Ilja C. Hendel: Crime and Penance on Bastøy

Link: Ilja C. Hendel: Crime and Penance on Bastøy « The Leica Camera

I did a reportage on Bastøy Prison Island for the German news magazine Der Spiegel in 2010. On this island, located in the Oslo Fjord in Norway, are 115 inmates, punished for serious crimes, guarded by at least four unarmed guards. When I talked to these guys, I met some of the big names in Norwegian crime history. At the same time, I was very impressed by Arne Kvernvik Nilsen, chief of the prison, and how he treats the inmates: “I treat them with respect,” he said, “and don’t ask about their deeds. If they treat me the same way, they can succeed in society after their release.”