Prisoners In Finland Live In Open Prisons Where They Learn Tech Skills | On The Ground
TLDRFinland's open prisons offer a humane approach to incarceration, featuring dormitories, personal cars, and educational opportunities. With low recidivism rates and a focus on reintegration, Finland invests in technology training and high-tech facilities, aiming to set a new standard for prisons worldwide.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ Finland operates open prisons with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
- ❄️ Inmates in Finnish prisons have access to unique facilities like a frozen lake for exercise.
- 🛏️ Dormitories replace traditional cell blocks, offering a more relaxed living environment for prisoners.
- 🚗 Inmates are allowed personal transportation, such as cars, indicating a level of trust and freedom.
- 🎓 Education is emphasized, with prisoners like Matti studying at a university for a career in tech.
- 🏆 Finland is recognized as one of the happiest and safest countries, with comprehensive public benefits.
- 🛑 The incarceration rate in Finland is significantly lower than in the past, at one of the lowest in Europe.
- 🔄 Recidivism rates in Finland are much lower compared to the United States, with only one in three reoffending.
- 🇺🇸 The U.S. has a much higher recidivism rate, with two out of three former convicts returning to prison within two years.
- 📚 Finland's Criminal Sanctions Agency is investing in technology training for prisoners, preparing them for future jobs.
- 💻 The use of VR technology in prisons, like the 3D forest experience for Mika, is part of innovative rehabilitation methods.
- 🏢 A new 34 million euro high-tech prison for women is being built, featuring comforts and modern amenities.
- 🔄 The contrast between old and new prison facilities in Finland shows a historical shift towards more humane conditions.
- 💼 Matti's story illustrates the potential for prisoners to change and contribute positively to society through education and work.
Q & A
What is the typical routine for inmates in Finland's open prisons?
-Inmates in Finland's open prisons have a more relaxed routine. They can engage in activities like swimming in a frozen lake, study at a nearby university, and live in dormitories instead of traditional cell blocks. They also have the freedom to come and go in their own cars.
How does Finland's Criminal Sanctions Agency document the prison system?
-The Criminal Sanctions Agency produces promotional films that document how prisoners are eased back into society with work opportunities and counseling, highlighting the humane approach to incarceration in Finland.
What are some of the public benefits enjoyed by Finnish citizens?
-Finnish citizens enjoy generous public benefits such as universal healthcare, subsidized daycare for children, and free college tuition.
How does Finland's incarceration rate compare to the rest of Europe?
-Finland has one of the lowest incarceration rates in Europe, which is a quarter of what it was in 1950.
What is the recidivism rate in Finland compared to the United States?
-In Finland, only one in three former convicts ends up back in prison, while in the United States, two out of three get locked up again within two years of release.
What reforms were included in the 2018 bill in the United States?
-The 2018 bill in the United States included sentencing reforms meant to reduce recidivism, but these reforms only apply to inmates in federal custody, which is just 10% of the total incarcerated population.
How many people are currently in the Finnish prison system?
-There are fewer than 3,000 people in the Finnish prison system.
What is the significance of the new high-tech women's prison in Hämeenlinna?
-The new high-tech women's prison in Hämeenlinna, set to open in the fall, is expected to be Europe's most high-tech women's prison, featuring no bars, glass windows, and internet connection in every room.
How is technology being used in Finland's prison system?
-Finland's Criminal Sanctions Agency is investing heavily in technology training for inmates, building a state-of-the-art smart prison for women, and even testing VR to provide an escape from the drab walls and fluorescent lighting of the prisons.
What career path is Matti, an inmate in the script, pursuing?
-Matti is studying for a career in tech and has connected with Reaktor, a digital agency that designs online education courses. He is also involved in providing feedback on the program and hopes to complete a university degree and start a business.
What is the historical context of the prison system in Finland?
-Finland's reimagining of the prison system started nearly 70 years ago, building one of the most humane systems in the world. The old facility built in 1972 and the 19th-century relic modeled on the American style of prison are preserved to show the contrast with the current system.
Outlines
🏛️ Open Prisons in Finland
This paragraph introduces the concept of open prisons in Finland, where inmates enjoy a relatively normal life with dormitories instead of cell blocks and the freedom to come and go. It highlights the case of Matti, who studies technology at a nearby university and is part of a system that focuses on reintegrating prisoners into society with work opportunities and counseling. The paragraph also contrasts Finland's low incarceration rate and high success in preventing recidivism with the United States' higher rates and challenges. It mentions a 2018 bill in the US aimed at reducing recidivism but notes that it only applies to a small fraction of the incarcerated population. The narrative also touches on Finland's long-standing efforts to build a humane prison system, including recent investments in technology training and innovative approaches like VR for prisoners.
🎓 Education and Reform in Finnish Prisons
The second paragraph delves into the story of Matti, who is serving a life sentence for murder but has found a path towards reform through education and career development. Matti has connected with Reaktor, a digital agency, to provide feedback on online education courses and is working towards completing a university degree and starting a business. The paragraph also discusses Reaktor's plan to add an entrepreneurship course to the prison curriculum based on Matti's recommendations. It concludes with Matti returning to Laukaa Prison with a sense of excitement for his future, despite his ongoing sentence.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡life sentence
💡open prison
💡incarceration rate
💡recidivism
💡Criminal Sanctions Agency
💡technology training
💡smart prison
💡VR (Virtual Reality)
💡reintegration
💡digital agency
💡entrepreneurship course
Highlights
A man serving a life sentence for murder in Finland's open prison engages in regular workouts including a dip in a frozen lake.
Finland's open prisons lack traditional cell blocks and feature dormitories where inmates can come and go in their own cars.
Inmate Matti is studying for a career in tech at a nearby university campus and in his dorm room.
Finland has been recognized as the happiest and safest country in the world with generous public benefits, universal healthcare, subsidized daycare, and free college tuition.
Promotional films by Finland's Criminal Sanctions Agency document the easing of prisoners back into society with work opportunities and counseling.
Finland has one of the lowest incarceration rates in Europe, a quarter of what it was in 1950.
Only one in three former convicts in Finland ends up back in prison, contrasting with the United States where two out of three do.
A 2018 bill in the United States included sentencing reforms aimed at reducing recidivism but only applies to federal inmates.
Finland's Criminal Sanctions Agency is investing in technology training for prisoners.
Finland is building a state-of-the-art smart prison for women and testing VR technology to provide an escape from prison environments.
Mika, serving a 15-year sentence, uses VR technology to interact with a 3D forest and learn computer basics.
Finland is investing in a 34 million euro prison that many hope will set the standard for the future, featuring no bars, glass windows, and internet in every room.
The new facility in Hämeenlinna is expected to be Europe's most high-tech women's prison when it opens.
The old facility built in 1972, which once housed both men and women, shut down in 2019 due to disrepair, mold, and other issues.
A 19th-century relic modeled on the American style of prison is now a museum, showcasing the harshness of past prison life.
Matti, a prisoner, is on a path to reform with a career in tech, connecting with a digital agency for online education courses.
Reaktor, a digital agency, plans to add an entrepreneurship course to the prison curriculum based on Matti's recommendations.
Matti is excited about the future, hoping to complete a university degree and start a business while still serving his sentence.
Transcripts
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