Nordic Model: a balance of regulated capitalism, universal social welfare, political democracy, and

[midnight]

15. I was hoping to show you another article printed a few months ago. However, here is something

else that lends some info.



"Then there is the theory of rehabilitation, which is the core philosophy of the Danish prison system. It encourages solving the problems that led an individual to crime rather than punishing the crime itself. It works to retrain and reintegrate criminals back into society.

The features of this system are based on the idea of “normalization,” where the prisoner’s environment closely resembles the outside world that they will ideal return to and function in. In fact, most Danish prisoners, usually those with sentences shorter than 5 years, live in open prisons, which typically lack walls and the security features we normally associate with prisons.

The prisoners attend classes, work a standard Danish workweek (37 hours), and even do their own shopping and cooking. Married couples are often allowed to live together and even with their children if under 3 years old. The result, seemingly, is an extremely low rate of recidivism. Inmates are able to easily transition from prison to everyday life.

In comparison with the US, Denmark has 73 prisoners for every 100,000 residents, while the US has 730. Denmark has a recidivism rate of 27% while the US has one of 52%."

http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/letters/the-danish-prison-system