Improving the U.S. Federal Prison System: Lessons from Norway
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Thomas Loikith
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
25-4-2025 9:59 AM
Description
The American criminal justice system emphasizes punishment rather than rehabilitation. This has contributed to overcrowded prisons. Courts have found that overcrowding and deliberate failure to provide medical care violate the Eighth Amendment. Such conditions can also lead to mental health issues which may make it difficult to reintegrate prisoners into society. America also has the highest recidivism rate in the world. Prisons in Norway, however, emphasize rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world. Should the United States consider incorporating aspects of the Norwegian prison system to improve the American prison system? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research. From September 2024 through March 2025, using qualitative research, I analyzed sources from law and psychology, including court opinions and scholarly articles. After identifying conflicting insights, I found common ground between them (e.g., law and psychology have a common goal, i.e., the safety and well-being of a prisoner while incarcerated and of society once an inmate has been released), and integrated them, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That understanding leads to suggested answers to the research question. I conclude that a prison system geared toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society may reduce the American rate of recidivism and prison overcrowding, and release prisoners better prepared to be reintegrated into society. The United States should conduct a study of the Norwegian prison system and consider whether adopting its approach would be appropriate to improve the current American prison system.
Improving the U.S. Federal Prison System: Lessons from Norway
The American criminal justice system emphasizes punishment rather than rehabilitation. This has contributed to overcrowded prisons. Courts have found that overcrowding and deliberate failure to provide medical care violate the Eighth Amendment. Such conditions can also lead to mental health issues which may make it difficult to reintegrate prisoners into society. America also has the highest recidivism rate in the world. Prisons in Norway, however, emphasize rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world. Should the United States consider incorporating aspects of the Norwegian prison system to improve the American prison system? This is a complex problem requiring interdisciplinary research. From September 2024 through March 2025, using qualitative research, I analyzed sources from law and psychology, including court opinions and scholarly articles. After identifying conflicting insights, I found common ground between them (e.g., law and psychology have a common goal, i.e., the safety and well-being of a prisoner while incarcerated and of society once an inmate has been released), and integrated them, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That understanding leads to suggested answers to the research question. I conclude that a prison system geared toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society may reduce the American rate of recidivism and prison overcrowding, and release prisoners better prepared to be reintegrated into society. The United States should conduct a study of the Norwegian prison system and consider whether adopting its approach would be appropriate to improve the current American prison system.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.