Oslo halfway house, Torshov unit

Oslo halfway house, Torshov unit (from now on “Torshov halfway house”) is located in the district of Sagene, in the municipality of Oslo, and is one of eight halfway houses in the Norwegian prison system. It was founded in 1995 and is under the direct management of the Norwegian penitentiary administration (Kriminalsorgen). Torshov halfway house is an open building with low security that focuses on preparing incarcerated people for the transition to freedom.

SMALL-SCALE

Torshov halfway house has room for 16 residents, which makes it a small-scale facility. The Torshov halfway house is located in an apartment building that blends into the neighborhood. Each person in the facility has their own individual room, furnished with a bed and a desk. In addition to this, the house includes shared bathrooms, a dining room, two living rooms, a kitchen, meeting rooms, a reception, a gym, a laundry room, a common recreational area and a balcony. The balcony gives a view on a park, which gives the residents a perfect spot to occasionally have barbecues and enjoy outdoor activities.

SMALL-scale

Torshov halfway house has room for 16 residents, which makes it a small-scale facility. The Torshov halfway house is located in an apartment building that blends into the neighborhood. Each person in the facility has their own individual room, furnished with a bed and a desk. In addition to this, the house includes shared bathrooms, a dining room, two living rooms, a kitchen, meeting rooms, a reception, a gym, a laundry room, a common recreational area and a balcony. The balcony gives a view on a park, which gives the residents a perfect spot to occasionally have barbecues and enjoy outdoor activities.

about

Torshov halfway house has room for 16 residents, which makes it a small-scale facility. The Torshov halfway house is located in an apartment building that blends into the neighborhood. Each person in the facility has their own individual room, furnished with a bed and a desk. In addition to this, the house includes shared bathrooms, a dining room, two living rooms, a kitchen, meeting rooms, a reception, a gym, a laundry room, a common recreational area and a balcony. The balcony gives a view on a park, which gives the residents a perfect spot to occasionally have barbecues and enjoy outdoor activities.

Oslo halfway house, Torshov unit is a:

Transition house (during the sentence)

for:

16 PEOPLE,
Mixed-gender

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated, Small-scale

Oslo halfway house, Torshov unit is a:

Transition house (during the sentence)

for:

16 PEOPLE,
Mixed-gender

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated, Small-scale

Oslo halfway house, Torshov unit is a:

Transition house (during the sentence)

for:

16 PEOPLE,
Mixed-gender

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated, Small-scale

DIFFERENTIATION

Torshov halfway house is a mixed-gender facility for adults. The target group are people who are at the end of their sentence and who are in need of help to readjust to life outside the facility.

The principle of normality forms the basis of the Torshov halfway house. The core idea is that a resident’s routine should be as close as possible to those of people living outside the facility. To achieve this, all residents engage in work or study activities while being supported by staff. They are allowed to leave the house for work, study or other daily activities. Since the residents are supposed to prepare themselves for life outside a detention facility, they are also expected to initiate their own free time activities.

COMMUNITY-INTEGRATION

Because of the principle of normality, residents have daily contact with the community for work, education or use of regular services. Health care, psychologists or other services are also not internalized within the house. Residents are expected to use these public services as well. Interaction with the community occurs from two sides. On the one hand, the community helps the detention facility by participating in “dugnad” (volunteering in the community) or organizing markets. On the other hand, the residents offer something back to society by organizing waffle baking, participating in the annual market, meetings or an open day, as well as participating in regular work or studies.

Differentiation

Torshov halfway house is a mixed-gender facility for adults. The target group are people who are at the end of their sentence and who are in need of help to readjust to life outside the facility.

The principle of normality forms the basis of the Torshov halfway house. The core idea is that a resident’s routine should be as close as possible to those of people living outside the facility. To achieve this, all residents engage in work or study activities while being supported by staff. They are allowed to leave the house for work, study or other daily activities. Since the residents are supposed to prepare themselves for life outside a detention facility, they are also expected to initiate their own free time activities.

Community-integration

Because of the principle of normality, residents have daily contact with the community for work, education or use of regular services. Health care, psychologists or other services are also not internalized within the house. Residents are expected to use these public services as well. Interaction with the community occurs from two sides. On the one hand, the community helps the detention facility by participating in “dugnad” (volunteering in the community) or organizing markets. On the other hand, the residents offer something back to society by organizing waffle baking, participating in the annual market, meetings or an open day, as well as participating in regular work or studies.

Visited during the wish-eu project

Because of the principle of normality, residents have daily contact with the community for work, education or use of regular services. Health care, psychologists or other services are also not internalized within the house. Residents are expected to use these public services as well. Interaction with the community occurs from two sides. On the one hand, the community helps the detention facility by participating in “dugnad” (volunteering in the community) or organizing markets. On the other hand, the residents offer something back to society by organizing waffle baking, participating in the annual market, meetings or an open day, as well as participating in regular work or studies.

the Norwegian penitentiary administration

Visited by VZW De Huizen and WayBack (05-10-2022)

the Norwegian penitentiary administration

Visit

Visited by VZW De Huizen and WayBack (05-10-2022)