Imprisonments, 2008

On average, there were 3 387 prisoners per day in Norwegian prisons in 2008, and for the first time since 1998, there was no increase from the previous year. Average number of prisoners was 1 per cent lower than in 2007 but still higher than all previous years in the period 1960-2006. Relative to the population, there were 27 per cent more prisoners on average in 2008 than in 1998.

Decrease in prison sentences, but more time in custody and serving sentence for non-payment of fine

On an average day in 2008, 2 469 persons were serving a prison sentence, 76 were in preventive detention, 112 were serving sentences for non-payment of a fine, and 731 persons were in custody. Compared to the previous year, there were an average of 5 per cent less serving a prison sentence. The average number of prisoners per day in custody and serving sentenced for non-payment of a fine increased by 10 and 33 per cent respectively. In the historical statistics dating back to 1960, there is no year with more completed time of custody than in 2008.

Also a decrease in new prison sentences

In 2008, 12 100 new imprisonments were registered in Norwegian prisons; a decrease of just over 3 per cent from the previous year. Almost 8 160 of these, which is 67 per cent, were the beginning of serving prison sentences. In addition, more than 1 220 transfers were made from custody to serving prison sentences in 2008, and compared with the previous year, 6 per cent fewer prison sentences began overall. The number of imprisonments for non-payment of fine increased from 870 in 2007 to 1 220 in 2008, and was thus the basis for one in ten new imprisonments in the course of this year

More time in custody

The number of new imprisonments in custody decreased by 7 per cent from 2007 to 2008. The number of ended custodies, meaning all discharges and transfers from custody to prison, is also less than the year before. We also see that the total time of custody is higher than ever, and has increased significantly in the period 2006-2008. This is primarily related to an increase in the number of prisoners with longer time in custody. For example, there were 126 cases of custody completed after more than one year in 2008, while the corresponding figure in 2007 was 74.

Narcotics - main reasons for serving sentence and custody

The largest portion of the prison population had a narcotic offence (30 per cent) as a principle offence, followed by other offences for profit (23 per cent) and violent offences (20 per cent). Thirty-nine per cent of those in custody had narcotic offence as their principal offence. For prisoners in preventive detention, most prisoners had offences of violence (55 per cent) and sexual offences (33 per cent) as a principle offence. The prison population serving sentences for crimes made up 90 per cent of the total prison population at the beginning of the year.

One in five new imprisonments due to traffic misdemeanour

Offences of those who come into prisons in a single year (new imprisonments) are relatively different to those we see among persons who are in prison at any given time. This is partly because a relatively greater part of the new imprisonments has short sentences.

There was a decline from 2007 to 2008 for all offence groups, except for traffic offences. Even though we have to make a reservation because of the increased number of serving sentences for non-payment of a fine (where we do not have information about the offence) it seems that offences for profit and “other offences” had the largest decrease - both with over 14 per cent. For almost 2 570 new imprisonments in 2008 the main offence was traffic offences, and three-quarters of these were for driving under the influence of alcohol. Traffic offences were the main reason for most of the new imprisonments in 2008.

Aged 30 and older

In 2008, 90 per cent of the new prisoners were men. The total number of new imprisonments of men decreased, while the new imprisonments of women increased from about 1 100 to 1 150. On average, women accounted for 6.2 per cent of the prisoners in 2008. Of the prisoners with known age, 54 per cent of new prisoners in 2008 and 64 per cent at the beginning of the year were aged 30 or older.

Tables

Published tables