars in the prisons just as McDonalds relies on return customers in its restaurants. That's where they make money. We run our prison system on a very simple but also very logical philosophy that will never be adopted in the United States as long as you have for-profit prisons that so many private companies make money from. Companies that have the politicians deep in their pockets.

[@headwound]

You should definitely watch "How Finland Ended Homelessness" by Second Thought. I'll leave a link to the video in the reply! :)

[@headwound]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZOokql6pqZrn6c

[@AriMalatesta]

Yes... It's not about what you did and you punishment but to learn how to deal with your personal troubles and matter manage them later, and then getting back into the game. To treat you like a person with struggles, more than a caged animal...

[@mormacil]

The USA wants to enact vengeance. Prevention is only a secondary concern. The Nordic model goes entirely the other way.

[@Gazer75]

The problem with US prisons, like other public services, is that its run privately and for profit. A prison trying to make money have no reason to rehabilitate the prisoners. If they come back its more money.

[@manticore4952]

Less than 12% of prisons in the US are private.

[@UltimaSRi]

there is a few extended versions from this show.. you should have a look!

[@argantyr5154]

If we look beyond the Human aspect. I can't remember the exact numbers, but I do believe it cost a bit over 80000 $ an year having an Immate in Prison. Now think if we instead of paying that, could get money back in form taxes, from Working and being a normal member of society in general. There is also a huge amount of Money in this. Also it turns out that if you treat people like human beings and not like animals, you will get a totally different result when you come out in Society.

[@corvuslupus3859]

When I was in prison in Norway. the captain of the guards used to bring cake mix on Friday and bake cake with the prisoners.

[@bizzryt6427]

Hello again Heidi you may remember my previous comment on a past video or you may not. I started watching your reactions some time ago as I enjoy watching “Americans” broaden their minds and learn about other societies in the hope that one day corporate capitalist America will collapse under the strain of people like you actively going out with an open mind and learning about the rest of the world. I can only applaud your unbiased approach you take in your reactions and it’s refreshing to watch someone with an open mind willing to empower themselves with knowledge. Unfortunately American prisons are privately owned business in which generate an average of $40,000 paid per inmate to a private owner for every inmate they take. The higher the re-offending rate the more money prison owners will get as they will have a constant stream of criminals re-offending. Prisons are built by design to ensure criminals have a high chance of re-offending. This can be proven in so many ways. Just look at the gang culture inside of American prisons. They actively house rival gangs in the same block just as 1 example of hundreds. Why would the government willingly waste so much money endorsing the prison owners? Why would they willingly let the prison owners set up an environment in which breeds crime ensuring they profit from the government? Well… in return the government gets a monumental workforce to use as they please. completing terrible inhumane work, working without choice, in terrible conditions. Prisoners are literally chained together and forced to labour. The government gets all this labour without having to pay as much as a dime. What I have just described is modern day slavery. Prisoners in America have little to no chance of ever getting out of the system until the day they die. With no job opportunities, no housing and no way to survive on the outside it is inevitable they will have to commit crime again in order to survive. Completing the path they where supposed to take. Some call it punishment others may call it slavery. It’s sad really.

[@cecilialeitet2794]

Yes, the American prison system is dependent on there being prisoners. The same way the American health care system is dependent on people getting sick. It´s all a big buisness.

[@Ormathon]

The people who visited this prison tried to start something similar in a US prison, but it got shut down because of covid was rampant in prisons. Dont know if they retried it after that tho.