No gates or armed guards at Finland’s prisons

Foreigners probably wouldn't recognise a Finnish prison if they visited one. To begin with, they are rare – since Finland has an incarceration rate of just 52 prisoners per 100,000 population – compared to a U.S. rate of 702 per 100,000. That is also the lowest prison rate among European Union countries.

Just what does a Finnish prison look like?

There are no front gates, and walls and fences have been replaced by unobtrusive surveillance cameras and electronic alert networks.

Inmates' cells look like college dormitory rooms.

Guards are unarmed and wear either civilian clothes or uniforms free of emblems such as chevrons or epaulets – and prisoners and guards are on a first-name basis.

Generous home leave is available, particularly for prisoners nearing the end of their sentence – while for others, there are houses on the grounds with privacy assured, where they can spend up to four days at a time with visiting spouses and children.

The guiding philosophy is that loss of freedom is the major punishment.

Finnish courts mete out four general punishments – a fine, a conditional sentence which amounts to probation, community service and an unconditional sentence. Even this last category is made less harsh by a practice of letting prisoners out after only half their term is served.

Finnish officials like their system, but readily admit that it wouldn't necessarily work for other countries.

Source: Warren Hoge, Caught Red-Handed? Let It Be in Finland, New York Times, January 2, 2003.

For more on Prisons http://www.ncpa.org/iss/cri/

FMF Policy Bulletin\7 January 2003