"All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person"(UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS, 2015).

 

Halden Prison in Norway has been named one of the “most humane prisons in the world” (GENTLEMAN, 2012). It has been designed with rehabilitation at a forefront to help prepare the inmates for life when they re-enter society.

"The basic principle of the sentence is that you lose your freedom, but you don't lose your dignity, your human rights, your civil rights" (STERBENZ, 2014).

 

The prison is located in the Norwegian forest; the exposure to nature is believed to have positive impacts on the prisoners. The defining feature of the prison is the ‘wall’ which is visible everywhere and operates as a persistent reminder of the imprisonment. “The two primary responsibilities of the Correctional Service - detention and rehabilitation - are in perpetual tension with each other, and the architects felt that single wall could represent both” (STERBENZ, 2014).

 

Materials are used to further reflect the two primary responsibilities of Halden. Hard materials such as the galvanised-steel panels signify detention whereas soft materials such as the larch wood represent the rehabilitation and growth present within Halden (STERBENZ, 2014).

The interior furnishings are modern and simple at Halden which creates a comforting environment for the inmates; safety glass is used instead of bars to add a sense of normality into the prison. There are communal living and food-preparation spaces which encourage communication between inmates and help them prepare for life after release ( LEUNG, 2014).

“Halden’s dynamic security philosophy encourages creating opportunities for inmates and guards to meet on apparently equal terms” (WAINWRIGHT, 2015).

 

The guard stations were purposely designed to be small to encourage them to spend more time socialising with inmates in common areas. A sense of trust has also been incorporated into the building by including blind corners and classrooms without cameras. “In the five years the prison has been running, the isolation cell and its limb-restraining bed have never been used” (WAINWRIGHT, 2015). This indicates that the design attributes of Halden are working successfully in relation to the inmates discipline which could enhance their rehabilitation process.

 

More staff will need to be on duty at Halden due to the design features such as blind corners. This contrasts to the Victorian radial layouts where sight lines are clear and direct for staff while observing the inmates. The design and policy’s of Halden are far more humanistic and liberal than any prison estate that currently exists. It is evident that the core concept of the prison is based around rehabilitation; this is achieved through effective interior design which helps to foster greater levels of interaction between inmates and staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world of 20%” (STERBENZ, 2014). This shows the success of Norwegian prisons such as Halden when compared to the UK’s rate of 45%.

 

However, James Conway a US prison boss believes that “the crime victims would be opposed to this type of living arrangement at Halden for the criminals” ( THE NORDEN, 2014). This raises the issue that it may be important to not overweigh rehabilitation with punishment at Halden due to the fact the criminals may still need to be reprimanded for their crimes.