In the break room at Meny Stavern, the conversation over lunch boxes and coffee cups goes easily between store manager Thomas Eriksen and Frank Skråmo. It wasn’t like that the first time they met almost 3 years ago. It was not a matter of course for Eriksen to let a person with a long prison sentence behind him into the workplace. – I said no at first, says the shop manager. Then he went home and thought about it. Almost gave up Employers who take in inmates can get wage support. After he was released, Frank Skråmo first visited two other employers. Both chose to quit. – I worked double shifts and didn’t dare say no, he says. Nevertheless, it came to an abrupt halt. Then he went into the cellar. – I called Tobias and said I couldn’t take it anymore. Skråmo had offers of criminal assignments. Disability benefits were also a possibility. But he wanted to work. Shortly after the phone call, Tobias Hofsøy in “Together for life” stood at the door. The organization works to get convicts into work. The two were to go out and find Skråmo a job. – For two days we drove around, they both remember. Both get a little teary thinking about those days. Frank Skråmo was helped by Tobias Hofsøy in Together for life. This week they celebrated that 100 inmates have become 100 employees since starting in 2015. Hofsøy had left a job in the prison to start “Together for life”. He needed to succeed in getting former prisoners into work. While Skråmo would very much like to have a completely normal life again. Much was at stake. Returning to society Frank Skråmo is not proud of what landed him in prison. – I made one mistake, he says and turns in his chair. Skråmo regrets it and doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. The sentence of 11 years speaks for itself that it was serious, he believes. Before, he was a fireman in Oslo, and his arms bear witness to a warm relationship with Vålerenga. In prison, he trained as a chef and received a vocational certificate. Before the sentence was finished, he became one of those who the Correctional Service believed had a good chance of getting back to a normal life. They connected him with “Together for life” and Tobias Hofsøy. He was to become the most important person in Skråmo’s life. Tobias Hofsøy is the general manager of Sammen for life. Photo: Magnus Skatvedt Iversen / news Getting out and going back in Every year around 8,000 people are released from Norwegian prisons. Figures from the Correctional Service show that 1 in 3 who are released end up in prison again within five years. For those serving time in a high-security prison, the figure is even higher – 44 per cent. Professor Katrine Vellesen Løken at the Norwegian School of Economics. Being in prison can actually be an advantage, shows a study from 2016 to which Professor Katrine V. Løken has contributed. Fewer were caught for new offenses after a stay in prison than with other punishment methods. – This study also shows that work after serving a sentence is very important to reduce recidivism, she writes in an e-mail to news. In particular, measures that can help the inmate prepare to return to work after serving time are effective. A chance for the store manager, who initially said no, to change his mind. – I needed to get to know Frank first, so we agreed to try, says Thomas Eriksen. Photo: Magnus Skatvedt Eriksen / news After six months and several conversations, the day came when Skråmo was called into the office. – I cried all the way home, he says. Skråmo had finally got a permanent job. – It feels good that someone has a use for me, he says.
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– It feels good that someone has a use for me – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
