Does Scandinavian exceptionalism create humane prisons? A comparative analysis of Norwegian and Canadian prisons

The creation of humane prisons is a nearly impossible task, however some countries have been praised for being better at it than the rest. Scandinavian countries have been praised for their humane conditions within their prisons and the success of the prisons applications within their welfare state, leading to the creation of the concept of Scandinavian exceptionalism. This thesis examines the legitimacy of Scandinavian exceptionalism by comparing Halden maximum-security prison in Norway to Millhaven Institution in Canada. The two prisons, while comparable in their goals and types of inmates, are very different in their perception by prison officers, inmates, and the public. Halden Prison is praised for architectural design, training for officers, and programs for offenders, while Millhaven is often critiqued for the same aspects. This study analyses each prison within the context of their respective country’s prison system as a whole. The research also points out the strengths and weaknesses of each prison and how they compare to each other. The study concludes by comparing the two prisons within the context of Scandinavian exceptionalism and offering suggestions of how elements that each prison could learn from each other.