The California governor, Gavin Newsom, has announced a plan to transform the state’s oldest prison into a center for rehabilitation, education and training, modeled after Norwegian incarceration systems, which are much less restrictive than US facilities.
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Newsom told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that his goal was “ending San Quentin [prison] as we know it” and working to “completely reimagine what prison means”. San Quentin, located on a peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area and established in 1852, houses nearly 4,000 people, including hundreds on its infamous death row, the largest in the US, which is on track to be dismantled.
The Democratic governor said that by 2025, he plans to transition the massive penitentiary into a final stop of incarceration before individuals are released, with a focus on job training for trades, including plumbers,…
2023-03-17 15:55:36
Link from www.theguardian.com
San Quentin to be Transformed into a Rehabilitation Center Modeled after Norway
San Quentin State Prison, located in California, has been renowned for its high-security facilities and notorious reputation as a maximum-security prison. However, the State is now embarking on a transformative rehabilitation program modeled after Norway’s successful incarceration model. The new program aims to rehabilitate prisoners to lead a normal life post-incarceration, reducing recidivism rates and increasing public safety.
The Norwegian incarceration model is often hailed as one of the most successful in the world, with a recidivism rate of only around 20% after 5 years. The model seeks to create a prison environment that closely resembles life outside of prison, with a focus on normalization through education, skills training, and successful reintegration into society.
The new proposed program at San Quentin is set to incorporate similar strategies that have proven successful in Norway. This will involve reforming the current prison environment and focusing on prisoner rehabilitation by offering them education programs, skill training, and behavior modification courses, among others. The transformation of San Quentin will make it the first prison in the US to adopt these Norwegian incarceration policies.
One of the primary changes to be implemented in transforming San Quentin is offering various educational and vocational training programs to inmates. Education programs will be available to prisoners, ranging from certifications to college-level courses, while vocational training will focus on equipping inmates with relevant job skills that they can use after their release. The objective is to enable inmates to receive better employment opportunities and lead a normal life after their incarceration.
The Norwegian policy also involves eliminating solitary confinement and replacing it with a rehabilitation-oriented environment called “living units.” These are intended to encourage prisoners to live together and socialize, providing the human connection that is often lacking in more punitive prison environments. With the focus on rehabilitation, such living units will provide incentives to prisoners who have displayed positive behavior on their rehabilitation journey.
San Quentin’s transformation will see a significant shift in the way prisoners are treated, focusing more on rehabilitation rather than punishment. The prison authorities will restructure programs and policies addressing inmate behavior and motivation, emphasizing the importance of prisoners’ human rights, the development of social skills, and vocational training.
This move towards a more rehabilitative and educational prison environment aligns with the long-standing push for criminal justice reform in the United States. While many prisons globally, including the US, have focused primarily on punishment, the Norwegian model prioritizes offender rehabilitation, reducing recidivism rates, and increasing public safety.
In conclusion, San Quentin’s transformation into a rehabilitation center modeled after Norway’s policy is a significant step towards adopting a globally-proven incarceration model in the United States. The program’s focus on education, vocational training, and social rehabilitation is designed to improve inmates’ chances of successful reintegration into society while minimizing the risk of reoffending. The program could set the standard for future incarceration models in California and across the United States.