The Charlie Alpha department at SCI Chester prison in the state of Pennsylvania has been converted into Little Scandinavia. Inspired by Nordic prisons, the inmates here get their own cells, access to kitchens and are expected to work or study during the day.
Kenneth Gustafsson, former head of the prison at Kumla and now an expert at the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, has both visited Little Scandinavia in the United States and received the American prison officers in Sweden. He describes it as almost tragicomic.
The same week that they received a visit from the United States was also the first time they had to overcrowd cells at the Kumla prison due to lack of space.
"Unfortunately, two in each room is becoming the new normal in Sweden, which makes us an odd bird in Scandinavia," says Kenneth Gustafsson.
Swedish Prison and Probation Service under financial pressure
The double coatings can have long-term consequences that are not desirable, according to Kenneth Gustafsson. Among other things, the number of incidents may increase, the employment rate of the inmates may decrease and the working environment for prison officers may become worse. The relapse rate may also be higher.
It is precisely these problems that exist within the American prison service and that are being addressed in the Little Scandinavia project.
"As a role model, it's less good," says Kenneth Gustafsson.
Could the situation in Swedish prisons be similar to that in the United States in the future?
"Not like the US, I think, rather more like the situation in other European countries like the UK and the Netherlands.
Watch the first episode of the documentary series The Prison Experiment Little Scandinavia on SVT Play, or next Tuesdays at 21:00 on SVT1.