In the prison world, where incarceration often means restrictions and deprivations, there is one exception: Bastøy Prison in Norway. Nestled on a small island, this prison houses 115 inmates in what could be called “the nicest prison in the world” due to its relaxed atmosphere and unique conditions.
At Bastøy, the prison is more of a community than a traditional penal institution. Inmates reside in hostel-like buildings with a variety of unusual amenities and freedoms. Here are five examples of the benefits offered to Bastøy inmates:
First, inmates are allowed to wear their own clothes and visit the prison store to buy homemade food and snacks. There is also a library, a church, a computer center for surfing the internet, and phone booths for communicating with the outside world.
Then, the prisoners live in shared houses with rooms and other facilities. At Bastøy, prisoners reside in wooden cabins furnished with televisions and comfortable furniture.
Prisoners on this island can also participate in recreational activities such as fishing, football, gym workouts, and other leisure activities. In addition, the prison has a movie theater and a weekly program that includes classes, lectures, events, and concerts.
Many prisoners take day jobs on the island’s farm or try new jobs during the day. Unlike conventional prisons, there are no high-security walls to keep prisoners locked up at Bastøy. An accessible ferry connects the island to the mainland, but as you might expect, most prisoners don’t seek to escape.
So what makes this prison so special? Norway is one of the safest countries in the world, with a significant drop in crime over the past decade. This falling crime rate, from 79 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2012 to 56 per 1,000 in 2022, is evidence of a different approach to prison rehabilitation.
Bastøy is designed to house well-behaved prisoners. Although some of them are convicted of violent crimes, they do not begin their sentences on the island. Prisoners must apply to be admitted, demonstrating a change from traditional prisons.
Furthermore, Norway does not impose life sentences; the longest sentence is 21 years, with an average prison term of about 8 months. More than 60% of sentences are less than 3 months and almost 90% are less than a yearThis approach focused on the reintegration and rehabilitation of prisoners has enabled Bastøy to become an inspiring example of how the prison system can be redesigned to support the rehabilitation of prisoners and promote a reduction in recidivism.