This summer, news met “Andreas” at Ringerike prison. He is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which makes him feel like he is being watched all the time. The diagnosis makes him suspect, among other things, that people are stealing his thoughts. According to prison psychiatrists at Ringerike prison, he is too ill to serve a sentence. And he is not alone. – I wish I could go back to the hospital I was at, said “Andreas” to news this summer. According to prison psychiatrists at Ringerike prison, “Andreas” is too ill to serve a sentence. Photo: Laik Hanbaly / news Increased violence against prison staff Inmates have more extensive mental disorders now than 10–15 years ago, shows a report from 2022. In addition, several prisons have also sounded the alarm about a lack of resources, in the face of inmates with serious mental disorders. Now the government has asked the health organizations to establish so-called “security homes”. – This will be an offer for those who should not serve time in prison, but are too dangerous to be in psychiatry, says parliamentary representative from the Labor Party, Maria Aasen-Svensrud. – This is ground-breaking work that has not been done before, says Aasen-Svensrud about safety shelters. Photo: Laik Hanbaly / news She says that the scheme will also relieve both the correctional service and the healthcare system, so that the individuals covered by the scheme do not become “tossed balls” between the institutions. – There has long been a need to put an arrangement in place so that this group is ensured a humane and good living situation, with the right level of security. Now the government is coming up with concrete measures, she says. – Do the health institutions have the resources to follow this up? – We are now in the initial phase of establishing it. The health organizations must come up with their models for how this can be implemented. We will almost have to see the further development from that, she says and adds: – It is groundbreaking work that has not been done before. – In overtime – I think it’s great, but in overtime. I am happy that these plans are now being concretised, says Randi Rosenqvist, who has for several years worked for the establishment of so-called safe houses. She is a forensic psychiatrist and former head of the National Action for the Preservation and Development of Psychiatric Hospitals. news meets her at Oslo prison together with the parliamentary representative and head of department at Oslo prison, Ragne Cecilie Opsahl. Randi Rosenqvist is a psychiatrist and has, among other things, been senior physician at the regional security department at Gaustad. She has also worked in the Correctional Service for a number of years. Photo: Laik Hanbaly / news She also says that seriously ill inmates who are admitted to psychiatry mean that the hospitals do not have the capacity to take in less ill patients, also from prisons. – Do you know how many there are? – I don’t know for sure, but we think that in the long term there will be 100-150, maybe 200 in total, she says and points out that there is a small proportion of inmates with serious mental disorders for whom this will be relevant. Oslo Prison is located in Greenland in Oslo and is a unit with a high level of security. The prison has 243 places for men. Photo: Laik Hanbaly / news Oslo Prison: – Fantastic – It’s a real pleasure for us who work in correctional services. And I think it’s a great joy for society and for those who need help, says head of department at Oslo Prison, Ragne Cecilie Opsahl, about the establishment of a safety home. Maria Aasen-Svensrud. together with head of department at Oslo prison, Ragne Cecilie Opsahl, outside Oslo prison. Photo: Laik Hanbaly / news – Will this actually relieve the correctional service and this prison? – Yes, absolutely. Because then we get inmates that it is necessary to have in prison. And those who are ill will get the help they need in the right place, says Opsahl. The head of department says that inmates with serious mental disorders take up a lot of resources – We often see them screaming for help from psychiatry, and perhaps finally get them transferred. Then it only takes a day or two, then we have them back again. And basically start from zero again. It hurts to see inmates suffer more than necessary. Published 30.10.2024, at 17.51
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Sick inmates are bouncers between hospital and prison – now they will get their own place – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
