At Halden, it's sometimes hard to tell the inmates and guards apart.
Uniforms aren't required.
And the guards and prisoners are friendly with each other.
Here, one guard helps an inmate choose a DVD.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThis building is "Unit C," where 84 inmates live. The windows don't have bars because the prison wants inmates to have a good view of nature.
The halls look more like a college dormitory than a prison.
The cells themselves are pretty spacious.
The decor even looks like a bedroom from an IKEA catalogue.
Ten inmates share this common area.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdInmates sometimes play darts while others cook in the well-equipped kitchen.
This is Jack. Before he went to prison, he was in school to become a chef and now uses the kitchen to practice. "I feel good inside here," he says. "I feel that I can become a better person."
Surprisingly, inmates can use sharp utensils without supervision.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdWhen American prison warden James Conway visited Halden, he was shocked at the inmates' access to potential weapons. The metal top of this hanger could easily be fashioned into an "ice-pick-type weapon," he said.
Not to mention the heavy, sharp tools out in the open.
Inmates have jobs like woodworking at the prison that require these tools.
There's also an assembly workshop.
And retail or customer service positions.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe most controversial skill-building additive is a recording studio.
"I'm having a hard time believing that I'm in a prison," Conway said when he came across the studio.
Inmates can learn to play instruments, sing, and work with audio equipment. Three have even appeared on Norway's version of "American Idol."
A gym helps the inmates stay active indoors.
And inmates get to experience all four seasons on the grounds. In nice weather, they can play sports on fields outside.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe grounds are beautiful. The prison's architect suggested keeping "as much of the nature as possible," deputy head of the prison Jan Stromnes explained. That way, inmates could serve under normal conditions — one of the key principles in the Norwegian prison system.
Halden also invested in art and architecture, reportedly spending $1 million on paintings, photographs, and light installations to create a "warm and cozy" environment.
Inmates don't have all the fun. Guards get around the spacious premises on scooters.
The relationship with some inmates, it's kind of like a normal friendship," one guard explains. "Last year, we had one inmate who was crying when he was leaving.
Now that you've seen what an ideal prison looks like ...