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Bastøy Prison

April 12, 2024

Bastøy Prison (Norwegian: Bastøy fengsel) is a low-security, male-only prison on Bastøy Island, Norway, located in the Horten municipality about 75 km south of Oslo. The prison is on a 2.6 km2 island and hosts 115 inmates making it the largest low-security prison in Norway.[1] Arne Kvernvik-Nilsen,[2] governor of the prison, leads a staff of 69 prison employees. Of this staff, only 5 employees remain on the island overnight.[3] The prison is about one hour commuting distance from Oslo.[4]

Bastøy Prison
Bastøy Prison from the air
LocationBastøy Island, Norway
Coordinates59°22′48.55″N 10°31′29.65″E / 59.3801528°N 10.5249028°E / 59.3801528; 10.5249028
StatusOperational
Security classMinimum
CountryNorway
WebsiteBastøy fengsel

Once a prison colony for young boys, the facility is trying to become "the first ecological prison in the world".[3] Recidivism has been reported at 16%, compared to the European average of around 70%.[5] Inmates are housed in wooden cottages and work the prison farm.[6] During their free time, inmates have access to horseback riding, fishing, tennis, and cross-country skiing.[3][7] The only access to the prison is from a ferry that departs from Horten.[8]

Bastøy Boys' Home insurrection edit

Before the current prison, the island was occupied by a juvenile detention centre, Bastøy Boys' Home. The Norwegian government purchased the island in 1898 for 95,000 kroner, and the reformatory opened in 1900. In 1915, it was the site of an insurrection by the boys which was suppressed by the Norwegian military; this event was later dramatised in the 2010 film, King of Devil's Island. The Boys' Home was taken over by the Norwegian government in 1953 and shut down in 1970.[9]

The rebellion occurred on 20 May 1915, when between 30 and 40 boys rallied around four youths who had escaped and been recaptured. The group refused to work, armed themselves with farming tools and stones, cut the telephone lines and then burned down the barn with stolen matches and cigars. The same barn had been burned down two years before.

When instructors and guards failed to quell the riot, the military was called in. Over a hundred troops stormed the island. Also on scene were two seaplanes, two submarines, and the armored ship "Norway" from the naval base Karljohansvern in Horten. Several of the boys escaped into the forest but were later recaptured. Officials identified the ringleader of the rioters as a newly arrived 18-year-old "gypsy boy" plumbing apprentice from Christiania. Three others were identified as his accomplices.

The 1915 uprising did not end the school's strict disciplinarian methods which continued until 1953 when the Ministry of Social Affairs took over operations. The school was shut down on 1 October 1970.

Prison edit

Bastøy Island, once infamous for its brutal reformatory, is now the site of the progressive Bastøy Prison, founded in 1982. Inmates must apply to serve their time on the island. Applications are denied if officials believe the prisoner poses a threat. In the 38 years the prison has been operating there has only been one attempted escape. The inmates know how easy they have it and fear the consequences of escaping. If caught escaping, the inmate is sent to one of the most strict prisons. At the prison, inmates live in cottages, dine on food cooked by a chef, and enjoy a sauna, tennis courts and horseback riding.[10] The prison aims to rehabilitate the inmates currently residing there. The inmates live peacefully together, work well together and depend on each other for resources.

In 2014, the prison was awarded the 2014 Blanche Major Reconciliation Prize for "promoting human values and tolerance".[11] Bastøy Prison has been called one of the most liberal prisons. Unlike most prisons throughout the world, the guards and inmates get along. At night, only 5 guards are left on the grounds to monitor the one hundred plus inmates. Inmates can experience a rough transition. Life for inmates in normal prisons is dictated for them every second of the day; however, at Bastøy, the prisoners have to learn how to fill their days with activities. Social scientists have claimed this can result in additional, unusual stressors not found in more traditional high-security prisons.[12]

In popular culture edit

The prison colony was featured in the DVD extras for Michael Moore's 2007 documentary Sicko. In 2010, both a documentary about the island by Michel Kapteijns was released[13] and King of Devil's Island, a Norwegian film directed by Marius Holst.[14] In 2015, the prison was featured in an episode of Good Mythical Morning. In 2015, the prison was again featured in Michael Moore's documentary Where to Invade Next.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Bastøy fengsel - Kriminalomsorgen.no". www.kriminalomsorgen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  2. ^ Henley, Paul (2012-05-18). "Crime and punishment, Norwegian style". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  3. ^ a b c Kilner, James (2006-03-28). "Break the law and live by a beach". Environmental News Network. Reuters. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  4. ^ Vice staff (2011-08-03). "Inside Norway's progressive prison system". CNN. Retrieved 2013-03-07. Rehabilitation is key in Norway prisons
  5. ^ James, Erwin (4 September 2013). "Bastoy: the Norwegian prison that works". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  6. ^ Shishkin, Philip (8 June 2003). "Norway's convicts take a number, line up for prison". Chicago Sun-Times.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Hundley, Tom (19 October 2003). "Norwegian Jails Break Concept Of Hard Time". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  8. ^ Degen, Guy. "Norwegian Prison Prepares Inmates For The Outside World." Deutsche Welle. 25 March 2009. Retrieved on 24 May 2012.
  9. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (2011-12-16). "King of Devil's Island (Kongen av Bastoy)". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-06-19. Nordic gloom at boys' colony
  10. ^ CNN – Welcome to the world's nicest prison Retrieved 27 July 2012
  11. ^ Schau, Mette Stensholt; Bjerkeseth, Anders Wam (30 October 2014). "Pris til Bastøy fengsel". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  12. ^ Shammas, Victor Lund (January 2014). "The pains of freedom: Assessing the ambiguity of Scandinavian penal exceptionalism on Norway's Prison Island". Punishment & Society. 16 (1): 104–123. doi:10.1177/1462474513504799. ISSN 1462-4745. S2CID 145330708.
  13. ^ Bastoy the Movie — documentary by Michel Kapteijns 2011-02-02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 February 2010
  14. ^ Kongen av Bastøy (King of Devil's Island) — film by Marius Holst 2012-03-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 February 2010

External links edit

April 12, 2024
bastøy, prison, norwegian, bastøy, fengsel, security, male, only, prison, bastøy, island, norway, located, horten, municipality, about, south, oslo, prison, island, hosts, inmates, making, largest, security, prison, norway, arne, kvernvik, nilsen, governor, pr. Bastoy Prison Norwegian Bastoy fengsel is a low security male only prison on Bastoy Island Norway located in the Horten municipality about 75 km south of Oslo The prison is on a 2 6 km2 island and hosts 115 inmates making it the largest low security prison in Norway 1 Arne Kvernvik Nilsen 2 governor of the prison leads a staff of 69 prison employees Of this staff only 5 employees remain on the island overnight 3 The prison is about one hour commuting distance from Oslo 4 Bastoy PrisonBastoy Prison from the airLocationBastoy Island NorwayCoordinates59 22 48 55 N 10 31 29 65 E 59 3801528 N 10 5249028 E 59 3801528 10 5249028StatusOperationalSecurity classMinimumCountryNorwayWebsiteBastoy fengselOnce a prison colony for young boys the facility is trying to become the first ecological prison in the world 3 Recidivism has been reported at 16 compared to the European average of around 70 5 Inmates are housed in wooden cottages and work the prison farm 6 During their free time inmates have access to horseback riding fishing tennis and cross country skiing 3 7 The only access to the prison is from a ferry that departs from Horten 8 Contents 1 Bastoy Boys Home insurrection 2 Prison 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBastoy Boys Home insurrection editBefore the current prison the island was occupied by a juvenile detention centre Bastoy Boys Home The Norwegian government purchased the island in 1898 for 95 000 kroner and the reformatory opened in 1900 In 1915 it was the site of an insurrection by the boys which was suppressed by the Norwegian military this event was later dramatised in the 2010 film King of Devil s Island The Boys Home was taken over by the Norwegian government in 1953 and shut down in 1970 9 The rebellion occurred on 20 May 1915 when between 30 and 40 boys rallied around four youths who had escaped and been recaptured The group refused to work armed themselves with farming tools and stones cut the telephone lines and then burned down the barn with stolen matches and cigars The same barn had been burned down two years before When instructors and guards failed to quell the riot the military was called in Over a hundred troops stormed the island Also on scene were two seaplanes two submarines and the armored ship Norway from the naval base Karljohansvern in Horten Several of the boys escaped into the forest but were later recaptured Officials identified the ringleader of the rioters as a newly arrived 18 year old gypsy boy plumbing apprentice from Christiania Three others were identified as his accomplices The 1915 uprising did not end the school s strict disciplinarian methods which continued until 1953 when the Ministry of Social Affairs took over operations The school was shut down on 1 October 1970 Prison editBastoy Island once infamous for its brutal reformatory is now the site of the progressive Bastoy Prison founded in 1982 Inmates must apply to serve their time on the island Applications are denied if officials believe the prisoner poses a threat In the 38 years the prison has been operating there has only been one attempted escape The inmates know how easy they have it and fear the consequences of escaping If caught escaping the inmate is sent to one of the most strict prisons At the prison inmates live in cottages dine on food cooked by a chef and enjoy a sauna tennis courts and horseback riding 10 The prison aims to rehabilitate the inmates currently residing there The inmates live peacefully together work well together and depend on each other for resources In 2014 the prison was awarded the 2014 Blanche Major Reconciliation Prize for promoting human values and tolerance 11 Bastoy Prison has been called one of the most liberal prisons Unlike most prisons throughout the world the guards and inmates get along At night only 5 guards are left on the grounds to monitor the one hundred plus inmates Inmates can experience a rough transition Life for inmates in normal prisons is dictated for them every second of the day however at Bastoy the prisoners have to learn how to fill their days with activities Social scientists have claimed this can result in additional unusual stressors not found in more traditional high security prisons 12 In popular culture editThe prison colony was featured in the DVD extras for Michael Moore s 2007 documentary Sicko In 2010 both a documentary about the island by Michel Kapteijns was released 13 and King of Devil s Island a Norwegian film directed by Marius Holst 14 In 2015 the prison was featured in an episode of Good Mythical Morning In 2015 the prison was again featured in Michael Moore s documentary Where to Invade Next See also edit nbsp Norway portal nbsp Law portalHalden Prison Incarceration in NorwayReferences edit Bastoy fengsel Kriminalomsorgen no www kriminalomsorgen no in Norwegian Retrieved 2023 02 20 Henley Paul 2012 05 18 Crime and punishment Norwegian style BBC News Online Retrieved 2013 03 07 a b c Kilner James 2006 03 28 Break the law and live by a beach Environmental News Network Reuters Retrieved 2013 03 07 Vice staff 2011 08 03 Inside Norway s progressive prison system CNN Retrieved 2013 03 07 Rehabilitation is key in Norway prisons James Erwin 4 September 2013 Bastoy the Norwegian prison that works The Guardian London Retrieved 6 September 2013 Shishkin Philip 8 June 2003 Norway s convicts take a number line up for prison Chicago Sun Times permanent dead link Hundley Tom 19 October 2003 Norwegian Jails Break Concept Of Hard Time Chicago Tribune Retrieved 2012 05 20 Degen Guy Norwegian Prison Prepares Inmates For The Outside World Deutsche Welle 25 March 2009 Retrieved on 24 May 2012 O Sullivan Michael 2011 12 16 King of Devil s Island Kongen av Bastoy The Washington Post Retrieved 2012 06 19 Nordic gloom at boys colony CNN Welcome to the world s nicest prison Retrieved 27 July 2012 Schau Mette Stensholt Bjerkeseth Anders Wam 30 October 2014 Pris til Bastoy fengsel NRK in Norwegian Retrieved 1 November 2014 Shammas Victor Lund January 2014 The pains of freedom Assessing the ambiguity of Scandinavian penal exceptionalism on Norway s Prison Island Punishment amp Society 16 1 104 123 doi 10 1177 1462474513504799 ISSN 1462 4745 S2CID 145330708 Bastoy the Movie documentary by Michel Kapteijns Archived 2011 02 02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 February 2010 Kongen av Bastoy King of Devil s Island film by Marius Holst Archived 2012 03 19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2 February 2010External links editOfficial site English http www bastoyfengsel no English straffegjennomforing Eng html Bastoy movie website https web archive org web 20110202161227 http bastoythemovie com Bastoy Prison Photos https web archive org web 20080204215610 http www jus uio no ikrs ekskursjon fengslet talking about pictures html Sutter John D Welcome to the world s nicest prison CNN 24 May 2012 Adams William Lee Sentenced to Serving the Good Life in Norway TIME 12 July 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bastoy Prison amp oldid 1204670370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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