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Europe | |
Norway: 20% of convicted criminals do not show up to serve sentence | |
2007-08-10 | |
And there's no law in effect that compels sentenced criminals to report to prison, either. 20 percent of convicted criminals do not show up for their prison terms, according to the Norwegian Correctional Services. Prison authorities can do little but hope that the criminals will eventually come knocking on the prison door. It almost sounds like something out of a film, but for the Norwegian Correctional Services (Kriminalomsorgen), the problem is real. 20 percent of convicted criminals simply fail to show up to serve their prison term, according to figures for 2007. Criminals sentenced to long prison terms are particularly prone to bunking off.
I guess ... With fewer criminals showing up here than in any other part of Norway, Houm's in charge of prisons with many empty beds. So far this year, every fourth criminal has not bothered to turn up at the prison gates in eastern Norway. The dilemma facing the prison authorities is that failure to show up at prison is not yet illegal. Although Parliament has passed new legislation making it a criminal offence to skip prison, the law has not yet been implemented and until it is, prison authorities can do nothing but hope that the criminals will eventually show up at the prison gates. "Some people just don't get that it's better to get the sentence over and done with as soon as possible," said Houm. And those hard boys in the Pak crime syndicates just laugh, and laugh, and laugh ... | |
Posted by:mrp |
#14 In other news, 80% of Norwegian criminals are voluntarily incarcerated, and actually show up on their own hook. Either Norwegian jails are a lot more fun than you'd think, or else there's something else going on here. Betcha not showing up for your imprisonment is one of the only ways to get your welfare cheques cancelled in Norway. |
Posted by: Mitch H. 2007-08-10 17:07 |
#13 See, that's why we like to "remand into custody" convicted criminals, rather than letting them wander around loose. |
Posted by: mojo 2007-08-10 16:23 |
#12 And there's no law in effect that compels sentenced criminals to report to prison, either. Wouldn't matter if there was. We are talking criminals here. Breaking laws is what they do. |
Posted by: SteveS 2007-08-10 15:26 |
#11 I understand most of them stole a car and fled; in a Fiord..... |
Posted by: USN, Ret. 2007-08-10 15:13 |
#10 Hell, I know what country I'm going killing and stealing in! |
Posted by: DarthVader 2007-08-10 14:54 |
#9 but with women that look like that whose brains wouldnt be a little befuddled all the time |
Posted by: Chiter Dark Lord of the Geats7878 2007-08-10 12:48 |
#8 well.... the scandahoovians do have a rather bad reputation as not being the brightest bulbs in the box, I mean the elevator works but it only goes up to the 3rd floor, you know... out of eight cylinders only 5 of them actually fire |
Posted by: Chiter Dark Lord of the Geats7878 2007-08-10 12:47 |
#7 Uff da! |
Posted by: mojo 2007-08-10 12:01 |
#6 Criminals sentenced to long prison terms are particularly prone to bunking off. How much will Norway spend on the study to figure out why this is? |
Posted by: tu3031 2007-08-10 11:38 |
#5 A few thoughts that come to mind: 1) After this story runs, the rate will go up to at least 50%. 2) At least they don't have to deal with the sticky problem of overcrowding. 3) Note to self; Feel free to break the law when in Norway. |
Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-08-10 11:15 |
#4 I don't guess I blame them, prison sounds like a real drag. |
Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-08-10 11:09 |
#3 Anybody want to guess what percentage of the 20% are named Sven? or Olaf? How about Mo? |
Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-08-10 11:02 |
#2 ummmm, why not take them straight too prison when they are sentenced? what's wrong with these ppl |
Posted by: sinse 2007-08-10 10:52 |
#1 Whoops, I'm going back to bed. I woke up in that alternate universe again. |
Posted by: wxjames 2007-08-10 10:27 |