Mapping probation futures: Norway

Abstract

In 2008 the Norwegian government published a White Paper called Punishment that Works, outlining correctional policy for a period of five to ten years. The central message of the White Paper could be summarized as ‘less use of prison and better rehabilitation’. It was intended that a decrease in the use of prison would lead to an increase in the use of community-based sentences and ways of serving prison sentences. Better rehabilitation implies increased use of services and facilities outside the prison system. Both tendencies favour an intensified development of probation work. Whilst the future for probation work in Norway therefore generally looks positive the authors also consider some of the challenges to the proposed policy.