A look inside Norway's Bastoy prison, the world's most luxurious jail

New Delhi: The Bastoy prison in Norway is no less than a paradise. The prison was founded in 1982. Arne Kvernvik-Nilsen is the Governor of the Bastoy Prison Island, which is the world's first ‘human ecological prison'. Bastoy, a home of world's serious offenders has received global attention because here inmates live in wooden cottages rather than closed cells. Wooden cottages for the inmates at the Bastoy islandThe re-offending rate of Bastoy is 16% compared with 70% for prisons across rest of Europe and US.It is a minimum security prison on Bastoy island 2.6 square km in size, situated at south of Oslo. It hosts 115 inmates. The Bastoy island, a perfect getaway!Staff of 69 employees work under Neilson out of which only 5 work overnight. Cells have televisions, computers, integral showers and sanitation. Prisoners are offered education, training and skill-building programmes. Prisoners in Norway can apply for a transfer to Bastoy when they have up to five years left of their sentence to serve. The luxurious rooms Every type of offender, including men convicted of murder or rape, may be accepted, so long as they fit the criteria, the main one being a determination to live a crime-free life on release.Prisoners work on farms, grow fruits and vegetables, and tend sheep, cows and chickens. Arne Kvernvik-Nilsen- Governer of Bastoy Prison islandThis prison is more like a resort where prisoners during their free time, inmates have access to horseback riding, fishing, tennis, and cross-country skiing.Bastoy is an island of pine trees and rocky coasts, with views of the ocean that are postcard-worthy. Sunbed for inmatesThere's a beach where prisoners sunbathe in the summer, plenty of good fishing spots, a sauna and tennis courts. Inmates wear whatever clothes they want: jeans, T-shirts, even guards do not wear uniforms. The lush green lawns of the islandThe idea is for prison to function like a small, self-sustaining village.Outdoor phone booths for inmatesFor their work, inmates are paid. They get a stipend of 59 Norwegian kroner per day, about $10.Library for inmatesThe goal, is to create an environment where people can build self-esteem and reform their lives. Prisoners playing in the sunThe governor of the prison does not believe in making the prisoners live like animals or robots. In fact, he believes that they should be allowed to make their own choices- to learn how to be better people. Here we show you some more pictures of the luxurious prison: A prisoner repairing a bicylce. A prisoner basking in the sun.A prisoner working in the farmsFerry at the island.Inmate in the kitchen