There is no such thing as life sentence in Norway. In the 1970’s the country reformed its prison system and turned the focus to rehabilitation, rather than punishment. These days you have prisons like Bastoey, an open prison which include tennis courts and a beach for swimming. The inmates live in wood homes that they share with other inmates. The idea is that prisoners should be able to reintegrate into the larger community when they get out. Margaret Hayford O’Leary, author of The Culture and Customs of Norway and head of the Norwegian department at at St. at St. Olaf College, explains the Norwegian approach to justice. (Photo: Sean Hayford O'Leary/Wikimedia Commons).
