Swedish Prison vs United States Prison - How Do They Actually Compare?

The Infographics Show
3 Sept 201909:09
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script compares the US and Swedish prison systems, highlighting the US's high incarceration rates and its focus on punishment versus Sweden's emphasis on rehabilitation. The US's war on drugs and mandatory minimum sentences have led to overcrowded prisons and a lack of rehabilitation opportunities, while Sweden treats prisoners humanely and focuses on addressing underlying issues to reduce recidivism. The contrasting approaches result in significantly different recidivism rates, with the US at 67.8% and Sweden at 29% after three years.

Takeaways
  • ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ The United States has the highest incarceration rate globally, with 5% of the world's population but 25% of all prisoners.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ The 'war on drugs' and mandatory minimum sentences have contributed to the exponential growth of the U.S. prison population since the 1980s.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ U.S. prisons are often overcrowded, with some facilities operating at over 100% capacity, leading to increased violence and riots.
  • ๐Ÿ› In contrast, Sweden takes a more humane approach to prison management, focusing on rehabilitation and treating prisoners with respect.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Sweden's prison population has decreased over the last decade, partly due to a reduction in the use of incarceration as a punishment.
  • ๐Ÿข The U.S. has a high recidivism rate of 67.8% after three years, compared to Sweden's significantly lower rate of 29%.
  • ๐Ÿ›‘ In the U.S., prisons are often seen as a first resort for punishment, while in Sweden, they are considered a last resort.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™‚๏ธ Swedish prison guards play dual roles in security and rehabilitation, acting as 'contact officers' to help inmates reintegrate into society.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Swedish prisons focus on addressing the psychological needs of inmates, viewing crime as a consequence of underlying issues rather than just an act.
  • ๐Ÿข U.S. prisons often lack rehabilitation programs, with some even restricting educational resources for inmates.
  • ๐Ÿก Sweden employs 'open' prisons, allowing inmates a degree of autonomy and community involvement, which is believed to reduce recidivism.
Q & A
  • What percentage of the world's population does the United States have?

    -The United States has about 5% of the world's population.

  • What proportion of the world's prisoners are in the United States?

    -The United States has a quarter of all the world's prisoners.

  • What has contributed to the high incarceration rate in the United States?

    -The crackdown on the war on drugs leading to harsh prison sentences and no-tolerance policing have contributed to the high incarceration rate in the United States.

  • How did the 'war on drugs' impact the U.S. prison population?

    -The 'war on drugs' led to an exponential growth in the U.S. prison population due to mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related crimes.

  • What was the effect of mandatory minimum sentences on first-time offenders in the U.S.?

    -Mandatory minimum sentences led to first-time offenders being incarcerated for years, often resulting in them becoming more hardened and better equipped to commit crimes upon release.

  • How does the Swedish approach to prison differ from the U.S. approach?

    -Swedish prisons focus more on rehabilitation and treating prisoners humanely, viewing prison as a chance to reform individuals rather than just a tool for punishment.

  • What is the current state of overcrowding in U.S. prisons?

    -The U.S. is 103.9% over capacity in its prisons, leading to overcrowding and issues such as multiple prisoners sharing a cell.

  • Why is prisoner-on-prisoner violence more common in the U.S. compared to Sweden?

    -Overcrowding and lack of focus on rehabilitation in U.S. prisons contribute to higher rates of prisoner-on-prisoner violence compared to Sweden.

  • How does the Swedish penal code view the use of prison terms?

    -In Sweden, prison is seen as a last resort, with the penal code trying to avoid prison terms when possible, focusing more on counseling, community service, or house arrest.

  • What is the role of prison guards in the Swedish prison system?

    -Swedish prison guards fulfill both security roles and rehabilitative roles, with each prisoner having a 'contact officer' who monitors their progress towards reintegration into society.

  • What is the recidivism rate in Sweden and the U.S. after three years?

    -Sweden has a recidivism rate of 29% after three years, while the U.S. has a recidivism rate of 67.8%.

Outlines
00:00
๐Ÿ›๏ธ US and Swedish Prison Systems: A Comparative Analysis

This paragraph compares the US and Swedish prison systems, highlighting the stark differences in approach and outcomes. The US has a high incarceration rate with 5% of the world's population but holds 25% of the world's prisoners. The 'war on drugs' and mandatory minimum sentences have contributed to overcrowded prisons and a lack of rehabilitation opportunities, leading to a cycle of crime. In contrast, Sweden focuses on humane treatment and rehabilitation, viewing prison as a chance to reform individuals for reintegration into society. Swedish prisons are less crowded, and the country has seen a decrease in its prison population, attributing to a lower recidivism rate and a more effective approach to crime prevention.

05:00
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Mental Health and Rehabilitation in Prisons: US vs. Sweden

The second paragraph delves into the treatment of mental health within the prison systems of the US and Sweden. In the US, there is a concerning trend of housing individuals with mental health issues in prisons rather than mental health facilities, leading to untreated conditions that can exacerbate and lead to violence. The US approach is criticized for focusing on punishment rather than addressing the root causes of criminal behavior. Conversely, Sweden's prison system is praised for its emphasis on treating prisoners ethically, providing them with autonomy, and focusing on reducing recidivism through a system of open prisons that promote rehabilitation and life skills development. The stark difference in recidivism ratesโ€”29% in Sweden versus 67.8% in the US after three yearsโ€”underscores the effectiveness of Sweden's human-centric approach.

Mindmap
Sweden's Efficient Use of Resources
US Overcrowding and Budget Strain
Sweden's Effective Rehabilitation
US Deterrence Illusion
Sweden's Active Addressal
US Neglect of Mental Health
Swedish Guards as Rehabilitators
US Guards as Punishers
Swedish Prisoners as Individuals
US Prisoner as Tenants
Sweden Focus on Rehabilitation
US Focus on Punishment
29% After Three Years
Closure of Unused Prisons
Decrease from 5,722 to 4,500
Community Living and Work
Electronic Monitoring
Low-Security Environment
Focus on Psychological Needs
Contact Officer for Each Prisoner
Prison as a Reform Opportunity
Reintegration into Society Focus
67.8% After Three Years
Four Prisoners Sharing a Cell
103.9% Over Capacity
Increased Violence and Recidivism
Untreated Mental Health Issues
Prisoner-on-Prisoner Violence
Overcrowding and Budget Issues
Lack of Rehabilitation Programs
Crime University Phenomenon
First-Time Offenders Impact
Mandatory Minimum Sentences
Crack Epidemic and War on Drugs
Post-WWII Exponential Growth
1 in 107 American Adults Incarcerated
25% of World's Prisoners
5% of World Population
Economic Considerations
Crime Prevention
Mental Health Approach
Guard-Prisoner Relationship
Prisoner Treatment
Punishment vs. Rehabilitation
Recidivism Rate
Prison Population
Open Prisons
Rehabilitation Practices
Humane Treatment Philosophy
Recidivism Rate
Prison Overcrowding
Mental Health in Prisons
Rehabilitation and Opportunities
Legislation Impact
Historical Growth
Population Statistics
Societal Implications
Comparative Analysis
Swedish Prison System
US Prison System
Prison Systems in the US and Sweden
Alert
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กPrison Population
The term 'prison population' refers to the total number of individuals incarcerated in a country or region. In the video, it is highlighted that the United States has a disproportionately high prison population relative to its share of the world's population, with about 5% of the world's population but a quarter of all prisoners. This key concept is central to the video's theme of comparing prison systems and their effectiveness.
๐Ÿ’กWar on Drugs
The 'war on drugs' is a term used to describe the government-led initiatives aimed at reducing the illegal drug trade and drug use. The script mentions that the crackdown on the war on drugs in the US has led to harsh prison sentences, contributing to the exponential growth of the prison population. It is a critical factor in the discussion of the US prison system's approach to punishment and crime deterrence.
๐Ÿ’กMandatory Minimum Sentences
Mandatory minimum sentences are the minimum prison terms that must be served for certain crimes as dictated by law, regardless of the circumstances of the case. The script points out that such legislation in the US has resulted in first-time offenders serving long sentences, which the video suggests may not be effective in deterring crime or rehabilitating individuals.
๐Ÿ’กRehabilitation
Rehabilitation refers to the process of restoring someone to a useful and productive place in society, often after a period of incarceration. The video contrasts the US's focus on punishment with Sweden's emphasis on rehabilitation, where prisons are seen as opportunities for reform and reintegration into society, rather than simply as punitive institutions.
๐Ÿ’กOvercrowding
Overcrowding in prisons occurs when there are more prisoners than the facility can accommodate safely and humanely. The script describes how overcrowding in the US leads to multiple prisoners sharing cells and contributes to health and safety issues, which in turn can escalate into violence and riots. It is a significant issue in the context of prison conditions and their impact on prisoner well-being and behavior.
๐Ÿ’กHumane Treatment
Humane treatment in the context of the script refers to the approach of treating prisoners with dignity and respect, focusing on their basic needs and well-being. Sweden's prison system is highlighted as an example of humane treatment, where prisoners are provided with comfortable living conditions and are treated as individuals who will eventually reintegrate into society.
๐Ÿ’กRecidivism
Recidivism is the act of a convicted criminal returning to crime after serving a sentence. The video discusses the recidivism rates in the US and Sweden, with Sweden's lower rate attributed to its focus on rehabilitation and humane treatment of prisoners, suggesting that these approaches are more effective in preventing repeat offenses.
๐Ÿ’กPsychological Needs
Psychological needs in the script refer to the mental health and emotional well-being of prisoners. Sweden's prison system is noted for addressing these needs, viewing crime as a consequence of underlying social or psychological issues and attempting to treat them as part of the rehabilitation process.
๐Ÿ’กOpen Prisons
Open prisons are correctional facilities with less restrictive security measures, allowing for more freedom of movement and interaction for inmates. The script describes Sweden's use of open prisons, where prisoners live in a more communal setting with access to jobs and family visits, as a successful approach to reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation.
๐Ÿ’กPunishment Mentality
Punishment mentality refers to an approach that focuses on retribution and the infliction of suffering as a response to criminal behavior. The video contrasts this with the rehabilitation-focused approach of Sweden, criticizing the US's reliance on punishment, which includes harsh sentencing and a lack of focus on addressing the root causes of crime.
๐Ÿ’กContact Officer
A 'contact officer' in the Swedish prison system is an individual who monitors a prisoner's progress and provides support towards their eventual reintegration into society. The script highlights this role as an example of Sweden's approach to treating prisoners as individuals in need of guidance and assistance, rather than simply as subjects of punishment.
Highlights

The U.S. holds 25% of the world's prisoners with only 5% of the world's population.

U.S. prison population has grown exponentially since WWII, especially due to the 'war on drugs'.

Mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes in the U.S. have not deterred criminals but led to overcrowded prisons.

U.S. prisons are known as 'crime universities' where first-time offenders learn from experienced inmates.

Swedish prisons focus on rehabilitation and treating prisoners humanely, unlike the U.S.

U.S. prisons are 103.9% over capacity, leading to overcrowding and increased violence.

Sweden has a significantly lower rate of prisoner-on-prisoner violence compared to the U.S.

Swedish prisons are not overcrowded, and some have been closed due to a decrease in the prison population.

Sweden avoids prison terms when possible, focusing on counseling and community service.

Swedish prisons see crime as a consequence of underlying social or psychological issues.

Swedish prison guards have dual roles in security and rehabilitation.

U.S. prisons often lack programs for mental health treatment, exacerbating existing issues.

Sweden uses 'open' prisons with a focus on ethical treatment and autonomy, reducing recidivism.

Sweden's recidivism rate is significantly lower than the U.S., at 29% after three years.

The U.S. recidivism rate is alarmingly high at 67.8% after three years.

The U.S. prison system is criticized for focusing on punishment rather than rehabilitation.

Sweden's approach to prison emphasizes human treatment and correcting behavior.

Transcripts
00:00

The United States has about 5% of the world's population, yet has a quarter of all the world's

00:06

prisoners, with roughly one in every 107 American adults behind bars.

00:10

With a crackdown on the war on drugs leading to harsh prison sentences, as well as no-tolerance

00:15

policing, the American public has to ask itself if punishment is really working as intended?

00:20

Well, while the two nations share vastly different demographics and thus different challenges,

00:24

it doesn't take a hard look at some of Sweden's prison policies and practices to see that

00:29

perhaps, there's a better way for the US to handle its prison populations.

00:34

America's prison population has been growing exponentially since after the second World

00:38

War, yet it wasn't until the crack epidemic of the 1980s and the ensuing 'war on drugs'

00:43

that the US prison population really boomed.

00:46

Federal and state legislation was quickly passed which dictated mandatory minimum sentences

00:51

for any drug related crime, all in a bid to make crime so unattractive that the harsh

00:56

punishments would deter would-be criminals.

00:58

Sadly, this seemed to have little effect, and all that US legislature really did was

01:03

create a situation where first-time offenders were swept up into the main prison population

01:08

and left there for years.

01:10

This hardened the inmate's resolve and wisened them up criminally- prison very quickly became

01:15

known as crime university, because inexperienced first time offenders would be sentenced to

01:20

years and leave better able to commit the crimes they were originally sentenced for,

01:24

mentored for years by the more experienced inmates.

01:27

To make matters worse, American prisons have historically offered few opportunities for

01:32

rehabilitation, or ways for inmates to better themselves and lay the foundation for a different

01:36

type of life once back on the outside.

01:39

By comparison though in Sweden public attitudes towards criminals are as hard as those in

01:44

America, Swedish lawmakers have taken a far more humane approach to the treatment of prisoners.

01:49

In Sweden the collective view is that while crime must be punished, the individuals who

01:53

commit these crimes will one day be rejoining society, and thus prison represents less a

01:59

tool for punishment, and more a chance to reform an individual while removed from the

02:03

general population.

02:05

Treating prisoners humanely is one of the first steps towards rehabilitation for the

02:08

Swedish.

02:09

In the US many prisons run over capacity, and overall the US is 103.9% over capacity.

02:16

This leads to at times as many as four prisoners sharing a cell, and with many prison systems

02:20

across American states running over budget, the problem only gets worse as parts of prisons

02:25

or even entire prisons are closed in a bid to save money.

02:29

This leads to further overcrowding, which can directly affect the health and comfort

02:33

of prisoners, which in turn leads to prisoner-on-prisoner violence and even riots.

02:38

In the US prisoner-on-prisoner violence is fairly common, yet in Sweden it is extremely

02:43

rare.

02:44

Even more rare are prison riots in Sweden.

02:47

Perhaps that's because by comparison the Swedes focus on housing prisoners in what they consider

02:51

humane conditions, which means affording each prisoner a level of comfort and safety by

02:56

not exceeding crowd capacity.

02:58

The fact that the Swedish prison population has dropped from 5,722 prisoners to 4,500

03:04

over the last ten years has helped not just with crowding issues, but with budget issues

03:09

as wings of prisons or even entire prisons are closed down for a lack of need.

03:14

There is also a general difference in the attitude of what prison is between the US

03:19

and Sweden, with the US and its harsh sentencing guidelines- specially mandatory minimum for

03:24

drug offenses- leading to a 'prison as a first resort' mentality.

03:28

In Sweden prison is seen as a last resort, and the Swedish penal code actually tries

03:32

to avoid prison terms when it can.

03:34

Per Swedish guidelines offenders must present an active threat to the general public if

03:39

they are to qualify for prison time, as opposed to programs such as mandatory counseling,

03:43

community service, or perhaps house arrest.

03:45

Per the Swedish mentality, some people must be incarcerated, but even if they are then

03:50

it should be the goal of the state to release them back out into society in a better shape

03:54

than when they first entered.

03:56

Compare that to the US, which is firmly entrenched in a punishment mentality, with prisons slashing

04:01

work-release, education, and job-skills programs.

04:05

Some prisons have even forbidden inmates from being sent books by those on the outside,

04:09

and restrict what reading materials inmates may order for themselves.

04:12

A key focus of the swedish prison system is in seeing prisoners as individuals with psychological

04:17

needs that need to be carefully attended to.

04:20

Crime is not just an act in sweden, but a consequence of an underlying social or psychological

04:25

problem, and the prison system sees it as its responsibility to address these problems

04:30

if it can.

04:31

When you are considering the fact that these individuals will one day be released back

04:34

into society as a whole, as the Swedish consider, then it makes perfect sense that prison shouldn't

04:40

be about punishment, but about rehabilitation and treatment.

04:43

To this end, Swedish prison guards fulfill both security roles and rehabilitative roles,

04:48

and each prisoner has a โ€œcontact officerโ€ whom monitors the inmate's progress towards

04:53

their eventual return to society.

04:55

This helps prisoners see guards not just as, well guards, but also as individuals who are

05:00

trying to help prisoners live better lives once back on the outside.

05:04

Compare that to the US, where 10 times more people with mental health issues are housed

05:08

in prisons than in mental health hospitals.

05:11

These people receive no treatment for their psychological problems, and instead must cope

05:15

with them on their own with only occasional and very brief visits to a counselor if the

05:19

budget affords it.

05:21

Untreated mental health issues not only lead to violence while in prison, but can grow

05:25

exponentially worse in the highly stressful environment of a prison and cripple an individual

05:30

for life, severely limiting their ability to function outside of prison.

05:34

In the US, crime is exactly that: just an activity, and no concern is paid for the economic

05:39

or psychological motivations for that crime.

05:41

Rather than try to address the root of a criminal problem, the US has for decades simply taken

05:47

a weed whacker to the problem and left the roots in fertile soil, ready to regrow again.

05:52

The focus in the US is on punishing people for their wrongs, either out of a sense of

05:56

vengeance or under the false illusion that harsh punishments will work to deter crime-

06:01

despite the fact that study after study has proven that this is a false conclusion.

06:05

There is little to no concern placed on the fact that prisoners will one day return to

06:10

society, and attempts to rehabilitate prisoners while there's a chance to are all but non-existent.

06:15

Some prisons do offer job skills training and educational courses, but for the majority

06:20

of American prisons inmates are seen as tenants and little more.

06:24

Prison guards fulfill one and only one duty in the US, and that's to keep inmates in line

06:28

and punish offenders.

06:30

Rather than build a protectorate relationship with inmates, prison guards in the US are

06:34

billed solely as tools of punishment by a penal system that cares little for the individual.

06:39

This is likely why incidence of violence against prison guards is so high in the US, and so

06:44

low in Sweden.

06:46

One of the most controversial practices of the Swedish prison system however is the use

06:50

of low-security 'open' prisons, which are in many ways, exactly what they sound like.

06:56

Here prisoners live in housing that resembles a dorm, and have free access to tvs and other

07:00

forms of entertainment.

07:02

Individuals are also allowed to commute to a job and even visit families, all the while

07:06

being electronically monitored.

07:08

Prison staff and prisoners all eat together in community spaces, and the inmates do not

07:12

wear uniforms.

07:13

Per the swedish, this open prison system is more effective than closed prisons in reducing

07:18

recidivism- or the rate at which freed prisoners repeat offenses and are re-jailed.

07:23

Inmates have strict curfews to follow and have many rules imposed on them and their

07:27

behavior.

07:28

Their trips outside of the prison are closely monitored, and inmates know that they are

07:31

always just one infraction away from being sent to a regular 'closed' prison.

07:36

Yet the swedes contend that by treating prisoners ethically and fairly, even grating them a

07:41

degree of autonomy, they are far less likely to recommit an offense once released.

07:46

The focus is once more on human treatment and correcting bad behavior, as well as building

07:50

a prisoner's chances for a successful life outside of prison.

07:54

This might sound naive to American prison officials, and yet the numbers don't lie.

07:59

Sweden not only has a shrinking prison population while the US's is growing, but its recidivism

08:05

rate is at 29% after three years.

08:08

The US meanwhile has a recidivism rate of 67.8% after three years.

08:13

Clearly a focus on treating prisoners humanely and treating psychological and other issues

08:17

while building life skills is working to make Sweden a safer place, and are things that

08:22

the United States could learn from.

08:25

Do you think prison should be about punishment or rehabilitation?

08:29

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