Worrying development in Nordic prisons

The representatives from the four countries point to a worrying development, where politicians are increasingly resorting to harsher penalties without funding for staff, capacity, and the reintegration of the inmates into society.

Chairman of the NFU, Asle Aase (N), says: "Politicians need to recognise that we lack the staff and capacity to deal with the challenges in prisons in the future if they want to preserve the special Nordic way of running prisons."

He points out that there are no quick-fix solutions in the form of importing foreign labour, renting foreign prisons, privatising prison tasks or smart prisons.

"Solutions are neither to import nor export our prison tasks, nor are there any technological shortcuts that can solve our problems. The most important resource is the prison staff. It always has been – and it will continue to be so in the future," says Asle Aase.

Further information:
Chairman of NFU, Asle Aase
Phone +47 976 95 268
Mail: aase@fengselogfriomsorg.no

The Nordic Prison Officers Union is a co-operation between the prison unions in the Nordic countries. The organisation represents prison officers and other employee groups in Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark.