Bastøy Prison
Bastøy Prison (Norwegian: Bastøy fengsel) is a low-security, male-only prison on Bastøy Island, Norway, located in the Horten municipality about 75 km south of Oslo. The prison is on a 2.6 km2 island and hosts 115 inmates making it the largest low-security prison in Norway. Arne Kvernvik-Nilsen, governor of the prison, leads a staff of 69 prison employees. Of this staff, only 5 employees remain on the island overnight. The prison is about one hour commuting distance from Oslo.
Bastøy Prison from the air | |
| Location | Bastøy Island, Norway |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 59°22′48.55″N 10°31′29.65″E |
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Minimum |
| Country | Norway |
| Website | Bastøy fengsel |
Once a prison colony for young boys, the facility is trying to become "the first ecological prison in the world". Recidivism has been reported at 16%, compared to the European average of around 70%. Inmates are housed in wooden cottages and work the prison farm. During their free time, inmates have access to horseback riding, fishing, tennis, and cross-country skiing. The only access to the prison is from a ferry that departs from Horten.