Welcome to the world's nicest prison

bleedlikeme · 05-25-12 at 11:45 AM

Bastoy, Norway (CNN) -- Jan Petter Vala, who is serving a prison sentence for murder, has hands the size of dinner plates and shoulders like those of an ox. In an alcoholic rage, he used his brutish strength to strangle his girlfriend to death a few years ago.

On a recent Thursday, however, at this summer-camp-like island prison in southern Norway, where convicts hold keys to their rooms and there are no armed guards or fences, Vala used those same enormous hands to help bring life into the world.

The 42-year-old murderer stood watch while an oversize cow gave birth to a wobbly, long-legged, brown-and-white calf. He cried as the baby was born, he said, and wiped slime off of the newborn's face so she could gulp her first breath.

Afterward, Vala called his own mother to share the good news.

"I told my family that I'm going to be a dad," he said, beaming with pride.

This is exactly the type of dramatic turnabout -- enraged killer to gentle-giant midwife -- that corrections officials in Norway hope to create with this controversial, one-of-a-kind prison, arguably the cushiest the world has to offer.

Founded in 1982, Bastoy Prison is located on a lush, 1-square-mile island of pine trees and rocky coasts, with views of the ocean that are postcard-worthy. It feels more like a resort than jail, and prisoners here enjoy freedoms that would be unthinkable elsewhere.

It's the holiday version of Alcatraz.

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http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/24/world/europe/norway-prison-bastoy-nicest/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

vonofthedesert · 05-25-12 at 11:49 AM

I'm sure the family of the murdered girlfriend will be overjoyed to hear how happy he is...
f'n rediculous

prtscr · 05-25-12 at 12:17 PM

That's Norway for you. Can't decide if I think this is good or bad.

Nunki · 05-25-12 at 12:48 PM

me neither
Depends if you want to change a person, or put it away for as long as possible.
Normal prisons breed violent behavior, like a rabbit farm.
Maybe this can actually change a person.
I rather have a murderer back in society, rehabilitated and functioning, then release him after his time was served, only so he can do it again.

**EvilToeKnee** · 05-25-12 at 01:00 PM

Maybe they left the part out that they are systematically butchered sometime during their sentance. Wouldn't that be a twist.

**HeavyGrimm** · 05-25-12 at 01:28 PM

Well, it's not like this person deserves a death penalty for what he did. I mean, it's terrible and I'm absolutely not excusing it, but he was hammered and got angry. It's not the same as a serial killer scoping out many victims in calculated cold blood.

Optimist · 05-25-12 at 02:10 PM

Okay, prisons as they are Do Not rehabilitate. They are not staffed with people who are trained in any field required for rehabilitation. Wasting money annd resource on people with have commited whatever act is nonsensical. Getting at the root causes for their 'crime' and applying solutions to them benefits the prisoners and the public in society. Norway is doing the correct thing using this method.

bogus109695 · 05-25-12 at 02:39 PM

tricky feelings and ethics this one. i say cripple his ability to drink alchol.

Notorious_dog · 05-25-12 at 02:45 PM

If you're into revenge, then its a bad idea. (because you'd advocate prisoners deserving a harsh punishment to make the victims happy. Ie: revenge)

But if you're not into revenge, then this could be a good idea...

Btw, Is beastiality allowed over there too?

and since when did human and cow genes mix??!?

**Gandolph13** · 05-25-12 at 03:52 PM

Can I book a holiday room there?

**MacFalic** · 05-25-12 at 04:17 PM

According to the article, one must basically be rehabilitated to be sent to this prison. I would then expect its success rate.

Fact: Impulse murderers; those that kill when angry, not in complete control of themselves, and "one time" killers have the lowest recidivism rate. That one act is usually enough of a shock to the person that they will punish themselves and could\would not repeat the crime.

In the California, 1984, the official policy changed from that of rehabilitation to that of punishment. It is my observation, and those "honest" people who work(ed) in California prisons: It takes 12 years to start the process of rehabilitation. From 15 to 18 years one may start considering the person rehabilitated. I don't know why, but 12 is the "magic" number. I have had inmates tried to explain it, but they failed a reasonable explanation.

**dormin** · 05-25-12 at 08:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by prtscr

That's Norway for you. Can't decide if I think this is good or bad.

There they tend to work towards rehabilitation. Where as in NA they prefer revenge. With the current setup of prisons in Canada and the US one can only wonder why criminals are repeat offenders. Also in the US prisons are like a business. The more inmates the more money the prisons get. Is it any wonder they do not wish their criminals rehabilitated?

That man is still in a prison. He can't leave when he wants. It may appear the lap of luxury but if he comes out a better person then I am all for it. It has been said that NA's prisons are more like criminal schools. Where an inmate going in for say car theft can learn the tools of home burglary lock picking etc.

We should concentrate more on the rehabilitation of someone who has screwed up, then on revenge or vengeance. We do not want to educate criminals in ways that makes them better at their craft. We need to turn them around so that they can return to society a better person.

By your comment I will only say this. May I never be placed in a jail of your choosing because I was framed or screwed up.

Adanaliyik · 05-26-12 at 02:42 AM

The reason NA gave up on rehabilitation was the sheer number of criminals multiplied by the liberal push to make prison life more humane. Chain gangs and breaking rocks, while hard, taught criminals that they didn't want to go back again.

Yet, taking those "cruelties" away, and throwing more people into prison, has actually made prisons worse, although this time it's the inmates not the guards who make it hell. The only way to avoid that hell is to be meaner and crueler than your cell mates, and the meaner you are, the more perks you have in prison. How does anyone get rehabilitated under those conditions?

What needs to be done, is to make prisons the hells they used to be for ALL inmates, not just for the weak. When the weak and complaint get the breaks, and the tough guys are the ones who go through the hell, then there's a chance they'll change.

Oh, and do away with jail time for the "victimless crimes" like drug use and prostitution, either by legalizing or lowering the penalties. If you don't legalize, at least punish only the sellers and distributors and pimps, not the casual users and customers.

:)

**CyberKingdom** · 05-26-12 at 05:23 AM

This will only be fair if he gets raped by that horse every morning.

05-25-12 at 04:17 PM	#11
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 840	According to the article, one must basically be rehabilitated to be sent to this prison. I would then expect its success rate. Fact: Impulse murderers; those that kill when angry, not in complete control of themselves, and "one time" killers have the lowest recidivism rate. That one act is usually enough of a shock to the person that they will punish themselves and could\would not repeat the crime. In the California, 1984, the official policy changed from that of rehabilitation to that of punishment. It is my observation, and those "honest" people who work(ed) in California prisons: It takes 12 years to start the process of rehabilitation. From 15 to 18 years one may start considering the person rehabilitated. I don't know why, but 12 is the "magic" number. I have had inmates tried to explain it, but they failed a reasonable explanation. Last edited by MacFalic; 05-25-12 at 04:26 PM.

05-25-12 at 11:49 AM	#2
vonofthedesert Newcomer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: I roam Posts: 28	I'm sure the family of the murdered girlfriend will be overjoyed to hear how happy he is... f'n rediculous

05-25-12 at 12:17 PM	#3
prtscr Newcomer Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 38	That's Norway for you. Can't decide if I think this is good or bad.

05-25-12 at 12:48 PM	#4
Nunki Novice Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Terra Posts: 174	me neither Depends if you want to change a person, or put it away for as long as possible. Normal prisons breed violent behavior, like a rabbit farm. Maybe this can actually change a person. I rather have a murderer back in society, rehabilitated and functioning, then release him after his time was served, only so he can do it again.

05-25-12 at 01:00 PM	#5
EvilToeKnee 3rd Street Saint Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA Posts: 771	Maybe they left the part out that they are systematically butchered sometime during their sentance. Wouldn't that be a twist.

05-25-12 at 01:28 PM	#6
HeavyGrimm Hellblazer Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: On a little rock floating in the vast emptiness of the multiverse Posts: 450	Well, it's not like this person deserves a death penalty for what he did. I mean, it's terrible and I'm absolutely not excusing it, but he was hammered and got angry. It's not the same as a serial killer scoping out many victims in calculated cold blood.

05-25-12 at 02:10 PM	#7
Optimist Newcomer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 57	Okay, prisons as they are Do Not rehabilitate. They are not staffed with people who are trained in any field required for rehabilitation. Wasting money annd resource on people with have commited whatever act is nonsensical. Getting at the root causes for their 'crime' and applying solutions to them benefits the prisoners and the public in society. Norway is doing the correct thing using this method.

05-25-12 at 02:39 PM	#8
bogus109695 Apprentice Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 262	tricky feelings and ethics this one. i say cripple his ability to drink alchol.

05-25-12 at 02:45 PM	#9
Notorious_dog Elder Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3,974	If you're into revenge, then its a bad idea. (because you'd advocate prisoners deserving a harsh punishment to make the victims happy. Ie: revenge) But if you're not into revenge, then this could be a good idea... Btw, Is beastiality allowed over there too? and since when did human and cow genes mix??!?

05-25-12 at 03:52 PM	#10
Gandolph13 Legendary Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia (GMT+10) Posts: 12,328	Can I book a holiday room there?

05-25-12 at 08:43 PM	#12
dormin Illuminati Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 3rd Rock Posts: 2,308	Quote: Originally Posted by prtscr That's Norway for you. Can't decide if I think this is good or bad. There they tend to work towards rehabilitation. Where as in NA they prefer revenge. With the current setup of prisons in Canada and the US one can only wonder why criminals are repeat offenders. Also in the US prisons are like a business. The more inmates the more money the prisons get. Is it any wonder they do not wish their criminals rehabilitated? That man is still in a prison. He can't leave when he wants. It may appear the lap of luxury but if he comes out a better person then I am all for it. It has been said that NA's prisons are more like criminal schools. Where an inmate going in for say car theft can learn the tools of home burglary lock picking etc. We should concentrate more on the rehabilitation of someone who has screwed up, then on revenge or vengeance. We do not want to educate criminals in ways that makes them better at their craft. We need to turn them around so that they can return to society a better person. By your comment I will only say this. May I never be placed in a jail of your choosing because I was framed or screwed up.

05-26-12 at 02:42 AM	#13
Adanaliyik Master Join Date: May 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 1,162	The reason NA gave up on rehabilitation was the sheer number of criminals multiplied by the liberal push to make prison life more humane. Chain gangs and breaking rocks, while hard, taught criminals that they didn't want to go back again. Yet, taking those "cruelties" away, and throwing more people into prison, has actually made prisons worse, although this time it's the inmates not the guards who make it hell. The only way to avoid that hell is to be meaner and crueler than your cell mates, and the meaner you are, the more perks you have in prison. How does anyone get rehabilitated under those conditions? What needs to be done, is to make prisons the hells they used to be for ALL inmates, not just for the weak. When the weak and complaint get the breaks, and the tough guys are the ones who go through the hell, then there's a chance they'll change. Oh, and do away with jail time for the "victimless crimes" like drug use and prostitution, either by legalizing or lowering the penalties. If you don't legalize, at least punish only the sellers and distributors and pimps, not the casual users and customers. :)

05-26-12 at 05:23 AM	#14
CyberKingdom Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,105	This will only be fair if he gets raped by that horse every morning.