Inmates prevented from studying

In Norwegian prisons, inmates face huge obstacles when taking higher education. Their access to internet is severely restricted, they get no support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, and exams are not adjusted to their situation. Universitas has written about the state of education in the prison system before, most recently in 2006, but few improvements have been made.

– It is frustrating to constantly have to fight in order to be heard. I am tired of being stepped on through tacit prejudices. I had to prove that I had tenosynovitis just to be able to move the desk in my cell one meter, so that I could work in a normal position. Basic things are made very complicated in here. The prison inspector prefers to be consequent in saying «no» and to think of what is best for the prison, rather than relating to the inmate’s needs. Safety demands go before everything else, says «Ole», who is taking a master’s degree in Criminology while he serves his sentence in Oslo Prison.

New report

Nobody in Norway is entitled by law to higher education, only primary school, secondary school and upper secondary school. The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund’s regulations state that «applicants living in institutions and who are supported by the state are not eligible for financial support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund». Therefore, it is up to NAV to cover study costs, but only on the basis of individual evaluations. This means that whether or not inmates receive support is variable. «Ole» thinks that financial support for study materials ought to be the least inmates should be able to expect.

Soon the district governor of Hordaland, who has the national responsibility for education in Norwegian prisons, will receive a report describing the poor conditions in the correction services. The report has been compiled by Associate Professor Jane Dullum at the Department of Criminology at the University of Oslo (UiO).

– The Quality Reform is an affliction

Nina Lindbo Hansen at Grønland Adult Education Centre has contributed to the report. She thinks that a superior administration and political will is necessary in order to make education in prisons possible, especially in high security units.

– All prisons in Norway offer basic education, but when it comes to higher education, a lot of people try to complicate matters. I have been a studies advisor in Oslo Prison for ten years, and it is a constant struggle against the system to adapt things for my students. I have just six hours a week to help five students taking higher education, she says.

Lindbo Hansen also points out that the Quality Reform, introduced in 2003, contributes to making the situation more difficult for inmates.

– The fact that the Quality Reform has lead to more follow-ups for students is a positive thing. However, whereas students could previously study on their own and take exams once a year, they now face demands of regular attendance. In this way, the Quality Reform is good for students living in freedom, but an affliction for students in prison, she points out.

– A practical dilemma

Jane Dullum is concerned about the educational situation for inmates.

– Surveys show that education in prisons gives inmates more meaningful daily lives. Yet when the Norwegian Correctional Services try to balance safety concerns with educational concerns, the safety concerns often win out. This leads to obstacles such as inmates hardly being able to access the internet at all.

This is particularly a problem in high security prisons, such as Ila Prison and Oslo Prison. Here, internet access is strictly controlled.

Andreas Skulberg, head of the Correctional Services Department at the Ministry of Justice and the Police, thinks that security issues are unavoidable.

– Education in prison is extremely important in terms of rehabilitation. Yet it also leads to a practical dilemma for the Norwegian Correctional Services, as safety concerns mean that we have to control internet usage, for example. If you have done something serious enough to lead to a sentence in a high security prison, then you will lose many educational opportunities. By law, we all have the right and duty to receive primary and secondary education, and upper secondary education is also a legal right. Unfortunately, this means that higher education is not the main priority.

Skulberg says that the Norwegian Correctional Services would like to enter into a dialogue with the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund regarding their financial support practices, and thinks it unfortunate if regulations get in the way of education.

– It is desirable that as many as possible get an education in prison, as this is a favorable rehabilitation measure.

Improvements on the way?

A network system with limited and controlled internet access and no possibilities for communication, which will be introduced in all high security prisons in Norway, is currently being developed. Advisor to the district governor of Hordaland, Bent Dahle Hansen, says that the system will cost 350 000 kroner per prison.

– The new system will, with regard to control issues, not allow inmates to log into learning platforms such «Classfronter» and «It’s learing». Primary and secondary education is a right, and this should be prioritized by education authorities. The schools themselves must make higher education possible. We have now started working with a learning platform that allows controlled communication with a teacher, inspired by a German model, Dahle Hansen states.

In low security prisons however, the new network system will allow inmates to log onto learning platforms.

« Punishment that works – less criminality – a safer society» is a two month old parliamentary report, which opens up for making adjustments for higher education in prisons. The report points out amongst other things that more internet access and more distance learning are needed.

Despite the suggested measures, Lindbo Hansen is skeptical.

– Internet plays a vital role in higher education, and learning institutions and the correctional services must strive to make better adjustments.

The parliamentary report states that the use of distance learning should be expanded, but when inmates do not have access to the learning platforms, the offer becomes very limited, Lindbo Hansen says.

Podcasts a help

The Faculty of Theology (TF) at the University of Oslo (UiO) has started using podcasts of lectures, and this helps inmates taking theology subjects. Director of Academic Affairs at UiO, Monica Bakken, states however that the faculty’s innovation is an exception rather than the rule.

– Unfortunately, we do not offer many courses through distance learning alone, but many subjects can be taken without obligatory attendance. Since the Quality Reform was introduced, inmates face more of a challenge, as there is more required attendance. UiO have not earmarked any resources for distance learning, but it is expected that the faculties themselves will prioritize and set aside funds, Bakken states.

Paal Breivik, advisor to the district governor of Hordaland, applauds TF’s podcast solution, but says that private learning institutions are better than the big universities at adapting to the needs of inmates.

– Finances are often an important factor in making adjustments possible, at the same time as each institution has their own practice. An approximate judgment has to be made in each case.

Want improvements

While the Norwegian Correctional Services are responsible for the practical administration of sentences, it is the Ministry of Education and Research (KD) which is responsible for the inmates’ educational requirements. However, KD has no influence over safety considerations in Norwegian prisons, and must make education in prison possible through granting funds to and encouraging educational institutions.

– We have not earmarked any funds in the 2009 budget, but there are opportunities for prioritization within the guidelines we have set. We are waiting for the report from the district governor of Hordaland, and we will consider specific funding at a later date. We will also examine the practices of the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, whose regulations currently do not allow inmates to receive financial support, says Minister of Research and Higher Education Tora Aasland.

She thinks that it is possible to start financing study materials, as «Ole» suggested. In addition to this, the cabinet minister wants universities and university colleges to try harder.

– The learning institutions must be made aware that inmates need adjustments. Currently, studies are adapted to suit disabled students through so-called universal development, so one should be able to adapt to the needs of inmates as well.

Yet «Ole», currently serving a nine year sentence in Oslo Prison, still experiences a number of obstacles on the road to higher education.

– Basically, the punishment is meant to be lack of freedom, but the practical hindrances and the lack of rights can be seen as an additional punishment.