Valdres Prison

Kriminalomsorgen Innlandet, avdeling lavere sikkerhet, Valdres (“Norwegian Correctional Service Innlandet, department lower-security, Valdres”, from now on ‘Valdres prison”) is a lower-security detention facility for men. It was opened in 1985, and is located on a small island in a relatively small village. The establishment was initiated by a politician called Åge Hovengen, who wanted to make a smaller version of Bastøy. As opposed to Bastøy, however, you can drive to the facility by car. Only the residents of the Valdres prison and a family of farmers live on the island.

SMALL-SCALE

Valdres prison can house up to 25 people. Valdres prison previously used to be a campsite. This is reflected in the architecture, which consists of main houses and small cabins. Inside the main houses, one will find an administration, rooms for visits from family and friends, meeting rooms, a library, the school and a kitchen with a canteen. The residents live in small cabins, some in shared rooms and some in single rooms. The (informal) rule is that upon arrival, one starts living in a shared room, while after a while, one can ‘progress’ into a single room.

SMALL-scale

Valdres prison can house up to 25 people. Valdres prison previously used to be a campsite. This is reflected in the architecture, which consists of main houses and small cabins. Inside the main houses, one will find an administration, rooms for visits from family and friends, meeting rooms, a library, the school and a kitchen with a canteen. The residents live in small cabins, some in shared rooms and some in single rooms. The (informal) rule is that upon arrival, one starts living in a shared room, while after a while, one can ‘progress’ into a single room.

about

Valdres prison can house up to 25 people. Valdres prison previously used to be a campsite. This is reflected in the architecture, which consists of main houses and small cabins. Inside the main houses, one will find an administration, rooms for visits from family and friends, meeting rooms, a library, the school and a kitchen with a canteen. The residents live in small cabins, some in shared rooms and some in single rooms. The (informal) rule is that upon arrival, one starts living in a shared room, while after a while, one can ‘progress’ into a single room.

Valdres Prison is a:

Open detention facility

for:

25 PEOPLE,
Men

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated, Small-scale

Valdres Prison is a:

Open detention facility

for:

25 PEOPLE,
Men

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated, Small-scale

Valdres Prison is a:

Open detention facility

for:

25 PEOPLE,
Men

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated, Small-scale

DIFFERENTIATION

The target group of Valdres prison is yet people who are getting close to the end of their sentence as well as people with minor disabilities or mental health issues, who find it challenging to function in larger groups and/or are in need of close follow up. They have a high focus on rehabilitation, individually tailored treatment and reintegration, and therefore mainly accept people who are in need of comprehensive support in the reintegration process. For example, those who do not have a home, job and support system to return to. Valdres prison accepts people imprisoned for all types of offences.
Valdres has a great focus on tailor-made approaches. They try to meet the needs and wishes of the individual person to the extent that is possible. Activities therefore vary depending on the current population as well as their needs.

COMMUNITY-INTEGRATION

Valdres runs a market in the centre of the city, which is usually open every Friday, August to October. Here, the residents sell the goods they have produced inside the prison. At times, they arrange dinners at a long table next to their sales stall in the marketplace, where everyone from the local community are able to participate for free. They also do catering for local weddings, confirmations and baptisms. During the summer, they received a request from the municipality to run a café at the town hall. During Christmas, the oldest kids aged 5-6 in the local kindergarten wrapped and gave away toys to the fathers in the prison. As such, the children who come to visit their dad have something to play with. When picking up the gifts, the children get to ask the questions they have about life in prison. Some of the residents at Valdres participate in voluntary work at ‘Stabburshella’, which is a local meeting place.

Differentiation

The target group of Valdres prison is yet people who are getting close to the end of their sentence as well as people with minor disabilities or mental health issues, who find it challenging to function in larger groups and/or are in need of close follow up. They have a high focus on rehabilitation, individually tailored treatment and reintegration, and therefore mainly accept people who are in need of comprehensive support in the reintegration process. For example, those who do not have a home, job and support system to return to. Valdres prison accepts people imprisoned for all types of offences.
Valdres has a great focus on tailor-made approaches. They try to meet the needs and wishes of the individual person to the extent that is possible. Activities therefore vary depending on the current population as well as their needs.

Community-integration

Valdres runs a market in the centre of the city, which is usually open every Friday, August to October. Here, the residents sell the goods they have produced inside the prison. At times, they arrange dinners at a long table next to their sales stall in the marketplace, where everyone from the local community are able to participate for free. They also do catering for local weddings, confirmations and baptisms. During the summer, they received a request from the municipality to run a café at the town hall. During Christmas, the oldest kids aged 5-6 in the local kindergarten wrapped and gave away toys to the fathers in the prison. As such, the children who come to visit their dad have something to play with. When picking up the gifts, the children get to ask the questions they have about life in prison. Some of the residents at Valdres participate in voluntary work at ‘Stabburshella’, which is a local meeting place.

Visited during the wish-eu project

Valdres runs a market in the centre of the city, which is usually open every Friday, August to October. Here, the residents sell the goods they have produced inside the prison. At times, they arrange dinners at a long table next to their sales stall in the marketplace, where everyone from the local community are able to participate for free. They also do catering for local weddings, confirmations and baptisms. During the summer, they received a request from the municipality to run a café at the town hall. During Christmas, the oldest kids aged 5-6 in the local kindergarten wrapped and gave away toys to the fathers in the prison. As such, the children who come to visit their dad have something to play with. When picking up the gifts, the children get to ask the questions they have about life in prison. Some of the residents at Valdres participate in voluntary work at ‘Stabburshella’, which is a local meeting place.

the Norwegian penitentiary administration

Visited by Wayback (2021-2022)

the Norwegian penitentiary administration

Visit

Visited by Wayback (2021-2022)