Candace Stubblefield

Criminal Justice/Pre Law
A Critical Analysis of the American and Nordic Penal Systems

Capstone Poster

 

This research project will compare and contrast the fundamental operational differences between the American prison system and the Nordic prison system. The Nordic prison system is composed of the countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden and is chosen because of the manner in which they operate their prison systems by focusing on humane treatment and rehabilitation from the beginning of the sentence. The American system is consistently operating the highest prison population in the world and focuses sentencing on punishment first and foremost, in return, the American system is known for harsh treatment of prisoners and higher violence rates in the prisons. Comparing and contrasting the two penal systems will provide knowledge that can be implemented in the American prison system in an effort to reduce populations and human rights violations overall.

Updated: July 11, 2023