Prisons better than living conditions in some countries

Scandinavia, made up of Sweden, Norway, and Finland, is considered one of the most modern places to live, work, and be educated. Each of those three countries has extremely high standards of living, an excellent educational system, top-notch health care, unique welfare programmes and high life expectancy. What many people don't know is that Scandanavia can also boast one of the world's most pro-reform correctional departments anywhere in the world. Following is a special report by THE NATION's Associate Editor Barry Alleyne, who took a special tour of a prison in the Swedish town of Boras. The tour was supervised by the facility's security manager, Pia Syren, a veteran warder who gave him the opportunity to compare correctional facilities in a small part of the Western Hemisphere like Barbados, to a large part of Europe like Sweden. The Boras Anstalten (prison) is located just outside the town of Boras (pronounced Boros), about 43 kilometres northeast of Gothenburgh, Sweden's second-largest city.
FROM THE OUTSIDE on a small street about 100 metres from the highway, you can tell it's a prison building.
There's a tall fence, and a taller one beyond it covered with razor-sharp barbed wire. The main gate is thick, huge and heavy.
Employees use special electronic cards to enter, and there is an annoying buzzing sound when they are granted access through a special smaller electronic gate. That's probably where most comparisons to other prisons outside of Scandanavia end. For one thing, the inmates here are friendly – extremely friendly.
They don't even look like prisoners. The orange or blue jumpsuits seen on TV do not exist here. Instead, the inmates have cool-looking grey and blue T-shirts and matching jogging pants or track-suit bottoms, and are even issued flip-flops (sports slippers).
Having been informed the day before they would have a visitor, most are ready and willing to sit around and chat.
Boras' prison is a minimum security facility, with most inmates serving short sentences between one and seven years for mostly non-violent crimes, but still there is an air of nonchalance between the walls.
One inmate, Timo, invited me into his cell to have a look, happy to provide a mini-tour of his section which contained 20 prisoners. First stop was a modern-looking shower more reminiscent of a fancy gym, which included a sauna, an exercise bike and a step-machine.
Cook own food
Next stop was a modern-looking kitchen, where inmates are allowed to cook their own food, and can even pool their money for sirloin steak at least once a month.
Timo's personal quarters look more like the room of an American teenager than a prison cell.
In one corner an 18-inch TV is muted, and his mini-stereo blares out a soft-rock song.
In the other corner is a small personal fan, and above his head is an impressive CD collection.
"So do they have TVs in prisons in Barbados?," he asks. My dumbstruck look, followed by embarrassed laughter, was a good enough answer in the negative.
"Some people think most of these prisoners are very spoilt, but that's how it is here in Sweden," Syren reminds me as we wind down the corridor past more inmates in a lounge area taken up mostly by a huge pool table.
The 14-year veteran prison officer explains that of their 84 inmates, most are not locals, with half the population deriving from further across Europe from countries like the former Yugoslavia, Serbia, Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Not a single firearm
Still, warders at the facility carry no weapons. In fact, there isn't a single firearm at the facility.
All warders do carry pepper spray and a special emergency electronic personal alarm device which, if used, sends an electronic alarm to their state-of-the-art control room at the entrance of the building.
"We do have escape attempts, but not that many," explained Syren. "Most of the inmates here know they are serving short sentences, so most of them are very interested in educating themselves and finishing their time."
She noted, however, that in recent years recidivism had increased, with a few criminals finding themselves on the wrong side of the law for a second time.
Like most prisons anywhere, the Boras facility battled a drug problem in its early days, but that has been drastically reduced since all new admissions are drug-tested for cocaine, heroin, marijuana, amphetamines, PCP, acid, even the pill Ecstasy. They are also tested during their imprisonment.
Mandatory classes
But its not all cake for the inmates, even though they are afforded breakfast, lunch, dinner and even the luxury of a late evening snack, which they can make in their own kitchen before calling it a night.
Each inmate has mandatory academic classes, subjects being taught by a staff of more than ten teachers who educate them in mathematics, English, Spanish, sociology, information technology (IT), even psychology.
These classes last five hours every day, and the inmates are not allowed to miss them. After serving their sentences, most are eligible to enter universities anywhere in Scandanavia. And for those who had not done well at school during their adolescent years, the prison also has a remedial programme.
A visit to the special "school" section reveals one young man from Serbia in a room alone, studying for an exam. In a computer room, four more youngsters take a break from their IT class to be introduced to their new guest.
And if you aren't playing or studying in this prison, then you're working. And making good money too!
There are three factories on site: one for woodwork, another for metalwork and a third that involves the packaging of special plastic accessories for a Swedish company.
Prisoners here are paid every week, and the facility's administrative office determines how much money has been made, and the amount due upon release.
They have no actual legal tender (cash in their pockets) until the end of their sentences, but are given special "credit cards" by the accounting department.
"They have to work and keep the place clean because if they don't, then they don't get paid and they can lose some of their privileges," Syren explained.
And such threats do work, since the prison is cleaner than most hospitals in the Western Hemisphere.
The inmates are proud of their surroundings. No clothes or items are strewn around, and the walls and floors are immaculate. Having a laundry room with washers and dryers does come in handy.
Were it not for Syren constantly pulling from her bunch of keys to open and close security doors, the memory of having entered a prison would have long gone.
Inmates' health is a priority, as weekly visits are made by a doctor and dentist, and there is a full-time nurse who works from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. during the week.
In addition to having an hour outside to play football, lawn tennis or basketball, prisoners inside can engage in pool, badminton or handball.
When they are paid, the prisoners have access to a privately run kiosk on the premises, where they can purchase cigarettes, candy, or even sodas twice a week.
Or, they can just hang around and talk, as three inmates did for more than 20 minutes, eager to ask me questions about how prisons in Sweden compare to those in the Caribbean.
When prisoners there are well behaved, the perks are astounding.
The Swedish system allows all inmates to have at least one hour weekly with family or friends, meetings being held in comfortable "sitting rooms" in a special part of the facility. In addition, some prisoners are allowed to go home and come back.
Depending on the crime committee and his behaviour, an inmate can be allowed 24 to 72 hours' leave, usually on weekends.
Trustee prisoners get the best perks based on good behaviour, since they are allowed 72 hours back home with relatives before returning to prison on their own accord, having been on the outside without being shadowed by prison personnel.
Some inmates who get the opportunity to be outside are electronically tagged or accompanied by prison personnel.
Syren said even though inmates were given such special treatment, some do commit crimes and return again, but most go on to re-enter society and get "proper" jobs.

'Spoilt rotten' in prison by BARRY ALLEYNE from http://www.nationnews.com/

in sweden its better to be in prison than to be out and broke!!!