About the publication
The Norwegian prison system has long been considered exceptional and one of the most humane in the world. The supposedly low reoffending rates, good material conditions, as well as the ambition to “turn prisoners into good neighbours” have attracted and astonished researchers, journalists and civil society organisations worldwide.
But what happens when one attempts to export Scandinavian penal practices to countries with completely different tolerances, societal conditions, and political contexts? Can the Scandinavian penal system be replicated outside of the Scandinavian welfare state? And what does Norway gain from such efforts?
In the ongoing research project JustExports, we explore the concept of Scandinavian criminal justice exports, including how and why penal practices are “exported” to foreign countries through the international engagements of the Norwegian correctional services. Drawing on policy documents and interviews with key actors in the international projects, we investigate the mechanisms at play when Norwegian punishment ‘goes global.’
See more:
- Read the full blog post at the website of the Nordic Research Council for Criminology.