Norway's Prisons Have A Very Different Approach To Inmates

Dylan Page shared a look inside prisons in the Scandinavian country, saying: "This, believe it or not, is a prison cell in Norway.

"Every inmate has their own room which comes with an en suite toilet and shower room. They have a fridge, desk, flat screen TV and forest views.

"Prison guards are commonly known as role models, coaches and mentors."

In the clip, he goes on to describe how guards work with prisoners, saying: "They interact with the prisoners all the time.

"They eat together, play volleyball together, do leisure activities together and that allows them to really talk and motivate them."

There are also no life sentences in the country, as the maximum term is 21 years.

Prison governor Are Hoidal told the news outlet: "It calms them.

"We don't want anger and violence in this place. We want calm and peaceful inmates."

He also believes the language used around prisons is important, specifically when it comes to who is in charge.

He said: "Not 'guards'.

"We are prison 'officers' and of course we make sure an inmate serves his sentence but we also help that person become a better person.

"We are role models, coaches and mentors. And since our big reforms, recidivism in Norway has fallen to only 20% after two years and about 25% after five years. So this works!"

When asked if it is too comfortable in prison, he said: "It is not easy to have your freedom taken away.

"In Norway, the punishment is just to take away someone's liberty. The other rights stay. Prisoners can vote, they can have access to school, to health care; they have the same rights as any Norwegian citizen. Because inmates are human beings. They have done wrong, they must be punished, but they are still human beings."

The system tries to prepare the inmates for release as soon as they are taken in, giving them jobs and tasks to complete.

With no life sentences, the prisoners will be released back into the community, with Hoidal adding: "So we are releasing your neighbour.

"If we treat inmates like animals in prison, then we will release animals on to your street."