From the left: Dorin Gabriel Muresan (Prisons Commissioner), H.E. Amb Dr. Christian Istrate (Ambassador), Alina Mihaela Bica (Deputy Minister of Justice), Iona Bala (General Director, Prison Administration), Stig Storvik(Prison Director), Terje Moland Pedersen(Secretary of State) and Harald Føsker(Senior Advisor). (Photo:Knut-Erik Rønningen).

Norway’s Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget and Deputy Minister Alina Mihaela Bica have signed an agreement permitting transfer between Norway and Romania of convicted persons serving sentences. A visit to Oslo Prison took place in this connection, and included a short tour of the prison facilities. The agreement was not surprisingly well received by most interested parties, although the two romanian inmates we met in Dept. A-2 were not exactly delighted when confronted with the news.
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Text: Knut-Erik Rønningen, published 22.09.10.

The visit started in the Director’s office with an exchange of experiences from the Correctional Services of both countries. We were surprised that Romania seemed to have such a strong focus on its prison services. They have also entered into a co-operation with Phoenix Haga a treatment centre for drug addicts in Mysen, Norway. Three prisons in Romania will now attempt to implement the treatment philosophy of Phoenix Haga in their work, based on the fundamental concept of a therapeutic society.
This compares well with our thinking when establishing Stifinnern (Pathfinders) at Oslo Prison in 1992, which has turned out to be a very successful program.

Do not want to serve sentences in Romania
The Genral Director and Deputy Minister of Justice were able to meet two of Oslo Prison’s romanian inmates in Dept. A-2. They expressed they had no desire to be transferred to Romania for their period of continued custody.
-Just wait until the first Romanian is sent home, the Prison Commissioner commented,  the news will spread like wildfire and you will notice a strong decrease in criminality from Romanians.
Whether or not the commissioner’s strong belief in the deterrent effect rings true remains to be seen, but according to Terje Moland, Secretary of State, Norway, in practice only convicted persons with sentences over one year will be sent home within their period of custody.

Must invoke changes in existing law first
The agreement was signed previously the same day in the office of Norway’s Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget. Before the agreement can be put into effect changes will have to be made to the Norwegian law concerning transfer of convicted persons. The proposed changes are now being considered by relevant parties.
Knut Storberget also signed simultaneously an agreement with Romania concerning general co-operation between Norway and Romania in judicial matters.

General Director, Romania Prisons, Iona Bala and Deputy Minister of Justice, Romania, Alina Mihaela Bicain conversation with one of the Romanian inmates in Dept. A-2 of Oslo Prison.
(Photo:Knut-Erik Rønningen)

Norway’s Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget, and Romania’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Alina Mihaela Bica, immediately after signing the agreement.
(Photo: Regjeringen.no).