The Parliamentary Ombud has conducted unannounced visits and interviews with over 200 inmates and 230 staff members in ten prisons between 2023 and 2024. Isolation is detrimental to health and carries a high risk of violating inmates’ human rights.
Growing concern about the situation in prisons
The Parliamentary Ombud’s investigations have revealed that many inmates are locked alone in their cells without any decision on isolation by either the courts or the prisons.
“We are concerned that more and more inmates appear to be locked in their cells almost around the clock,” says Parliamentary Ombud Hanne Harlem. “It is worrying that these conditions seem to have worsened since we notified the Storting in 2019 about harmful conditions and isolation.”
The report shows that the extensive confinement is often due to a lack of work or educational programs and a shortage of staff. In addition, many prison departments lack suitable communal areas.
Serious consequences of confinement
Many of the inmates the Parliamentary Ombud has met in the prisons were deeply affected by the lack of human contact, expressing feelings of hopelessness and resignation. Several have shown symptoms of harm from isolation, which have also been documented by healthcare professionals.
“It is serious that people in the state’s custody risk suffering health damage as a result of the conditions in prisons,” says Harlem.
Young inmates and those with mental illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of isolation, and there are a large number of them in Norwegian prisons. The report also shows that confinement increases the risk of conflicts and the use of force, and that the burden on prison staff is increasing.
Risk of human rights violations
The extensive confinement and actual isolation uncovered by the Parliamentary Ombud pose a real risk of violating the prohibition against inhuman or degrading treatment in prisons.
“All inmates should have a daily routine that allows them to spend at least eight hours outside their cells engaged in activities and social interaction. This is an international minimum standard that Norway clearly should meet,” concludes Harlem.
Facts – Special Report from the Parliamentary Ombud
- The Parliamentary Ombud conducted the investigations under their mandate to prevent torture and inhuman treatment.
- A special report is the strongest tool the Parliamentary Ombud has in relation to the administration.
- The findings in the report are based on unannounced visits and investigations of ten high-security prisons in 2023 and 2024.
- The prisons visited during this period:
- Agder prison, Froland Unit
- Bredtveit prison and security institution
- Halden prison
- Indre Østfold prison, Eidsberg Unit
- Nordland prison, Bodø Unit
- Ringerike prison
- Stavanger prison
- Trondheim prison, Nermarka Unit
- Ålesund prison
- The Parliamentary Ombud also conducted a limited investigation of Oslo prison.
The Parliamentary Ombud also submitted a special report to the Storting on isolation in prisons in 2019.