– All my traumas came up again and I was knocked to the ground. I was in so much pain. I got so sick, says Beate. – The correctional service has known for a long time that he should be released. I think it is bad that we were not notified in good time so that we could prepare ourselves, she says. A new report from the Stine Sofies Foundation shows that notification is practiced differently in Norwegian prisons. It shows large differences in how often the prisons notify the next of kin and survivors. It was also different how early the prisons notified and what information was given. – We deserve predictability and respect. I feel we don’t get the respect we deserve, says the mother. Notification review The foundation surveyed the practice around notification for three months. A total of 42 paroles and 616 furloughs were granted at the prisons. In the case of a prison, a notice was issued in over 90 per cent of the cases. At another prison only around 60 percent. – We have seen that many people experience good practice. But many also experience poor practice, says lawyer Endre Bendixen at Stine Sofies Stiftelse. Stine Sofies Stiftelse has investigated the notification practice at five Norwegian prisons, one in each prison region. Photo: Leif Dalen / news The Directorate of Correctional Services (KDI) admits that they can do better at reporting. They will now look at why there are big differences in notification. – There is no doubt that we have things to deal with here. We want to do that, says assistant director Jan-Erik Sandlie in KDI. He praises the foundation’s report and announces a review. – We will go through the practice in all prisons and ensure that it becomes more likeable, he says. Jan-Erik Sandlie in the Directorate of Correctional Services says they have a review of the notification practice in Norwegian prisons Photo: Per Håkon Solberg / news Will have notification obligation The findings mean that the foundation will have stricter requirements for notification from prisons. – We want a set of regulations where they are obliged to notify in all cases where convicts have been sentenced for physical or psychological violence, assault and murder, says Bendixen. Today, the Correctional Service has a duty to notify victims and survivors in cases where they consider it to be of importance to them. State Secretary John-Erik Vika in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness states that they are now going through the regulations for notification. – We will place greater emphasis on the consideration of victims and survivors. Victims of crime must get the attention and support they need, says Vika. State Secretary, John-Erik Vika, in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness says they are going through the regulations for notifications from the correctional service. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news He also says that it is important to take the convicted person into account, and that this can present challenges. – It is an important principle that convicts should, to the greatest extent possible, serve their sentences close to where they live. This can be rehabilitative. At the same time, in some cases, this is also the immediate environment of the victim or survivor, he says. Beate is now hoping for a quick solution. – They must consider that it is relatives who have lost their loved ones in murder. We have to live with our loss, trauma and grief for the rest of our lives, she says.
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– We don’t get the respect we deserve – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
