Fixing Prison Culture the Scandinavian Way

Reporter Joseph O’Sullivan visited one of Washington state's penitentiaries that is trying to change the relationship between guards and prisoners.

A new effort being piloted in Washington state prisons seeks to improve culture behind bars. The program, called AMEND, is modeled on the prison system in Norway, where a stated goal of incarceration is to create better neighbors.

The Washington State Department of Corrections hopes AMEND can help improve interactions among corrections officers and inmates and create better outcomes when the incarcerated are released. 

For this episode of the Crosscut Reports podcast, host Sara Bernard speaks with Crosscut staff reporter Joseph O'Sullivan about his recent visit to one of the state’s three pilot sites, the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, to learn more about the program. 

O’Sullivan shares his experience inside the prison, where he spoke with guards and an incarcerated individual about the program, which could grow if the state legislature approves a request from Gov. Inslee to expand the program.

Read our full report on the Washington state's AMEND program here. 

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Credits

Host/Producer: Sara Bernard

Reporter: Joseph O'Sullivan

Executive producer: Mark Baumgarten

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