Bastøy island in the Norwegian prison for dangerous criminals and the dream of every prisoner

Norway has always been known for its truly humane prison system, so the most desirable place where dream to get all the prisoners, is a Norwegian island Basto. That there is, perhaps, the most Paradise stronghold of an order among all prisons existing nowadays.

Located just an hour's drive from Oslo, the island Basto is a picturesque place, reachable only by boat. There are several beaches, tennis courts and even a sauna.

The Ministry of justice of Norway in 2009, he completed a 10-year experiment in "free content" inmates in the prison on the island Bastøy. The experience was considered successful, and now these institutions can appear in other parts of the country.

Rather than being in prison, 115 prisoners of this amazing prison live in comfortable wooden houses.

But that never happened on the island Bastøy, so it's barbed wire and angry guards with guns and dogs. This is despite the fact that live there, the most notorious criminals of all kinds: from drug dealers and fraudsters to rapists and murderers.

At the beginning of 2011 on the island sat 116 people. Prison staff — 70 people, but on the night stand watch only 5-6 employees. All jailers are working here without a weapon. In 11 years of existence of this prison island ran a total of five people, three of whom pled guilty and two were caught and sent to prison on the mainland.

With regard to the detention regime, the primary responsibility of each prisoner is work. Everyone has a job where they have to be from 8:30 to 15:30. Every day the prisoners receive a salary of $ 10 and can spend money on products in a local store, thus providing themselves with Breakfast and dinner on request.

On Basta prisoners are "in the wild" — they live in cottages (1 cottage for 8 inmates, each with its own bathroom) and you can easily move around the island. In Russia such a place would be called "the colony" and would be right. But — with few exceptions — all on leave of 18 days per year. In addition, there is also maternity leave in 21 days when the wife or concubine born child from the prisoner (family visits — weekly, for 12 hours).

It is also important that prisoners necessarily engaged psychologists and prison staff working alongside them. Work, by the way, must-have item for prisoners, as well as a means of "re-socialization" and re-education. And all the work — nature. The Norwegians (and especially criminologist Christie) believe that agriculture and forestry can best knock out the man stuff. On the island live 45 sheep, 22 cows, 10 horses, 230 chickens and 20 rabbits. There are still plots with potatoes, vegetables and raspberries. Their land — an important element of food self-sufficiency. One of the factors on which the experiment with the island prison was recognized by the Ministry of justice successful, was the reduction of the cost of keeping prisoners in 2.5 times in comparison with other Norwegian prisons.

Lunch for all required, it cooks camp cooking — both for prisoners and for guards. Also several times a day, prisoners are required to report. The purpose of the prison island Basto is not to insult respectable citizens of Norway, pampering criminals instead of punish, but to change them and allow them back into society.

The prisoners are counted every morning and evening.

The rise here at 7:00. 8:00 work begins. A 2-hour lunch break. Work ends at 16:30. In the evening, the prisoner can do anything to read at the local library (it contains about 10,000 books), to sit on the Internet (though not for more than two hours), watching TV (allowed 4 channel), sports (no limit), play in local rock band or theater group. 22:00 — lights out. On the island of illicit drugs and alcohol (weekly tests urine for presence of drugs), violation of the prison to the mainland.

As incredible as it may sound, but the method of this fairy prison work. According to statistics, 20% of criminals, who visited the Norwegian prison system, there are again several years after release. And those who had the opportunity to spend time on the island Bastøy, re-convicted are only 16%.

"The main thing is to create a situation in which inmates can open itself in a new way, to begin again to respect themselves," says the prison Governor Arne Nilsen Kvarnvik.

"We give the prisoner a sense of harmony with nature. It turns away from violence," said Christie.

The prisoner (with chainsaw) works with a guard in the woods on Bastøy island.

Telephone booths on the island. Inmates are allowed to make phone calls twice a day, morning and evening.

A prisoner, accused for cruel treatment with children, working with the horse.

Nigerian citizen convicted of drug abuse. He lives in his own house on the island. All the other prisoners live in communal houses.