This paper discusses the quality of prison life and prison size in relation to the notion of 'Scandinavian exceptionalism'. Using the questionnaires 'Measuring the Quality of Prison Life' (MQPL) for prisoners and 'Staff Measuring the Quality of Prison Life' (SQL) for staff, data were collected from all 32 closed prisons in Norway. Based on the assumption that prison officers' working lives, their perspectives and values influence prisoners' quality of life, the main focus in the paper is on the officers. Small prisons (fewer than 50 prisoners) obtain more positive results than medium-sized (50-100) and large (more than 100) prisons, on several dimensions measured. The relationship between officers and prisoners seems to be of better quality in small prisons than in medium-sized and large prisons. Officers in small prisons also report more positive relationships with senior management than their colleagues in medium-sized and large prisons. The results are discussed in light of previous studies on officers and prison working life dynamics.

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Substance treatment units in Norwegian prisons - humane and exceptional? Background The treatment of prison inmates in the Nordic countries has been described as humane and welfare-oriented – often referred to as ‘Nordic exceptionalism’ Aim This study explores how key actors working in 13 substance treatment units in Norwegian prisons assess the responsibilities, working methods and goal attainment of these units, and how their descriptions fit the idea of a Nordic exceptionalism. Data and Method The data consists of qualitative interviews with 23 strategically selected informants of the specialist health care services and the correctional services. The interviews were analysed with the aid of systematic text condensation (STC). Results The results show that ‘rehabilitation’, ‘substance use treatment’ and ‘dynamic control’ are key topics for those who work in the substance treatment units. Overall, the informants describe the rehabilitation programmes in the units as intensive and as aiming to improve the inmates' living conditions and social and cognitive skills, and to promote their reintegration into society. Moreover, informants state that inmates in the substance treatment units receive treatment from specialist health care services, and that the idea of therapy permeates many aspects of these units' activities. Informants also state that they prioritise less repressive forms of control in the relationship to the inmates, and that these forms of control are favourable to rehabilitation. Conclusions The main pattern that emerges from this study supports that welfare orientation and ideas about therapy and rehabilitation are priorities in work with imprisoned substance users in substance treatment units. The control of inmates in these units is described as less repressive and favourable to rehabilitation. This pattern is not unambiguous, however, and the findings in this study may therefore help add nuances to the notion of Nordic exceptionalism.

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Seksjonsleder ledelse, pedagogikk, forebygging og mangfold EVU, Politihøgskolen janne.helgesen@phs.no SAMMENDRAG Empowerment er blitt et nøkkelord i norsk rusbehandling, og i denne artikkelen utforskes innsattes erfaringer med selvbestemmelse og brukermedvirkning i behandlings-og rehabiliteringsprosesser. Datamaterialet består av kvalitative intervjuer med mannlige innsatte ved fem norske rusmestringsenheter. Analysen viste tre ulike typer enheter: «Slusa», «Kollektivet» og «Venterommet». Innsatte ved «Slusa» og «Kollektivet» opplevde medbestemmelse i de individuelle endringsprosessene, men kun innsatte ved «Kollektivet» opplevde dette også i gruppeprosessene. Ved sistnevnte bidro felles mål, tett felleskap, tydelige normer og organisatoriske strukturer til å gi ansatte økt makt og innsatte større autonomi. At «Venterommet» hverken tilbød behandling eller rehabilitering, viser imidlertid at det politiske målet om å sikre innsatte rusbrukeres tilgang til rettighetsfestede velferdstjenester som ytes iht. empowerment-prinsipper fortsatt ikke er realisert for alle. Stikkord empowerment, rusmestringsenheter, innsatte rusbrukere, selvbestemmelse, medvirkning, behandling og rehabilitering ABSTRACT New treatment of prisoners in Norwegian prisons? On imprisoned drug users' experiences of self-determination and user participation Empowerment has become a keyword in Norwegian drug treatment. This article explores how imprisoned drug users experience self-determination and user participation in treatment and rehabilitation processes in high security prisons in Norway. The data consists of