Exceptional prison conditions and the quality of prison life: Prison size and prison culture in Norwegian closed prisons
Original version
Johnsen, B., Granheim, P.K. og Helgesen, J. (2001). Exceptional prison conditions and the quality of prison life: Prison size and prison culture in Norwegian closed prisons. European Journal of Criminology. 8(6), 515-529Abstract
This paper discusses the quality of prison life and prison size in relation to the notion of ‘Scandinavian exceptionalism’. Using the questionnaires ‘Measuring the Quality of Prison Life’ (MQPL) for prisoners and ‘Staff Measuring the Quality of Prison Life’ (SQL) for staff, data were collected from all 32 closed prisons in Norway. Based on the assumption that prison officers’ working lives, their perspectives and their values influence prisoners’ quality of life, the main focus in the paper is on the officers. Small prisons (fewer than 50 prisoners) obtain more positive results than medium-sized (50–100) and large (more than 100) prisons, on several dimensions measured. The relationship between officers and prisoners seems to be of better quality in small prisons than in medium-sized and large prisons. Officers in small prisons also report more positive relationships with senior management than their colleagues in medium-sized and large prisons. The results are discussed in light of previous studies on officers and prison working life dynamics.
Journal
European Journal of CriminologyRelated items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Før og nå
Hammerlin, Yngve; Mathiassen, Charlotte (Rapport;5/2006, Book, 2006-09)This report is the result of the assignment to research “What are the consequences of increased delegation of tasks for the relations between correctional staff and inmates? Both the officers’ and inmates’ situation ... -
Miljøarbeid i fengsel
Drægebø, Heidi (Håndbøker;3/2006, Chapter, 2006)I denne artikkelen vil jeg forsøke å gå nærmere inn på hva strukturert miljøarbeid i fengsel er, og hvordan denne tilnærmingen former fengselsbetjentene arbeid på avdelingen. Innholdet i artikkelen er delvis bygget på ... -
Vold mot tilsatte i kriminalomsorgen 2004
Hammerlin, Yngve; Strand, Thomas W. (Rapport;2/2005, Book, 2005)This report treats violence against staff in the Norwegian Correctional Service during 2004, and is a part of a larger and continuous knowledge- and experience giving work. The report consists of four parts: preliminary ...