Shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 session, members of the California Legislature embarked on a unique journey to Norway. However, this trip was not for any dubious purposes, but rather to explore Norway’s exceptional incarceration system and identify potential insights and strategies that could be implemented in California.
Among the delegates were Senator Josh Newman and Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, who were accompanied by a group of former inmates, corrections officers, and a few other legislators. Their primary objective was to gain a comprehensive understanding of Norway’s commitment to rehabilitation within its correctional system, which underwent a significant transformation in the 1990s.
In Norway, the emphasis is placed on rehabilitating individuals through education and training to reduce recidivism rates and help them reintegrate into society as productive members.
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva emphasized the importance of rehabilitation, stating, “If we continue to incarcerate individuals at high rates, we cannot ignore the need for rehabilitation. Without proper support, the likelihood of reoffending and perpetuating the cycle of crime increases.” She further added, “We witnessed some exceptional examples of alternative approaches during our visit.”
It is not uncommon for legislators to partake in educational trips, even overseas, during legislative recesses. During their six-day expedition, the delegation visited three prisons in Norway: Halden, a maximum-security facility; Bastøy, a lower-security prison located on Bastøy Island; and Indre Østfold Prison.
In Norway with #SmartJustice visited 2 prisons, so much to learn and see. Did you know Police Officers and Correctional Officers don’t carry guns? Also for an individual to get a gun, they must have training and a license. pic.twitter.com/RXlc9sUXJr
— Sharon Quirk-Silva (@quirk_silva) September 19, 2023
Assemblymember Quirk-Silva highlighted the remarkable efforts made by Norway to establish a sense of normalcy within their prisons. Inmates are responsible for cooking some of their meals, attending classes or working to earn money for expenses, and participating in parenting programs. Moreover, Norway provides supervised “family quarters” where inmates can spend time with their children or families overnight.
The objective is to facilitate the return of individuals to their communities as improved neighbors while equipping them with valuable skills and trades. Quirk-Silva stated, “Norway truly believes in restoring humanity. Once we have served our sentences, they aim to support our reintegration as productive members of society.”
Senator Josh Newman highlighted the stark contrast between California and Norway’s prison systems. While Norway instills the philosophy that “courts are for punishment and prisons are for making better neighbors” from the moment of incarceration, California’s systems require inmates to work their way up to programs that offer job training or education. Newman expressed concern about the potentially toxic and dangerous culture within California’s prisons.
Norway’s model not only benefits inmates but also supports the well-being of correctional officers. A 2018 UC Berkeley study revealed that California’s correctional officers often face depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts due to the trauma they experience on the job. In contrast, the relationship between inmates and staff in Norway is different. As one prison officer explained to the BBC in 2019, “We ensure that inmates serve their sentences, but we also guide them towards personal growth. We act as role models, coaches, and mentors.”
Reportedly, Norway boasts a recidivism rate of around 25%, while California’s rate stands at approximately 44.6%. Anne Irwin, the founder of Smart Justice California, a criminal justice reform group that organized the trip alongside UC San Francisco’s Amend Program, praised Norway’s prison system as a global benchmark for corrections best practices.
So, what lies ahead for California?
Both Assemblymember Quirk-Silva and Senator Newman believe that California could implement incremental changes to adopt aspects of Norway’s model. Newman suggested the exploration of pilot programs that mirror Norway’s approach. However, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill last year that aimed to introduce a scaled-back version of Norway’s model for specific inmates, citing fiscal impacts.
Quirk-Silva clarified that any legislative efforts should not be misconstrued as being “soft on crime.” Instead, she likened it to a school system, stating, “Just as educators determine the type of graduates they want, we must decide what type of inmate we want to leave our system and reintegrate into society.”
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