Prison: how to break the cycle of reoffending?

More former prisoners are reoffending than ever before. We reveal the latest efforts to break the cycle in the first episode of our new Economist Films series.
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Huntsville Texas - more prisoners have been executed in this penitentiary than any other jail in the United States. From murderers to petty criminals, thousands more languish behind bars for decades. Reoffending is one of the greatest challenges facing justice systems worldwide. But could it be that prisons themselves are at the heart of this global problem?
Families of the inmates have an anxious wait across the road from the penitentiary, but for the prisoners their first taste of freedom can be overwhelming. They have little to help them start a new life. They're given $50 on release, a shirt, trousers, and a pair of shoes. Those lucky enough to have the support of families head for home, the others have to fend for themselves. Olly Matthews has been in and out of prison since he was 16.
These released prisoners are all on parole. Those with no fixed address or family are sent to halfway houses all over Texas. The odds are stacked against these men. In many countries more than half of ex-prisoners are back behind bars before long. But there's one country that's taking a very different approach. This is Norway's Bastøy prison, nestled in the oslofjord a short boat ride from the nearest town. This island is home to 115 inmates, all convicted of serious crimes from drug trafficking to murder but this is no Alcatraz. Bastøy is a flagship example of Norway's liberal approach to justice. All of the inmates have been transferred from locked prisons and will spend up to three years here in preparation for release.
From the ferry service to the farm, carpentry to butchery, the island is mostly self-sufficient and run by the prisoners. In their work they have access to potentially lethal tools. A fact that doesn't seem to concern the employed head chef.
One of the islands longest-serving prisoners is Hans Petter Hansen - he's on an 18-year stretch, the last two of which have been spent here. He leads the prison's blues band.
Norway's liberal attitude to justice has been mocked as an oddball social experiment but it is getting results. In the United States reoffending rates are 77%. In Norway it's 20% - an international benchmark helped by prisons like Bastøy, which has a reoffending rate of just 16%.
It takes more than statistics to shift decades of global consensus on punishment, especially in countries where talking tough on crime wins votes.
The United States is feeling the full impact of decades of hardline policies. Although the country has only 5% of the world's population it has 25% of the world's prison population.
In a career spanning 30 years, Texan judge Bobby Frances has convicted his fair share of criminals. In the 90s he was gaining a reputation for being a no-nonsense judge but he soon realized that he wasn't getting the results he wanted. Judge Frances now runs a very different type of courtroom. It's turning back a centuries-old hardline approach to punishment in a bid to bring down the cost of criminal justice. This court deals with serial offenders who have already been convicted but instead of serving another long prison stretch, they've spent up to nine months in a prison reform facility before being released into a rehabilitation program. Each week they face the unique justice of Judge Francis.
When Judge Francis started his re-entry court in 2001 there were just a few in Texas - now there are nearly 250. In that time the state incarceration rate has fallen by 16 percent.
Four hours after being released from prison Olly Matthews has arrived in Houston but he's already lost his money and some important documents. Worldwide there are ten million prisoners like Olly - most of them have inadequate preparation or support when they're released. Olly heads across town to the halfway house where he'll have a bed for the next few days. The challenge for justice systems in any country is keeping offenders out of prison for good. Until rehabilitation is put at the heart of justice systems approach to punishment they'll continue to fail offenders, fail victims and fail societies.
Economist Films expresses The Economist’s globally curious outlook in the form of short, mind-stretching documentaries.
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[@nephildevil]

Ironic how the 'land of the free', has the largest percentage of incarcerated people

[@rega5950]

And the majority of them are Christians

[@mediocreman6323]

Why does that surprise you? The US has a private prison industry, they lobby for longer prison terms and harsher sentences, because they make a lot of money out of it. And out of US tax payers pockets, which does not matter much to them. _Get the money out of the justice system_ for a start.

[@philheathslegalteam]

@@kotharishashank From a Norwegians perspective, some of the things the US does make sense, the rest, absolute nonsense.

[@cellardoor199991]

We are called "land of the free" because we gained independence from British Rule/ Monarchy. That's the reason why we have 4th of July, genius. How the f*** do people not know this by now? Did you not pay attention in school?

[@philheathslegalteam]

@@cellardoor199991 Reading comprehension...

[@ChurchOfWorks]

I am haunted by Ollie, the look of confusion on his face when he realizes his money is missing, this saddens me to no end, and look what happened AGAIN he ends up back in because he has no skills, no family, and no support - this is a sick society for us to treat these people like this - WE MUST CHANGE THIS!

[@TheWedabest]

That's all he knows! That's all he will know!

[@zapador]

It reminded me of Brooks from the movie The Shawshank Redemption. Really sad. He seemed like a nice guy who had just had a tough life that could break anyone.

[@henrikjohannessen3017]

@@TheWedabest FFS prison is supposed to teach him how to keep himself out of prison. Not increase the chance of him returning to prison... It is obvious that a criminal with nothing is ultimatly going to fail.

[@markhirstwood4190]

That might have been an act. Criminals are very convincing actors. He 'lost' his money? I doubt it. I have sympathy and empathy but... come on, be realistic. See below the surface. He knew he was on a television feature. He probably hoped the crew would help him out. To be fair, cops act the same way. They make the 'honest Joe' face "What?", relaxing their cheek muscles, staring too long (usually blue eyed). It's all a game.

[@quoggle9348]

@@markhirstwood4190 This just shows that you have missed the entire point of this video. The suspicion of all convicts and an unwillingness to see that they are people just as much as you are, is what keeps them in an endless cycle of incarceration.

[@lashau7056]

In Norway even prisoners are well educated and speaking a foreign language.

[@Baronsamsam]

most "western" non english countries is a better description on second thought

[@slashslash9777]

Lasha Usupashvili How can u say that? What u mean well educated and spraking foreign language!!!!

[@slashslash9777]

mitä äijä yes i know. But it have nothing to do with prisoniers in norway are educated and speak foreign language AS lasha mentioned

[@Tjalve70]

In Norway everyone learns English in school. And prisoners have gone to school, and so they have learned English. Also it's not uncommon for prisoners serving long sentences taking an education while in prison.

[@slashslash9777]

Tjalve so in the most of europeen countries also

[@vaclavnovacek1035]

The guard casually saing "Hi" to the inmate riding a bycycle past him destroyed me :D

[@Surdeigt]

All inmates are being spoken to as a fellow human here. We're all human, and if we treat prisoners like humans too, they will be more likely to act proper when they're released. That is our viewpoint at least here in Norway ☺️

[@cubesolver2564]

"You gonna nail that wheelie this week?" "You bet. I'm gonna get it this time!"

[@hhbased]

"But there is one country that is taking a very different approach" I don't want to rub it in once again , but most countries (at least west european) take a very different, reasonable and responsible approach

[@cmarq817]

EXACTLY !

[@argantyr5154]

I'm not certain about Britain though.

[@Zett76]

Yeah, but Norway is still on another level.

[@hhbased]

@@Zett76 i agree . Btw I'm german and my brother lives in Norway

[@bfbffersen3567]

I don't know about them all, but i can tell you, the danish jails reminds more of the us, than the norwegian. I tried it, and it is not fun at all.

[@Z7andersonsilva]

A brilliant watch and a really informative film. My love and respect for the Norweigan justice system grows by the day

[@HelenEk7]

A system is only what people make it to be..

[@cellardoor199991]

I bet your middle eastern even though your British

[@diazinth]

the last time we tried to install proper laws in your country, you kicked us out before submiting to french duke ;)

[@TheYahmez]

Make it happen guy.

[@Hope-ck6hy]

How are you doing six years later bro?

[@plainlake]

Man, that guy looks like such a broken individual.

[@ecoli3524]

Which one

[@joestanley250]

The Norwegians are the most 'tough on crime' as their system is reducing it the most

[@frankyflowers]

Singapore is tough on crime. they have better results

[@jonashuseby9773]

Franky Flowers i mean in Halden prison only 3% do something illegal when They come out

[@Cortesevasive]

Thats easy when you have unlimited money supply from oil

[@JaniceHope]

@@Cortesevasive Maybe don't outsource oil to oil companies then and get the profits to the people - like they do in Norway.

[@MrNasrudin123]

@@Cortesevasive ​ they use the money to invest in their ppl... unlike america

[@BattleGroundElite]

I am an Norwegian and have been in jail for 3 years here. And can say that the way they treat you here in jail is what made me comming back. Here they want to help. Never been to the US or in a US prison but from what I have seen and been told from US people that are in Norwegian prison... US got it all wrong. They dont help they make them harder.

[@lavifen8847]

so in norway, u reoffend to go back to prison?

[@hurtigheinz3790]

1:39min "they are off their medication" As a European does that mean what I fear it does? Once out of prison you don't get any health care?

[@kemro5461]

Health Care in America when you're an ex-inmate ? XDD

[@kb-tm2hm]

Its actually sad seeing that in the us proud to be canadian

[@moonlily1]

That's correct. Some people reoffend intentionally because in prison they are in some ways better off. In some states they may qualify for Medicare, but it varies. Otherwise, if you become ill you can visit the ER for one-time care or go to a free clinic for the uninsured, but while they can treat you at such clinics, if you don't have money to pay for your prescriptions there's nothing they can do about it. Most of the time mentally ill persons can qualify for Medicare so that they are able to stay on medication to prevent psychotic episodes but I can't say that there aren't people who fall through the cracks. The majority of homeless people are mentally ill.

[@hurtigheinz3790]

@@moonlily1 Absolutly horrific!

[@moonlily1]

@@hurtigheinz3790 Furthermore, if you have been convicted of a felony here it is extremely hard to find anyone to rent an apartment to you as well as find another job, and you won't qualify for public housing. On other forms of assistance, like food assistance benefits, I'm not sure, but many ex-convicts turn back to crime due to lack of any means to earn money legally. You also lose the right to vote, so you have no voice to advocate for reforms to help you get your life back on track. Most prisons here are privately owned and profit based, just like a Starbucks. They profit from convictions and reentry- offenders are repeat business. It is not within their interests to reform offenders or provide them with life skills to live independently outside of the system. The majority of American prisoners are serving time for non-violent offenses. Upon release, you then have to keep paying fees to the parole board for your drug tests and appointments regardless of whether or not you have secured employment, and failure to pay your fees to meet with your parole officer can result in being reincarcerated. Poverty is, essentially, a crime in and of itself.

[@MatthewGoreBGenomics]

How is is that the the Nordic countries all have a rehabilitation not incarceration prison system? I come from NE Kentucky in the 90s and here in N Delaware since about 2000. The problem is now only how we support prison reform, its how we deal with addiction. The heroin epidemic, more specifically opiate addiction, is the problem at large. This can be dealt with the same way as Denmark - with clinics. I don't like most of my now dead friends and familys choices of lifestyle, I have to live with them, though, Treat the symptom not the criminal and turnicit, seeing as it makes men of all whom care for those afflicted.

[@watdafak666]

+Matthew Gore Exactly.

[@povelvieregg165]

Matthew Gore, the reason for the Nordic difference has deep historical roots. Punishment for crime was never really harsh here. You got to go all the way back to Viking society and norse mythology. The Christian idea of good and evil did not exist in the norse world. It was more like Jing/Yang. The Æser stood for order and the Jotner stood for chaos, but it was believed that both order and chaos was needed. The world was not divided into good guys and bad guys. The justice at the Thing in Viking times was a very practical affair. It was more like negotiation than a trial. Since Scandinavian Viking society had almost no central power to speak of there was no authorities to carry out sentences and arrest people. Hence one relied on getting the offender to agree to the punishment. Thus it could not be too harsh. Most crimes required paying fines, including murder. Only the worst crimes made you an outlaw. That meant you were outside the law and were no longer protected by it. This situation caused the Nordic approach to crime to be based on negotiation and pre-emption. Family members did they best to stop other members from stepping out of line. One tried to negotiate with other wronged families to prevent things from escalation. The reason for that was of course that with a society with so little central power it was originally very chaotic and family feuds and eternal revenges could get very bloody and never end. This carried over to later times. I remember reading about crime in Norway and England around the 1500s. The crime levels were pretty similar. But England had much more of a zero tolerance to crime. I think this tradition is what carried over to the US. In Norway minor crimes by poor people like stealing a bread was often simply tolerated. Some of this is likely a deeper cultural difference between germanic and anglo-saxon people. The Netherlands also has a much softer stance on crime and follow many similar policies as Norway. Even back in the 1600s visitors from England would actually complain about the dutch treating their prisoners too good and being too soft on children. Although things were quite brutal back then in both Norway and the Netherlands compared to todays standards. But the point is that the difference between two Germanic countries like Norway and the Netherlands could be clearly observed even 400 years ago. This relative difference has simply persisted. I think it is often easy to forget that the US is essentially an offshot of British culture. It may be different but it shares many characteristics with Britain in how one views people, society, politics, economics etc.

[@runerafell4480]

Matthew Gore its simply cuz we have maybe 50 HIGH profile cases of crime each year and less than 10 murders a YEAR if you dont count the gangbangers in oslo vestkant

[@geckolia3823]

In Germany, Denmark, Norway... clinics for drug addiction are payed by the tax payer. In USA those in need cannot afford it. It's a horrible country. I never understood why it's people thought it's so great. High crime rates, high drug addiction , gun violence, domestic violence, people working 2 jobs to afford childcare, schools, rent , high debts, low quality education system except in uni or private schools. And then segregation and oppression of first Americans and afro Americans, no recontribution and no oecology thinking taught for the environment. Plastic everywhere, going by car everywhere, mass production of things one does not truly need like a new jeans every 2 months. Interesting this bit about Nordic vs USA since Vikings. I don't think you can blame Christianity for it though, good and evil and punishment as USA understands it is not at all biblical. I will ponder on the holy Roman empire approach and how it was in Germany before 1200 and throughout centuries. There definitely was brutality and abuse from the Roman church but as Luther pointed out it was not biblical. Britain-you'd have to say English, because Scotland and Wales and Ireland dealt with it quite differently, and Scotland remains to this day more "nordic" European than the rest I think.

[@lizvlx]

​@@povelvieregg165 fuck!!! what a great comment! And I agree so much! I am Austrian, hence background here is a mashup of celtic/slavic/germanic/roman/balkan cultures. i observe that for example, in upper austria, which is where celtic culture started, even the catholic church never managed to really establish monotheism (aka the saints and holy mary are mostly more important than "the god"), and I believe that the absence of a clear monotheistic thinking relieves one from this very doomed black&white aka good&evil weltbild. revenge is a understandable emotion, but clearly can not ever be the core motivation for any judicial system.

[@silkemyk3178]

Americans are too busy saying they’re no.1 to learn from others lol

[@achair7598]

I mean, americans are like kids in kindergarten, having an argument about who's dad is better.

[@theodor4943]

Kine og like China before 1900s

[@kristofferhellstrom]

A Swede here. Norways way is genius. Making people feel human and showing what life can be!

[@boredmad8484]

Countries like these could turn even a murderer to a softie. To know a place like this exists in earth makes me feel calm ! I feel blessed to be human being. By the way, I am from india 🇮🇳

[@RJALEXANDER777]

I think the opposite works as well. How many decent, peaceful people would quickly turn paranoid and violent if put into a stressful, unsafe environment? Which is likely part of the American system's problems.

[@youareacoward8459]

@@RJALEXANDER777 Yeah, most that enter the prison were not violent, but the law of the jungle forced them too.

[@essmene]

4:17 One country takes a different approach -- Well there are many more countries taking a different approach - one of them is Norway.

[@e.458]

That's the one thing I found strange about this report. It makes it seem like Norway is the outlier and the rest of the world is like the US. But in many respects, the USA are the outlier. Many developed countries have a system based on rehabilitation, though Norway is particulary successful with it.

[@carolcheny]

We need better support systems for ex-cons so they don't re-offend. And we need lesser form of punishment like this. We need to make sure they are clearly told what to do - instead of letting them out on the street like this.

[@AllanBell-si9hp]

F* White America it was always about holding blacks back in secoiety, because whites would still get a job with a record, but not black F* America especially white America Trump supporters they the one's in prison. We want our country back.

[@MrEsfranck]

The inmates at the island of Bastøy have served the first part of the prison sentence in conventional high security prisons. They are able to apply for transfer to the low security facility at Bastøy. When they will be transfered there depends much of their behaviour.

[@philheathslegalteam]

MrEsfranck conventional high-security prisons come with flatscreen TV\s and in cell bathrooms. Bastoy is the freest prison you are correct, but the supermax prisons are still focused on rehabilitation just as much.

[@barrylodriguss4028]

The problem is they release these guys back into society with no training, job skills and without rehabbing them and getting them ready for a life on their own. There are a lot of people that are being locked up for petty things today and it is ridiculous, there are a lot of people that are locked up and want to work and do good but the system will not help them, that is what Norway is doing, giving them training and job skills to help them when they get out and to be a better person.

[@ioannispolemarkhos7364]

Meanwhile, in Japan: "You're accused? YOU'RE GUILTY!"

[@inconvenientexistenlism]

Best deterrent for its citizens to not even consider tempting a crime, and it's working its citizens aren't complaining...but just would-be criminals and foreigners who don't live there are the ones complaining like someone living in another country complaining about how you should paint your house when you love it the way it is. And the "guilty until proven innocent" no worries Japan being the advanced country will come up with some science or technology (aka truth serum combined with the lie detector) to be used in the court of law

[@boahneelassmal]

"Department of Correction" The name itself is a joke...

[@Pikkabuu]

What?! Next you will say that the Ministry of Truth is a joke too!

[@captainopvious7498]

Hateful bronies...

[@Gamerroemer]

olli no, i was rooting for you

[@mitchelltyner5670]

RIGHT! I mean damn... less than 24 hours later...

[@leilanikuuipo6004]

Olli, I new immediately would have problems. He lost his paperwork. How is that any responsibility. He's institutionalized and loves "his inmate friends as family" Pretty off thinking. Birds of a feather flock together.

[@joem5386]

Is it only me or is it glaringly apparent to everyone how horrible the American system of education has become?

[@nunyabidnis3815]

"It's not my fault you had broke parents! They should have tried harder. lol Stay broke."

[@geckolia3823]

USA is such a horrible uncompassionate country. I'm so relieved German prisons focus on rehabilitation just like Norway does. Normal to us, lower future crimes and less costs for the tax payer

[@sammyhiggs4202]

@Mark C. Heres the thing, just by the way you commented and are asking this question tells me you are all about revenge and thats not the best way to go about things. I don't want to hate anyone and would want that person reformed. We are uncompassionate and revenge is one of the worst traits we humans have. Sure, I've felt anger and revenge before, I'd be lying if I said I didn't. My main feelings if someone murdered my loved one would be heartbreak and yes anger but since I hate revenge and want to be a compassionate person, I would hope that the person who did it would be rehabilitated. At the end of the day, my loved ones life is not worth more to a person whos loved one is in prison. We need to remember that.

[@TheProcrastinator6]

@Mark C. Of course it is about revenge to you. It is a human emotion, and vast majority of people would be furious over their family being victimized by a criminal. But if it is, as you say, about protecting the public at large you would want a system with the lowest recidivism rate which means criminals are less likely to commit crimes which means there would be less victims. The norwegian approach of providing criminals with opportunity to reform is resulting in less future crimes and less future victims. That is the evidence based approach, not the emotional (understandably) approach that you suggest.

[@Fillkarre]

Find it funny that you claim that we live in "gated communities" when they're almost exclusively a concept in crime ridden countries, we don't have gated communities in the Nordics.

[@mrme9437]

​@Mark C. It sounds like you just argumentet against yourself there. "We already are letting criminals back out on the street early or with hardly any time, and they are going back making more victims." Would't it be alot better if they did not make more victims, like in Norway? Or are your argument that all criminals should get life in prisson regardless of crime comitted?

[@feonor26]

Should be noted that Bastøy is not a normal prison. It's for prisoners who have shown very promising behaviour and they get to go there at the end of their sentence.

[@atelusyrujgnkj5535]

I Remember one guy at school who ended up beeing sent to prison. He was sent of north in Norway for a year or two. He came back totally changed, he decided to tatoo the date he came to the prison. Last i heard he was going to move up to the same city where the jail is and buy a house there. And as of now hes just 17.

[@johncarter1288]

"Can Norway help US break the reoffending cycle?" The first step is that they need to sort it out by them self´s instead of expecting Norway to help out! But America pride is bigger than the will to follow any other country in any matter. What boggles me is the fact America being majority Christian, they aspire PRIDE witch is a deadly sin! Go figure!

[@nunyabidnis3815]

We've traded Christianity for tele-evangelism. We're so remarkably f-cked... bringing up social reform for prisons is practically asking to have fox news and neo-nazis gaslight you back to the stoneage like some sort of cold-war communist. Americans need enemies to dehumanize, so the soullessness of corporate jobs don't weigh us down.. the prisons are a zoo to project superiority over. Yeehaw. #1. =/

[@Tjalve70]

"Can Norway help US break the reoffending cycle?" Well, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Will the US admit they have a problem? That is, will US admit that being "tough on crime the US way" is the wrong way of dealing with crime? I doubt it. So I doubt the US will admit they have a problem. And so the answer is: No. Norway can not help US break the reoffending problem. Not until the US admit they're doing it wrong.

[@yottaforce]

I'm an atheist, so not the best judge; but to me they don't seem christian as such to me. It's more like "Look how Christian I am!".

[@studybug2010]

4:46 I always wondered where the Alabama chain gang songs originated from!!!! From Gdamn Norway of all places!!! I was only suspecting as such all these years ..now its confirmed.

[@StopForcingPlusOnUs]

8:07 that graph is terrible. That suggests Bastoy's rate is only 10%. Otherwise good video!!

[@BrothersJohnson22]

+Mr T I was just about to write the same thing. Very misleading.

[@dilo_monilo]

+Mr T I see 16%. What am I missing?

[@StopForcingPlusOnUs]

Daniel Moon The chart isn't to scale. The bottom bar is half the size of the other, so even though it says 16% is suggests it is 10%. Basically the bottom bar should be longer to represent the figures properly.

[@SantaCruzLueku]

+Mr T at least it goes in both directions, the 20% and 77% are not to scale either.

[@C4rbone]

Width of the 77% (US) => 443 pixels Width of the 16% (Bastoy) => 90 pixels So using the 77% we can say that a 100% bar would be 443/0.77 = 575 pixels So the real percentage showed by Bastoy is by calculation : 90/575 = 15.6% We can then say by a mathematic aproach that the width of the bars is correct, and that the chart is to scale for these two (wich is not the case for the 20%, it should in fact be shorter).

[@bjoergvin1349]

This just shows a huge reason why so many former prisoners reoffend. No help to rehabilitate when you're out, after been locked up for so many years. I bet this guy at the end had to do another crime to get money, cause getting a job when you're a convicted felon, that's almost impossible in USA, sadly... And I was right when I watched the last part. It's really sad. This happens when prisons are privatised. Then they want to make money on building shitty prisons, make money on giving prisoners shitty food, and they let prisoners run the prison. To take away the freedom, that's punishment enough. Prisons inside of prisons, that's just stupid. Treat prisoners as humans instead of animals, and if it doesn't work, go back to what you used to do. But it's worth a try. Norway is not the only country who treat criminals humanely! And don't lock a car thief or a (young) petty criminal in the same place as a hardened murderer or something like that!

[@toxendon]

Problem is that the American prison system isn't meant to make criminals non-criminals. It's designed, like all their institutions, to make a profit. Poor people have fewer chances in life due to the huge amount of money needed for college. That leads many poor people enrolling in the military or becoming criminals, serving to create profit through war or free prison labor. When they get back into society they become homeless or goes back in prison. The cycle is profitable.

[@CarolineForest]

Norway is not soft of Crime, we have our laws and we keep them and we are hard on those crimes. But we are not 'hard' on people. The criminals are usually there for a reason, and to solve that issue that got them in there will help them. Treat humans like a beast and like lesser than, they will become lesser than, no need tp 'fix their act'. But treat them like people, like humans. ReEducate them, alot of them are in there because they ran out of option, alot of the drug related crimes are there because they ran out of options. Give them more options. They get to start/finish their schooling, they get job-training and classes. Addicts get treatment to get off the drugs. We find the issue and we try to solve it and so that when they release, they have options.

[@skeggiskjeldarson9513]

In a country where everything is black or white we have to expect simple solutions on complex problems including crime. Norway is a different society thanks to a working democracy and involvement from the inhabitants on every level in the decision process. In Norway politics - the decision process - is transparent. Any politician braking the law will face consequences. It is clear that that's not the way US works. From Norway the US looks like its run by oligarchs - money can buy anything - even the presidency. That is not democracy.

[@darklazerx7913]

It is mostly an oligarchy.

[@Tjalve70]

I disagree. USA is a democracy. But it's a special kind of democracy. I call it a capitalist democracy. In a normal democracy, the principle is "One Man, One Vote". In USA, the principle is "One Dollar, One Vote." Mitt Romney was right. "Corporations are people". As long as they have money, they can vote.

[@skeggiskjeldarson9513]

@@Tjalve70 You are describing an Oligarchy. A system where money rules.

[@Tjalve70]

@@skeggiskjeldarson9513 An oligarchy isn't necessarily one where money rules. But yes, what I describe can equally correctly be called an oligarchy as well. I just prefer to call it a capitalist democracy. Because everyone knows USA is the bastion of capitalism in the world, and they also claim to be democratic. But it's not completely correct to call USA an oligarchy. In an oligarchy you would normally expect each participant in the decision to have equal power. In USA you have more political power the more money you are wiling to spend. As I said "One Dollar, One Vote". And with that I mean one dollar spent on the election process, one vote. Also, in an oligarchy, you would have few people deciding. That is after all the definition of the word. Whereas in USA's capitalist democracy, every person who wants to, can join in the decision process. It's just that in order to participate in the ACTUAL election, you have to spend money, by giving the money as "campaign contribution" to your chosen candidate. So yes, most of the actual votes cast come from a fairly small number of people and corporations. Also, in USA's capitalist democracy, there IS a sham election in the end. While the real election is more or less decided before the sham election, a candidate actually has to have SOME level of support in the general population in order to win. It's not enough JUST to spend more money on the campaign than your opponent. So when I said that I disagree, I didn't mean with your claim that it's an oligarchy. I meant that I disagree with your claim that it isn't a democracy. It's just a different form of democracy from what we're used to.

[@user-wb7ot7kt3x]

5:02 same in germany. You do lose your liberty but never your dignity. *The human dignity is inviolable. - §1 Abs. 1 of the German constitution*

[@gauteiseth9031]

Nixon talked about corruption in the same centence as crime... how interresting!

[@lukaszim]

8:06 do they know how graphs work, they show 16% as less than half the width of 20%

[@user-me8hy8ew4o]

Graphs show what the creator wants to show. People need to be more careful with statistics, even though I think this "mistake" is fine since it should show the comparison to the US and 16% is way less than 77%

[@lukaszim]

@@user-me8hy8ew4o I disagree, it is misleading. It shows that the island prison is twice as efficient compared to the normal Norwegian prisons, while it only like 25% more efficient.

[@yottaforce]

I checked on a screen shot. The middle bar is way to long.

[@user-me8hy8ew4o]

@@lukaszim Actually Morten Kristiansen is right. I also checked and the lowest bar has the right length in comparison (max 1 mm wrong) while the middle bar is way too long. In comparison Norways prisons have a way lower reoffending rate than this graph implies. The middle bar should be not much longer than the lowest, so not the lowest is wrong, but the middle one which shows Norway in comparison to the US.

[@arete_]

Being "tough on crime" means the state should be willing to pay whatever is necessary to keep crime rates low. It should never be matter of profit.

[@charlottedavis9727]

In the U.S. There is no reform for prisoners and I can only pray that we open our eyes to the way we treat people in or out of prisons. However, the ignorance of keeping a blind eye to ill treatment that the states and government refuse to acknowledge that we should always be treated like a human being

[@restorativeforum6675]

Hi, I think this short film is really interesting and successfully sums up a lot of concepts and information. These people went to jail because they did "something wrong", they were put through a legal system that is, by default, "just", and at the point of their release, have paid their dues. You have had these people segregated from society for long periods, not being able to make their own decisions, develop professionally and as persons, and from one day to the next they're thrown back into reality. They simply are not equipped to confront society, its systems and its norms, and it's no wonder that a majority of them re-offend: they don't have an income, or even the chance to earn one, and at every step of the way they're reminded that they're outcasts. They need support. But why should they get it? Aren't they "bad guys"? Surely good people who have not committed crimes are more deserving of support and don't get it. And then you have to wonder: what is the point of sending someone to prison? Is it simple punishment? A modern take on "an eye for an eye"? Or is it to protect society from crime, and to help convicts abandon their criminal ways and conform to society? The alternatives are to keep them locked up indefinitely or, else, the death penalty. This subject can stir up quite a lot of controversy, and I invite you all to express your opinions on the Restorative Forum. The Restorative Forum is a free resource for the whole Restorative Community. It is the place for open and frank debate, sharing best practice and supporting each other: www.restorativeforum.org If you're interested in finding out more about restorative justice why not visit one of the following sites: www.restorativejustice.org.uk/what-restorative-justice www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/restorative_justice/ www.restorativesolutions.org.uk/consulting-services/current-areas-of-work/transforming-rehabilitation/ You can find more videos about restorative justice on the Restorative Forum's KZbin channel: kzbin.info/door/l-IFmx8fiLrKyNV7xJlYmQ

[@Littlelegend_]

An eye for an eye and the world goes blind

[@hiphopopposomus]

i support the norwegian approche

[@treyroberson7296]

Ya know, this is a great thing, and it should make me feel good, but it just pisses me off cuz I know America will never get its shit together when it comes to crime and punishment

[@nunyabidnis3815]

100% No chance whatsoever. We need a zoo of people to project our superiority over, or the crushing amoral tedium of our bloodless corporate jobs would interfere with our appetite for consumption.

[@moonlily1]

No, because the American penal system doesn't WANT to break the reoffending cycle. That's not what it is structured to do. Prisons are private corporate entities, prisoners are profit. Recidivism is repeat business. It isn't that we don't know how to reform and reintegrate prisoners, it is a matter that the people running the prisons have no interest in doing so.

[@Jamokai]

imagine being a person signing a paper sending people to their deaths, they will be judged as they judged others.

[@nunyabidnis3815]

With awards, medals, health care, pensions? Oh you mean after that..

[@romanguzzman4708]

Wow.... Thanks for the video

[@TheBartLEGEND]

Great video.

[@beaniegreen4849]

Many people get into trouble to begin with because they are living in the psychological emotional cage of a child; they need the psychological growth. For addicts, as long as they aren't house invaders or killers or robbers, they need treatment. Criminals do need some kind of rehab; maybe the sentences are far too long.

[@arkybaldknobber8062]

an ass whipping will cure them

[@Anonymuskid]

@@arkybaldknobber8062 are crazy? there is more than a hundred years of recorded evidence that it apparently does not work this way and your approach is more violence and punishment? so i ask you: are you crazy? or insane? i dont know exactly what mental illnesses corrode the ability of a human to learn from their own mistakes, i just know theres a few and i fear you might suffer from such a condition...

[@francessweeney2308]

Keeping people safe doesn't mean stripping people of their dignity and humanity.

[@ruans.p.5323]

Excellent. More.

[@origamiandcats6873]

There's a lot of money to be made from prisoners even in a public prison.

[@spazda_mx5]

A superb film, thank you.

[@iverbrnstad791]

Three strikes rules are bizarre and perverse, how little humanity must be left in you to think of something like that?

[@nunyabidnis3815]

But they gave us 3 strikes.. and I legitimately feel that it tooks WEEKS of negotiation and bribes to eek out that much humanity.

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

the high recidivism rate is a very typical US problem. Europes average recidivism/reoffense rate after 3 years is below 50% of the US one.

[@davidperry4013]

Be tough on the crime, not the criminal.

[@chrispetersen4639]

Nothing can help US break the reoffending cycle for 2 reasons even a 6 year old can indentify. 1. The social and economic structure is beyond repair in the country, requiring 2 - 3 jobs at minimum wage just to achieve a reasonable living. 2. Imprisonment is big business in the US, which means policy is shaped by it further exaggerating the above. People will do what they need to do when they are without housing, food and security, sad part is that by lifting the lower class you'd ultimately save more on crime prevention / fighting, property destructions, medical expenses, etc, while getting a much more produktive population. You need evidence for the claims? Look to your own history from the mid 30s and til about late 80s.

[@Opi0id-z]

America has almost half of the worlds prisoners 40%, and make up 4% of the world let that sink in. America also has private prisons, and these private prisons earn more money the more prisoners they get, disgusting.

[@Anonymouthful]

Theres too many people making way too much money from having prisons full and prisoners never integrating to the society for rehabilitation to become wide spread.

[@paxundpeace9970]

Must prison are still state run and entirely tax payer and inmate founded.

[@Victor-tl4dk]

13:43 & 14:01 14:01 made me laugh out loud😂. Outside on a day some would choose to call 'miserable' with literally nothing- not even 'papers' and probably feeling like he's 'unable' to do anything. but it's not funny, it's really sad actually.

[@OriginalPuro]

"I have signed the death warrant".. He says that as if he's proud of having killed a person. I am glad I don't live in the US, even if I'll "never do a crime" at least I know I won't be treated like garbage if I ever do.

[@CliffJumpingProd]

it woudnt work in any other country, Norway is one of the richest countries in the world with a small population, no one _has_ to turn to crime to survive, people turn to crime mainly for addictions, narcotic money debt etc.. We have to remember it's not the police who prevent crime, they mainly solve crimes after they've happened, the biggest preventer is the laws.. when you have a prison like this you remove the risk of committing a crime, unless your society is way better. But in a 3rd world country where people can go bankrupt from medical bills, rich and poor children have different education oppertunities and everyone is armed with weapons; a prison system like this would turn the entire country into a war zone, there's no risk for crime, the prison life is literally better than the outside..

[@calumbrooknicolson]

I agree with Norwegian style prisons.

[@131DIVLOC]

Thank you, Economist for an insightful film - it's just tragic that it ended as it did. IMHO a large cause of recidivism is the difficulty released prisoners face in being accepted back into "society" compared with the warm welcome offered by their former villains. The time is right (indeed overdue) for a circuit-breaker and this programme looks promising.

[@BIGcrazy3]

the graphic at 8:00 is rather misleading 16% is very close to 20%, the graphic makes it appear as half or less

[@adityagauba630]

Sinple answer.. stop making prisons.... then reoffending will stop.. as d ppl who reoffend are already tired of the society.

[@gta4everrr]

One of many simple steps we could take in criminal justice reform is banning the mandatory disclosure of criminal history on job application forms. If your past criminal history is at all relevant to your standing as a perspective employee, you should probably still be in prison.

[@lizvlx]

u know, in most countries one is to show a criminal record for many jobs. not all tho. i do think it is way more important for society to accept, that ppl who have had prior records of incarceration are not just bad ppl. anybody can fail, we as a society must embrace everyone.

[@nunyabidnis3815]

I suspect if we removed that without reform to the prison system and it's results, we'd have nepotism. "I only hire close family members and friends." ..We would need to take many steps to humanize and successfully integrate these folks for that to ever work.. and man, I am not holding my breath. America's first solution is an impending last resort.

[@KjetilBalstad]

In Norway, certain positions requires a "Politi Attest", translating to something like Police Reference, Confirmation, Certificate or something like that. If you want to be a boy scout leader you would need a "Politi Attest", same if you want to be, say a cop, or other key jobs or functions, work with children, and so on. But as a whole, no, we do not require a "Politi Attest".

[@knpreram1719]

I just love it👍👍👍 what a wonderful insight into prison system

[@danthadon87]

Norwegian prison life looks more comfortable than Canadian retirement life on the maximum pension.

[@werebilbyj4449]

Poor Ollie he is too institutionalised to be able to live on the outside. I bet if they interviewed him, he would of broke his parole conditions on purpose. Poor fella.

[@celticcheetah6371]

My Dad (a lawyer) once represented an old man who deliberately shoplifted in front of a security guard on 21st December. He couldn’t face Christmas on the outside. 😭

[@eurosonly]

Ollie is the type of guy who literally has nothing in life to lose. Losing his stuff during the trip only emphasized that feeling where he can literally do anything he wanted because he's not afraid to lose what he doesn't have.

[@cozy_fred7444]

I live in the town by the Norwegian prison, I can see it from my upstairs window

[@MsGiselle80]

Same :) I live a 3 minute walk from Ullersmo

[@commonsense31]

Seriously there is one country who takes a different way? No there are multiple countries who takes different ways

[@francmittelo6731]

The prison system in America is a billion dollar industry. Why should they break the cycle of re-offenders? Also, the USA has a long and proudly celebrated history of violence. The country has been fighting one war or another for 90% or more of its existence. Violence is big business in the USA. Most Americans don't care to stop it.

[@SebHaarfagre]

By the way Portugal has a similar prison system. In fact, they are similar to Norway in many ways of governing, including equality and lack of racism. Just from what I know, of course, but definitely not unfounded statements. Otherwise the rest of Scandinavia is pretty similar too. Seems to go pretty well... however beware that you can't just throw in spice in a kettle and call it a soup. The whole system in USA is borked. I think it's time for the pride to go and time to rework some things from the root up. Ignore my statement or think about it, as long as you personally take some responsibility for shaping the future of your grandsons that's the important part.

[@jakp8777]

Seems like there should be a lot more to this story and it was abruptly ended.

[@johnymcmememan2151]

14:48 Bruh

[@haavard1989]

"You can check 5 years, 5 months from now on, I will never be back to prison"...

[@fun2drive107]

There is no place in society for killers with no remorse however the majority of cons are not violent and that the prison system has no method of helping these people back into society and with skills. The federal government needs to help them in a rehab position that has training and support for employment. I have a really good friend that went in for a few months and he was in a half way house for a few months but no job. You are on your own. This is a big fail by the prison system and they don't care because the prison's are being privatized there fore no incentive to reduce the number of cons. Come on government get your collective heads out of your butt and make something work. Otherwise they will steal and do drugs until caught and go back in.

[@sandman516]

They to busy spending Trillions of dollars on our military to care about ex cons.

[@leilanikuuipo6004]

Who wants to hire a murderer, thief, rapist. They were in prison because they were too busy being criminals. We owe them nothing.

[@zoravar.k7904]

@@leilanikuuipo6004 then they will simply reoffend and continue the cycle of violence, creating more and more victims.

[@ragtaghero84]

Another awesome production

[@harstenstahl1367]

Honestly this isnt a global problem, there are many countries which do so much better and the US is an example how not to do

[@Noelito40]

One thing that really struck me here is when the guy Ollie says “I have no family, I have no one…” and when one of the prisoners in the re-entry court says that he is happy because he has been able to spend some time with his daughter, so when prisoners are released why not offer them the option of working in crèches or orphanages!! (Now before people come down on me like a ton of bricks about child abusers, etc. let me say that of course any sexual offenders and/or drug offenders have to be screened out)…The problem with society is that as adults we judge, when we see a person and we read/hear about their past, we make judgements…but a three year old for example couldn’t tell the difference between a murderer and the president!!...and by the same token many prisoners are victims of having no father figure in their lives or of having an abusive one, so I think that even the most hardened criminal when playing with a 3 year old would feel happy and might experience a joy that they never had in their own childhood….so why not have a “prisoners adopt a child system”…

[@Skattesnylter]

The problem is that US prisoners continue being punished when reentering society. Not given a chance and treated like maggots, so no, Norway's system can't help unless the US as whole changes with it. For it to work, rehabilitate, and educate in prison, get help when released, and not discriminate when it comes to getting jobs. Treat people with respect, not like dogs to be whipped. Make sure you catch those who fall through.

[@Victor-tl4dk]

8:30 when 'you' treat' 'society' as a game. Some people will treat 'society' as a game too...

[@celticcheetah6371]

Norway’s attitude is actually very Christian. “Love the sinner, hate the sin”.

[@nilspetterhellvik6827]

Please follow our system. People are people. Prisons should not be an industry

[@skyvision7363]

After 10:42 I was waiting for him to pee in every corner to mark his territory. I have to show some balls here. We get it, we get it. Glad you don't kill people anymore.

[@michaelirish1445]

Cowers think being tough on people makes them tough. It’s hard to teach a cowered, they are too cowardly to admit they are wrong. So many cowers in power

[@darklazerx7913]

Well, it's not that hard to teach people how to get a real job.

[@joeallen7172]

american companies make money off of prisoners, because the prisoners are often forced to Labour for corporations whilst receiving no pay.

[@ph11p3540]

Some US prisons did try rehabilitation of criminals but they were adhoc programs at best.

[@southerntiger3107]

I worked in corrections for twelve years agreed something needs to be done to prevent prisoners from returning to prison. Norway is pulling a lot of trust in their prisoners, what happens if they attack the staff?

[@watdafak666]

+The Best Happy Men Thing about Norway is that it's a whole different culture.

[@southerntiger3107]

OK.

[@kristianlysgaard5204]

+The Best Happy Men I agree it is a different culture and that is prob part of the reason.. on the other hand as a psychologist it is my belive that its mostly about respect for the person.. metaphor: if you give a person a shovel and scream DIG! he might dig the hole out of fear.. but if you plan a garden together with him and you dig beside him while you plant potatoes you will both eat later is something else.. and its the same person the same shovel and the same hole..

[@swedish0guy]

+The Best Happy Men Scandinavians have alot of trust to each other, in a way that you can´t find anywhere in the world. Also the scandinavian system is not perfect. Sometimes people get out and kill their wives or family. And even if there is a chance that it might happen then the police or the state can´t help you. Its a life of fear for the family of convicted inmates when they get out

[@beaniegreen4849]

"what happens if they attack the staff?' They won't report that; it goes against their philosophy.

[@nunyabidnis3815]

Here's a topic for another fun video: How American deathrow inmates have higher standards of living than some of it's citizens.

[@vsculpt]

Amen!!!!

[@briantyson7744]

They also don't have to worry about rent, food, entertainment or posting on you tube

[@rikwarren3999]

Overwhelmed. When was the last time you felt it? It is debilitating. The look on his face when he realizes he has lost everything tells me all I need to know. 8 years later and we are only now beginning to apply remedies which are simple. Increase support in the aspects of daily living. 5% of recidivism today is caused by errors in schedule confusion or flat tires.

[@carlingnugent]

Private prisons would never allow ACTUAL rehabilitation

[@TheOne-dn9mr]

OLLIE WENT TO GO BUY CIGGARTES RIGHT AFTER PRISON LOL

[@oskarpettersson3549]

Norwegians watching this video and just boosting their ego (vet dere er her)

[@MouseGuardian]

To be fair, this is a place where those that most likely no longer pose a threat to themselves and others serve the last years of their time, they don't go there straight away.

[@Roland14d]

"...They're off their meds...". And they're responsible enough to be released amongst humans? The Norwegian Prison idea sounds good for many types of prisoners but the idea a rapist or murderers getting such privileged treatment is abhorrent.

[@plainlake]

+Randal140d It really rubs most people the wrong way to treat them as humans. It goes against our instincts, but it makes rational sense. Sadly we are no Vulcans. :)

[@jo_magpie]

my instinct is to treat people like people, and if doing that cut the chances of these people killing or raping again by 2/3 I'm all for it. It's also extremely cost effective. The Us spends only 30%(cost adjusted) less per prisoner then Norway, but since 77% return that cost saving ends up costing twice as much as Norway spends.

[@ognc8468]

at 14:47 my heart sunk... he just wanted to be free.

[@actaemazantor9558]

For some countries prisons are meant to punish people, for others to correct them. Prisons may begin to improve a society when people start rejecting their remorse and pettiness and begin looking at criminals as lost human beings who most of the times were the first victims of their own lives.

[@lilyr5279]

Norway is the most intelligent country I know. Amazing solutions.

[@dreadpiraterobertsii4420]

The difference in culture and society in the 2 isn’t comparable even Diet is different this is why your health care system cannot work

[@lunafringe10]

if Norwegians are so bright , I didnt notice, I was in college with some of them

[@deidara_8598]

Why does this have nature documentary vibes!? "And here we see the american family in its natural habitat"

[@narutoxinwen2005]

13:47 I cried ;-;

[@littlemissdimples88]

Your Mum it broke my heart too. In a way he seems so normal, but he doesn’t have the things normal ppl have -a loving family, a job, a home etc 😢 sometimes we don’t even know where we went wrong

[@sherriewilson2020]

“ I will never go back to prison!!! NEVER”- 24 hours later- violates parole and has a warrant out for his arrest to go back to prison!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@hurtigheinz3790]

10:45min Another problem is, that people like him are becoming judges in the first place. I bet the word "humanism" never poped up when he was studying to become a lawyer and judge.

[@ilovefabricandflowers8543]

Hey, lets just brand this guy as a prisoner by giving him the orange bag. I'm sure that a large carry bag would be just as cheap and not such a picture of discontent.