Recidivism Rate in Norway- The crime and recidivism rate in Norway is really lower than other countries specially U.S. and England. Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior. Or in simple words, recidivism is the percentage of prisoners that return to prison after their release. In Norway, where capital punishment was abolished in 1979, the maximum prison sentence is 21 years.Moreover, the Norwegian criminal code penalties are cumulative punishment is applied only the highest.
The United States can’t emulate Norway very well, but there are a lot of things to do in an effort to lower recidivism and crime rates. A better social safety net is one, but ending the War on Drugs is perhaps the most important. Decriminalization has led to a decrease in drug abuse by fifty percent in Portugal.
Norway’s Prisoner Recidivism Rate Is Much Lower Than The United States’:The recidivism rate for prisoners in Norway is around 20 percent. Meanwhile, it’s estimated that 67 percent of America’s prisoners are re-arrested and 52 percent are re-incarcerated.There are several reasons for this difference. Incarceration rate is one. Norway’s incarceration rate is 71 per 100,000 citizens; USA’s rate is 743 per 100,000, over 10 times higher. Of course, a low level of criminality gives Norway a massive advantage. Its prison roll lists a mere 3,300, or 69 per 100,000 people, compared with 2.3 million in the U.S., or 753 per 100,000 - the highest rate in the world.
Norway treats drug addicts more like patients than criminals. The USA has a weak drug treatment program for its prisoners. Drug related crimes are the main reason for the USA’s high incarceration and recidivism rates. Once drug offenders are released they return to their only means of support, drug dealing. Treating drug addicts like medical patients rather than criminals is not only more humane, but more effective and cheaper. Maybe we should broaden that logic to include treating prisoners as humanely as possible as well. Beyond this, a lot of demographic and cultural realities will prevent America from probably ever being as safe as Norway.
The United States can’t emulate Norway very well, but there are a lot of things to do in an effort to lower recidivism and crime rates. A better social safety net is one, but ending the War on Drugs is perhaps the most important. Decriminalization has led to a decrease in drug abuse by fifty percent in Portugal.
Norway’s Prisoner Recidivism Rate Is Much Lower Than The United States’:The recidivism rate for prisoners in Norway is around 20 percent. Meanwhile, it’s estimated that 67 percent of America’s prisoners are re-arrested and 52 percent are re-incarcerated.There are several reasons for this difference. Incarceration rate is one. Norway’s incarceration rate is 71 per 100,000 citizens; USA’s rate is 743 per 100,000, over 10 times higher. Of course, a low level of criminality gives Norway a massive advantage. Its prison roll lists a mere 3,300, or 69 per 100,000 people, compared with 2.3 million in the U.S., or 753 per 100,000 - the highest rate in the world.
Norway treats drug addicts more like patients than criminals. The USA has a weak drug treatment program for its prisoners. Drug related crimes are the main reason for the USA’s high incarceration and recidivism rates. Once drug offenders are released they return to their only means of support, drug dealing. Treating drug addicts like medical patients rather than criminals is not only more humane, but more effective and cheaper. Maybe we should broaden that logic to include treating prisoners as humanely as possible as well. Beyond this, a lot of demographic and cultural realities will prevent America from probably ever being as safe as Norway.
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