Norway's Newest Prison Has a Sense of Humor!

Set to open on April 1st Norway's Halden Prison is a very modern facility. It even boasts several humorous pieces of art reminiscent of Banksy. All cells have flat screen TVs and en-suite bathrooms, and some kind of view. The windows don’t have iron bars (but there is a fence around the compound). As prisons go, this one looks pretty comfortable.

The prison will occupy 300 acres of land just a few kilometres from the Swedish border. It will be home to 252 inmates, and will be the second largest in Norway, employing some 300 people. The brand new facilities include a gym, a training room, a sound studio, a chapel, a library, several workshops, a family visiting unit, a football pitch and a school.

The video below shows more of the facility (it is in Norwegian so I have no idea what they are saying).

Tags: architecture, design

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Comment by Betty Fan on April 15, 2010 at 9:24pm: This is awesome! I wonder if anyone had yet committed a crime on purpose just to get a free pass in!

Comment by Kyle Higgins on March 3, 2010 at 8:12am: Remind me to attempt my bank robbery in Norway Lol!

Comment by Natalie Howard on March 3, 2010 at 12:45am: Uh, where can I sign up? that prison is rad.

I actually think that this place has the potential to inspire people to actually get their lives together and make something for themselves.

Comment by Amy Wong on March 2, 2010 at 8:20am: Wow Fonda. That's pretty informative. Thanks for the link too! :D

Comment by Mark Huckabee on March 2, 2010 at 6:58am: @Fonda -- WOW, that was a totally amazing video. If that system really works to rehabilitate felons then it should be used everywhere. I am very impressed.

Comment by Fonda LaShay on March 2, 2010 at 3:03am: It is a prison, in Norway they focus on helping the person grow to be a better person, rehab and such. Many prisoners are allowed to have jobs and they still live a semi normal life. We do not have a death sentence here nor a life sentence. While I am still new to living in Norway, I would say that this is a nicer then normal prison, but the inmates are treated nicely.. like humans should be. Norway also has a very low crime rate.

Watch this.. it is in English and tells a bit about Norway's prisons are like:

Comment by Amy Wong on March 1, 2010 at 8:38pm: LoL, probably a prison for celebrities, or high ranked people.

Comment by Inka Leoni on March 1, 2010 at 7:33pm: Yeah...I'm with Kevin on this one.
This prison must hold some people who did certain kinds of crimes though. I don't think they'd put you in there if you're a brutal serial killer or something.

Comment by Bob Kueppers on March 1, 2010 at 4:48pm: the design is killer :P

Comment by Amy Wong on March 1, 2010 at 4:38pm: You sure this is a prison???! Wow.