Very interesting AMA thread on reddit about a Norwegian prison guard

[passiveporcupine]

and his perception of how prison works in Norway and how it doesn't work in the US.

This comment I thought worthy of repeating, and I'm including the link because I find it fascinating that crime is so different there, and treated so differently...so that prison does not turn out more hardened criminals...it actually tries to rehabilitate them.

I think that it is a lot of bad stuff that goes on in American prisons. Corrupt CO's bringing drugs and weapons inside the prison, the whole "bail" option, death sentences, and overpopulation in mega-jails. Under these conditions, there is more likely that the time spent in jail will only accelerate your criminal behaviour, as the prison culture is harder and therefore more reproductive. On the other hand, Americas prison population and the criminal problems are thousands of times bigger than Norway, so there is little to no point of doing an comparison. The thing America can learn from other countries (and especially Norway) is rethink the policy of firearms. More guns, more killings and crimes, more inmates and more problems. But this is oversimplifying it, I know.

Here is a link to the thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3pcfmf/i_work_as_a_correctional_officer_in_a_high/

I hope this is not breaking protocol in any way. I don't even know if it's OK to link to reddit threads here. Or one that mentions guns.

[passiveporcupine]

1. If true this is very interesting

Well in all of the nordics you need a university degree to become a corrections officer

Not posted by the OP on reddit.

[hifiguy]

4. I'd bet a high-school diploma isn't even

required by for-profit prisons and in certain states.

[KamaAina]

2. Gun threads are seemingly OK since Umpqua

though I imagine that window will be closing soon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025307978

GUNS

News stories (and related content) from reputable mainstream sources about efforts to strengthen or weaken gun control legislation in any jurisdiction in the United States, national news stories (and related content) from reputable mainstream sources about high-profile gun crimes, and viral political content from social media or blogs that would likely be of interest to a large majority of DU members are permitted under normal circumstances.

Local stories about gun crime and "gun porn" threads showing pictures of guns or discussing the merits of various firearms are not permitted under normal circumstances and should be posted in the Gun Control and RKBA Group.

Open discussion of guns is permitted during very high-profile news events which are heavily covered across all newsmedia.

[passiveporcupine]

3. Well, this thread is primarily about the difference in how Norway deals with

prisoners, compared to the US...but he did mention that our gun problem needs to be fixed. So I didn't want to push any boundaries.