Everyone has a right to a life.
A good thought provoking article.
I am from Denmark and we have basically the same system as the Norwegian, as does Finland and Sweden. The results are also nearly the same in each of these countries. However, as accurate as the article is I believe that another fact has a large impact on the number of criminals compared to the US. We strive to minimize the difference between the poorest and richest people in society. Additionally, health care etc. is provided free of charge and it is possible to live on welfare benefits.
I have no problem with that type of prison for non-violent crimes (selling drugs, stealing, fraud, etc.) and I do agree with the fact that prisons are criminal school, to a point.
However, a person who has murdered another person under circumstances such as the ones in this article forfeits his right to live in our society. This person should get only punishment. Not everyone can be fixed.
Maximal sentence in Germany is also 15 years. Yes, even if you murder. Only if the criminal is deemed inherent dangerous (Psychopaths, repeat sexual offenders) he will be imprisoned an indefinitely time, but it is regularly checked.
In the year 2005 there were 62.361 prisoners in Germany. That is 98 per 100.000 resident. France has a rate of 80. Canada of 102.
In the US? 725 per 100.000.
Note to self, If I'm gunna rob a bank, rob a bank in Norway.
Kill the bastards.
It's kinda fun that this one comes up.
Some quick facts:
- The NOKAS case is regarded as the most offensive attack on Norwegian society in the later years, because of the number of people involved.
- The policework and trials have cost more than the money that was initially stolen.
- It is possible to stay in prison longer than maximum sentence if you're considered a threat to society, or liable to offend repeatedly, but this is exceptionally rare. That requires a special sentence, and a maximum of 5-year renewal evaluations at the end of the prison terms.
My guess, is that most people Norway, are of the preception that a 'hard' or 'soft' crime policy is not the most important factor here, but what kind of society the crime happens in.
I wanna move there and do some bad shit. Oh yeah, I am gonna eat 25 burgers and not gain weight and I am goona steel money and go live on a farm like a bad dog!
One more quick fact:
- Toska was also the "mastermind" behind stealing the paintings Scream and Madonna from Oslo's Munch museum. He actually thought it would draw attention from the NOKAS robbery investigation. Bugger...
from what i understand, norway is an incredibly rich state (oil, and fishing) that has awesome social services. speculatively i would think most crimes are generated by want and in norway the state is able to ensure a middle class standard of living for nearly everyone, thus reducing the desparation that leads many to crime. the US by contrast does not have the same resources per capita and it doesn't make sense for it to try to copy the norwegian model, although some kind of change does need to be effected in our criminal justice system
American, we have plenty more resources than Norway. It's how we allocate them. Tax cuts for the rich, boondoggle military budgets, etc is what stops the US from having better services.
Changing prisons wouldn't be the only answer of course. It's our culture that needs to change. That is why we have to keep building new prisons. Criminals are created, there isn't a magic number of thiefs and thugs.
I do consider going to Norway. My father is still a citizen (He moved to the U.S. at 12. I have the legal right to move according to the consolate because of that.
In the US, prison has become an investment scheme and by extension a
part of the economy, madly enough, more or less, so it pays to have as
many people inside as possible. Catherine Austin Fitts is one person
who was in a position to watch this happen and wrote about it.
http://narconews.com/Issue40/
art...rticle1644.html
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