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Nordic penal exceptionalism: A comparative, empirical analysis

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Ievins, Alice 
Larmour, Simon 
Laursen, Julie 
Mjaland, Kristian 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pBased on a survey administered in 13 prisons in England & Wales and Norway, as part of a research programme with explicitly comparative aims, this article seeks to address both the relative and absolute dimensions of the Nordic penal exceptionalism thesis. It outlines the consistently more positive results in Norway compared to England & Wales, explaining them primarily with reference to the former’s much higher quality and use of open prisons. At the same time, it emphasizes that, even in an unusually humane prison system, prisoners report considerable pain and frustration. The article also makes the case that comparative analysis should strive to be systematic, but that such comparisons are always imperfect, making methodological transparency all the more essential.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

imprisonment, Nordic exceptionalism, remand, open prisons

Journal Title

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0007-0955
1464-3529

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)
Sponsorship
European Research Council (648691)
European Research Council