Probation service in Norway 1 Facts about Norway

Probation service in Norway 1

Facts about Norway l Inhabitants l Prison – 4. 9 mill capacity - 3582 inmates l Total number of cases/sentences started up in 2010 in the Probation service - 4207 2

The development of the Probation service activities in Norway l l l l 1840 NGOs started with «aftercare» for released prisoners 1917 Conditional sentence with probation order 1991 Community service 1996 ”Drunk drivers program” 2002 Community sentence 2006 Drug Treatment Courts (Pilots) 2008 Electronic Monitoring (Pilots) Presentence reports 3

Community sentence Execution of Sentences Act 2002 l l l l New punishment from 2002 30 – 420 hours Average 90 hours Replaces up to one year unconditional imprisonment Completion within a time set by the court The court also set length of the period of subsidiary imprisonment in every individual sentence Can consist of unpaid work, assessments, treatment, mediation, individual conversations, participation in programs, other activities. 4

Contents requirements Contents: • A Community sentence must include one-to-one conversations concerning the offence in question and the prevention of new offences, an assessment and an evaluation • Standards say maximum 70 % unpaid work 5

Contents in 2009 2008 2009 Unpaid work 63. 0 % 60. 0 % Individual conversations 7. 1 % 6. 7 % Participation in programs 4. 7 % 5. 7 % Assessment 3. 4 % 3. 3 % Treatment 1. 8 % 1. 2 % Mediation 0. 1 % 0. 2 % Other activities 19. 9 % 22. 9 % 6

Breach l New offence – Police matter Breach of conditions in unpaid work l Breach of other conditions l One warning – then the case is taken to court by the Probation service 7

Number of community sentences 8

Evaluation 2002 - 2005 Characteristics of the offenders • Average in 2005 = 29 years old • • • Some 30 % is sentenced for the first time 70 % is single 20 % has completed secondary education Slightly under 50% was not in a job or in school 25 % had contact with Child Protection before their 16 th birthday • 43 % reported mental health problems or addiction 9

Evaluation 2002 - 2005 Offence pattern • 25 % narcotics offences • 20 % property offences • 20 % violent offences • 16 % fraud 10

Evaluation 2002 - 2005 Breach and completion Breach of conditions Breach by new offence No breach 374 7, 5 % 318 6, 4 % 4265 86, 1 % • Juveniles breach more often 11

Drunk drivers program l Started for «drunk drivers» in 1996 l In 2008 it was extended to all kind of driving under influence (of alcohol or narcotics) l Is based upon the system with Conditional sentence with probation order 12

Drunk drivers program l 10 months with follow up from the Probation service l Consists of training in groups, individual conversations, control and assessment of need for treatment. l The goal is not to prevent the offender from drinking, but to prevent the offender from drinking and driving. 13

Drunk drivers program 2004 = 450 sentences 2010 = 582 sentences 2010 = 84% fulfilled the program 16% breached the program Challenge: To high geographical differences. 14

Prisoners released on probation l 2/3 of the prison sentence l If necessary because of security reasons, supervision from Probation can be decided l The supervision period is between 1 month and 1 year, usually it is 3 month l Approximately 800 were released on probation in 2010 15

2 pilots l 1. DRUG TREATMENT COURTS In just the 2 biggest cities of Norway, Oslo and Bergen. A special punishment for drug abusers. Close cooperation between the District Court, Police, the Social service, the Health authorities and the Probation service. 16

2 pilots l 2. ELECTRONIC MONITORING Is in almost half of Norway. Can be for prison sentences up to 4 months or the last 4 months of a longer prison sentence. The offender must have a home, have consent from other adult familimembers, and must go to work/school during daytime. 17

Presentence reports l Is mandatory before sentence to; Drunk drivers program and Drug Treatment Court. l Are often written before Communicty service sentence. l In 2010 – 2399 reports were requested 1866 reports were written 18

Presentence reports l No rule saying it must be written for minor offenders. l Lack of common standard for when presentence reports shall be requested. 19

My recommendations for Moldova 1. Remember how fragile the Probation service is. 2. Focus on quality in few tasks, compared to increase the number of tasks. 3. Have a strategy for telling your succsessstories to the people of Moldova. 4. Try to find so many meeting points with judges, prosecutors and prison staff as possible. 20

My recommandations for Moldova 5. Probation can not help offenders with all their needs. Be clear on the responsibility from other services in your community. 21

Thank you for your attention! Hans-Gunnar Stey NORLAM 22