The Norwegian correctional reform plans
Riga, March 17th, 2011 Gerhard Ploeg, senior adviser
Ministry of Justice and the Police Dept. of Corrections
What will I speak about? How did we get there? • Crime and punishment in Norway
• Corrections: goals and organisation What more can we do? • Principles and policy-development VERY LOW RECIDIVISM RATES
Crime development Offences reported to the police 450000 400000 350000 300000 250000 200000
40 %
30 %
20 %
10 %
0%
Other offences
Vandalism
Traffic offences
Drug offences
Sexual offences
Violent offences
Property offences
Crime development
Type of offence in % for 2009
50 %
Crime development Type of sanctions in % for 2009 Fine
60 % 50 % 40 %
Unconditional imprisonment
30 % 20 % 10 % 0%
Community sentence
Conditional imprisonment Other
Crime development Length of unconditional imprisonment 80 % 70 % 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0% 5 years
Prison Numbers Average daily number of prisoners and prison – population rate in some countries N Rate USA 2,292,000 Russia 825,400 Latvia 7,055 England & Wales 83,055 Norway 3,446 Liechtenstein 10
Source: ICPS World Prison Brief, January 2011
743 582 314 150 71 28
Correctional Services of Norway
State Organisation
Probation – Prison
Goals The Correctional Services are • responsible for carrying out remands in custody and penal sanctions in a way that takes into consideration • the security of all citizens and • attempts to prevent recidivism • by enabling the offenders, through their own initiatives, to change their criminal behaviour.
Goals
SECURITY
REHABILITATION
Organisation
Organisation Central level in the Ministry of Justice
Six regional offices
44 prisons and 17 probation main offices
Oslo: 392
Mosjøen: 12
Average: ca. 70
High-security or closed prison
2427 = 63,4%
Lower-security or open prison
1192 = 31,2 %
Half-way house
104 = 2,7 %
Probation service main tasks
Probation service main tasks • Community sentence
48 %
• Pre-sentence report
29 %
• Conditional release
15 %
• Intoxicated drivers program
9%
Staff
• Ca. 3,500 fte working in prisons
• Ca. 300 fte working in probation • Ca. 450 fte in Staff Academy and ICT-service
Prison officer training Two-year education at academic level • Psychology, sociology, criminology, law, social work • Conflict management, ethics and human rights Post-training courses in various working methods and programmes Salary during education
Plans for the Future
White Paper: ”Punishment that works” (September 2008)
A safer community • High-security prison is necessary for some
• Better rehabilitation is necessary for all
Inmate’s living conditions • Addiction
60 %
• Low education
40 %
• Unemployment
80 %
• Homeless
70 %
• Below povertyline
40 %
Reintegration guarantee • A place to live • Some form of income • Identity papers If relevant an offer of: • Education • Employment • Health services • Addiction treatment • Debt counselling The whole government!
More community sanctions
Community sentences
Drug Court
Intoxicated drivers programme
Principle of normality = no stricter than necessary The punishment is the deprivation of liberty
Security: enough is enough
A life as normal as possible
Import model Medical, educational, employment, clerical and library services are provided from outside • Continuity • Involvement • Budget
Variation in prison sentence execution
More and sooner to an open prison
Conditional release Treatment institution Halfway house Electronic monitoring
Returning Network outside office hours Voluntary organsations Family and friends • • • •
Regulations for leave More parental guidance More phonetime / visiting hours Better visiting facilities
Recidivism
• • •
All prisoners released and all community sentences started in 2005 Follow-up period of two years Recidivism = new conviction to prison or community sentence
Source: ”Retur”, Nordic Research Group, 2010
Recidivism 45
40 35 30 25
20 15 10 5 0 Denmark
Finland Releasees
Norway
Probation clients
Source: ”Retur”, Nordic Research Group, 2010
Sweden Total
The general public on penal goals REVENGE GENERAL DETERRENCE SPECIAL DETERRENCE
INCAPACITATION REHABILITATION
The general public on penal goals 70 %
60 %
SPECIAL DETERRENCE
INCAPACITATION
0%
GENERAL DETERRENCE
10 %
REVENGE
40 %
30 %
20 %
REHABILITATION
50 %
The right direction??
Thank you for your attention!
[email protected] tel. +47 22 24 55 73
www.kriminalomsorgen.no Twitter: @gerhardploeg
