Conditions for prisoners in Scandinavia vary depending on the country and the specific prison, but the general principles are the same: prisoners have personal space, the opportunity to get an education and profession without leaving prison, a wide choice of creative and physical exercises, and permission to wear their own clothes.

Perhaps Finland has one of the most liberal systems. Of the 26 correctional facilities in the country, 11 prisons operate on an “open” system. This means that prisoners are allowed to leave bars during the day, and, in fact, there are no bars there. One of these prisons is located on an island next to the fortress on the island of Suomenlinna (better known to Russians under the Swedish name Sveaborg). This is one of the most famous attractions in Helsinki, and most tourists visiting it are not even aware of the strange neighborhood. Nevertheless, it is the hundred inhabitants of the “open” prison that have been helping to maintain the historical monument in proper condition since 1971.

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