Fun at the Beach

Seriously now. This is a little crazy. Read the article, but in summary, there is a prison in Norway that is located on an Island that is pretty much a resort for convicts. They have horseback riding, skiing, tennis, and a beach. Now I respect their methodology. They try to teach the prisoners respect and dealing with responsibility. It's more rehabilitation less punishment. Which you'd think we as Christians would be more about, but I think we like to see people get what we think they deserve as much as anyone. An interesting view given our own redemption from sin.

I think the most startling thing was this:

Inmates have included Norway's most notorious serial killer, Arnfinn Nesset, convicted of murdering 22 elderly people when he was manager of a nursing home in the 1970s. He was freed for good behavior after serving two-thirds of a 21-year sentence.

21 years for killing 22 people. 7 of which he didn't even serve! Man. You can get the death penalty for killing 2 people in this country (Not totally up on the rules on when you can get put to death). That's quite a difference. Not that I'm saying our system is any better. Infact, stats may say otherwise. But...something just seems weird when a guy can kill 22 people, and only serve 14 years in prison. If that's what you want to call Bastoy prison. And the sentencing was more a Norway thing than something this particular prison did. But...yeah...just thought it was interesting. Makes me want to have a death penalty discussion...but...maybe some other time.

Rather than watching and guarding, the 69 prison employees at Bastoy work alongside the inmates until it is time to go home and from 3 p.m. every day only five remain on the island.

The onus is on the prisoners not to escape

Just wouldn't work in America.