Press Release , 11.05.2010
Nr.: 54 - 2010
Correctional Services receives additional NOK 40 million

TRANSLATED
The government recommended strengthening the Correctional Services through allocation of an additional NOK 20 million to cover an increase in operations and the establishment of a new class at the Prison Officers’ Training Academy. A further amount of NOK 20 million is proposed for improved maintenance.
– A strengthening of police work and more effective investigation methods have resulted in an increase in successful detection rates and more use of remand facilities. We now wish to further strengthen the Correctional Services  to enable us to handle the increases caseload, comments  Norway’s Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget.
A strengthening of police work and more effective investigation methods have resulted in an increase in successful detection rates and more use of remand facilities. The number of foreign inmates on remand has also increased.  This year alone, there have been an average of over 980  remand inmates daily in our different prisons, compared to 799  in 2009. Use of existing capacity at our prisons is having to be  utilized to a high degree. Sustaining  the high  level of activities within the Correctional Services  requires a NOK 16 million increase in its operating budget for 2010. 
There is a significant need for qualified personnel in our prisons, and the government therefore recommends the establishment of an extra class of prison officer recruits from Autumn 2010.  This will provide a further 25 recruits. The recruits will commence their training by functioning as extra officers in the prisons where the need is greatest. Oslo Prison is among the prisons that will be prioritized in this connection.
The government also recommends NOK 20 million ear-marked for improved maintenance of the prisons, with funds from the Ministry of Government, Reform and Church Affairs. This is important in order to reduce the back-log of maintenance needs and secure acceptable, modern premises  for prison custody.
Total allocations for the Correctional Services  for the period 2006-2010 increased by NOK 1.9 billion.