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Take A Tour Of Norway's Unbelievably Luxurious Prison
At Halden, it's sometimes hard to tell the inmates and guards apart.
This 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.
Source: "The Norden"
The halls look more like a college dormitory than a prison.
The cells themselves are pretty spacious.
Inmates sometimes play darts while others cook in the well-equipped kitchen.
Source: "Welcome to Halden Prison"
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."
Source: "Welcome to Halden Prison"
When 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.
Source: "The Norden"
Inmates have jobs like woodworking at the prison that require these tools.
Source: "Welcome to Halden Prison"
"I'm having a hard time believing that I'm in a prison," Conway said when he came across the studio.
Source: "The Norden"
Inmates can learn to play instruments, sing, and work with audio equipment. Three have even appeared on Norway's version of "American Idol."
Source: World's Scariest Prisons
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.
The 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.
Source: "The Norden"
Halden also invested in art and architecture, reportedly spending $1 million on paintings, photographs, and light installations to create a "warm and cozy" environment.
Source: The Young Turks
Inmates don't have all the fun. Guards get around the spacious premises on scooters.
Source: "Welome to Halden Prison"
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.
Source: "Welome to Halden Prison"
Now that you've seen what an ideal prison looks like ...
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