The Fall of Norway's Prison Paradise: A role model in decline

With principles of normality and dynamic security, prisons like Halden Prison—a maximum-security facility in Norway known for its humane conditions and focus on rehabilitation—have often been portrayed as utopian. Also Bastøy prison, a minimum-security facility located on a picturesque island has received a lot of attention from visitors.

While the United States has sought to emulate Norway’s example in reforming its correctional system, Norway’s own prison system faces a stark decline.

This juxtaposition calls for introspection: Can the U.S. learn from Norway’s successes while avoiding its pitfalls? Norway’s correctional system is based on treating prisoners humanely. The normality principle means that prison life is made to be as similar to life outside as possible. Static security involves physical measures like locks and bars, while dynamic security focuses on building positive relationships between Prisoners and staff. These principles have been effective in reducing the rate at which former prisoners re-offend and return to prison (recidivism). In Norway, this rate is around 20-25 percent, while in the U.S., it is way over 50 percent.

The focus on rehabilitation is evident in the architecture of prisons like Halden, designed to foster interaction, skill-building, and reintegration into society. Norwegian prisoners retain access to healthcare, education, and social services—a stark contrast to punitive isolation common in many U.S. facilities. However, the system that once epitomized "Nordic exceptionalism" is now faltering under mounting challenges. A recent examination of Norway’s prisons paints a grim picture. Resource shortages, staffing crises, and a shift toward static security have eroded the rehabilitative focus. Prisoners are locked in their cells for up to 22 hours a day, far removed from the dynamic, activity-driven model that once defined the system. Key findings from recent reports include staffing shortages, with the number of prison officers falling by 15% between 2022 and 2024 and nearly 300 officers resigning within a year. Reduced staff interaction has led to a rise in violent incidents among prisoners and against staff. Prisoners face extended periods of confinement, worsening mental health conditions. Additionally, with psychiatric hospitals downsized, prisons now house a disproportionate number of prisoners with severe mental health issues.This decline undermines the very principles that made Norway’s system exemplary. Dynamic security—the cornerstone of its rehabilitative approach—has all but disappeared as overburdened officers focus on administrative tasks and crisis management.Adopting Norway’s model wholesale risks importing its current vulnerabilities.

For the U.S. to succeed, it must invest in staffing, ensuring correctional officers are well-trained, fairly compensated, and supported in their roles.

Prisons should not serve as default psychiatric facilities; investment in mental health services both within and outside the prison system is critical.

Norway’s shift from dynamic security toward static security measures like surveillance and lockdowns has fostered a negative culture. The U.S. must balance safety with human interaction. A significant challenge for both Norway and the U.S. is the growing number of prisoners with mental health and substance abuse issues.

In Norway, 64% of prisoners have a mental disorder, and 46% struggle with addiction. Inadequate mental health services exacerbate these issues, leading to higher rates of isolation and recidivism.

The U.S. faces similar challenges, with jails and prisons often acting as de facto mental health institutions. Here, too, prisons can serve as a “window of opportunity” to provide treatment. Norway’s struggles underscore the importance of integrating mental health care into correctional systems—a lesson the U.S. cannot afford to ignore. Despite its current struggles, Norway’s correctional system remains a model worth aspiring to. Its emphasis on rehabilitation and humane treatment has proven effective in reducing crime and fostering societal reintegration.

However, preserving this legacy requires immediate action. To reverse the decline, Norway must also invest in staff, offering competitive salaries, better working conditions, and opportunities for professional development to retain skilled prison officers. Doubling the capacity of psychiatric care and integrating these services into prisons can address the root causes of behavioral issues. Reviving activity programs and vocational training can restore the system’s focus on preparing prisoners for life after incarceration. Finally, replacing outdated prisons with modern facilities designed for dynamic security and rehabilitation is crucial. The United States’ efforts to reform its correctional system can draw inspiration from both Norway’s successes and its current challenges.

While Norway struggles to maintain its high standards, the United States has begun integrating elements of the Scandinavian model.

Initiatives like "Little Scandinavia" unit at SCI Chester in Pennsylvania, San Quentin Rehabilitation center in California and the “Norwegian style” reforms at the state prison in North Dakota, demonstrate the potential of this approach. The project’s emphasis on humane conditions and positive staff-prisoner relationships has led to reduced violence and increased staff satisfaction. These programs with rehabilitative approaches show that it can work in the American context.

However, sustained investment and commitment are necessary to avoid repeating Norway’s mistakes. By prioritizing rehabilitation, addressing mental health, and valuing correctional staff, the U.S. can build a prison system that reduces recidivism, improves public safety, and upholds human dignity. The lessons from Norway—both its rise and decline—offer a roadmap for meaningful reform.

Bio on Authors:

Stian Estenstad is a visionary leader in prisoner integration. A former prison officer, he established the "Network After Imprisonment" (NAI) for the Norwegian Red Cross, now a nationwide service also adopted in Denmark, Iceland, and Latvia. He manages Oslo's largest NAI unit and founded the G26 Re-entry Center, a pioneering collaboration model for post-prison support, now being expanded by the Norwegian Directorate of Corrections.

Nina Hanssen is a dedicated writer and public speaker specializing in human and social development. She currently works in LO Media in Norway and has published eight books. She also advocates for humane prison reforms and co-authored "The Norwegian Prison System: Halden Prison and Beyond” at Routledge in New York. She serves as a lay judge in Oslo.