Differences Between Scandinavian And American Prisons

Scandinavian and American Prisons Cat MacDonald

University of North Georgia

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to identify the differences between American and Scandinavian countries in every aspect of the correctional system. The United States holds 5% of the global population, however the United States has the highest incarcerations per capita and highest global prison population with 25% of the world’s prison population. The Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Finland and Norway have the highest quality of life and lowest crime rates in the world. The Scandinavians have closed numerous prisons, lowered prison populations, and focused on rehabilitation in prison

This prison holds a total of 172 inmates, to put that in perspective the Atlanta medium-security prison in Fulton County holds 2,165 inmates. This Finnish prison was a women’s facility but it was so under-populated that they were required to bring in male inmates. This co-ed prison would be an unthinkable act in America seeing how prevalent prison rape and sexual assaults would be. The leaders of the Hämeenlinnan-vankila Prison strategically staggered the schedule of the men and women so that they would never be out of their rooms at the same time. This Finnish medium security prison is more like a gated living complex than an American prison with barbed wire and bars on the windows. The inmates live in what looks like a small one-bedroom apartment with private bathrooms and beds. These Finnish “cells” have TV and personal beds with clean sheets and blankets. This is drastically different than the living situation in the typical American prison with a bunk bed, sink and toilet. The American prison living situation not only does the job of separating the inmate from society but mentally and emotionally attacking them through isolating them in a small confined space for years. The living conditions in the Finnish prison would be ideal for American prisoners because after their release they would be able to get an apartment or go to a halfway house and be able

There were two chain link fences around the perimeter, razor wire above both fences and cameras set up. The Kumla prison is more like an American prison except for the fact the rooms are like a small dorm and the sentencing is not nearly as harsh. There are no mandatory minimums and the highest sentence you can serve is twenty-one years, however after your twenty-one years you can be to repeat another twenty-one-year sentence. Other than sentencing and room, Kumla prison is very similar to an American prison in terms of work and