Evaluation

• Alternative Application - Halden Prison 'Worlds most humane prison'

  Not focused on punishment or judgement, but normality, humanity, Dynamic security, and reintegration

  Dynamic security is the interaction between staff and prisoners

  Enforces autonomy and relationships

  The Norwegian system is much more open and focused on reform and training rather than punishment

  Recidivism rates in Norway are as low as 20%

  Many prisoners leave with qualifications and experience in a range of careers

  However, places can cost over £100,000 a year, compare to £40-60,000 in England and Wales
• Weakness - Brutalisation - learning of new criminal behaviour

  Prison acts as a school for crime, reinforces a criminal lifestyle and criminal norms, leads to high recidivism rates

  Approx 70% of young offenders re-offend within 2 years

  Prevalence of psychological problems and psychiatric disorders in prison populations
• Weakness - Individual differences

  Walker et al (1981).- found that the length of sentence made no difference to habitual offenders who were just as likely to reoffend no matter what their sentence was

  Home office (2005) - Young people are more likely to re-offend

  Those committing theft/burglary are twice as likely to commit the same offence again, than those committing sexual or drug offences
• Weakness - Rehabilitation vs Retribution

  Problems finding a balance between achieving justice and reducing reoffending