Norway · Viken · Halden
Halden Prison
Data is aggregated from public sources and may be incomplete or out of date. Always verify with primary sources before acting on any figure. See data sources.
For families
How to send mail, money, and visit Halden Prison
Step-by-step guidance using the Norway system — addresses, money services, visit booking, what to bring on your first visit.
Gallery
From Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA where not otherwise stated).
Photo by Espen Franck-Nielsen via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo by Espen Franck-Nielsen via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Photo by Justis- og politidepartementet via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Designed by EMA and HLM as a rehabilitative facility. En-suite cells, vocational workshops, music studio, climbing wall, and forest exterior.
Background
Halden Prison (Norwegian: Halden fengsel) is a maximum-security prison in Halden, Norway. It has three main units and has no conventional security devices. The third-largest prison in Norway, it was established in 2010 with a focus on rehabilitation; its design simulates life outside the prison. Among other activities, sports and music are available to the prisoners, who interact with the unarmed staff to create a sense of community. Praised for its humane conditions, Halden Prison has received the Arnstein Arneberg Award for its interior design in 2010 and been the subject of a documentary, but has also received criticism for being too liberal.
Source: Wikipedia article lead, CC-BY-SA.
Capacity
252
Current population
245
Occupancy
97%
Year opened
2010
Operational
Facility profile
Operator
Kriminalomsorgen
Population held
male
Opened
2010
Region
Viken
Security level
Maximum
Death-row facility
No
Conditions
Often described as the world's most humane maximum-security prison. Inmates have keys to their own cells (within the secure perimeter).
Visiting
Weekly visits; private family rooms available for overnight stays subject to assessment. Dedicated children's visiting rooms.
Mailing
Standard postal mail accepted with name + Halden fengsel address; subject to security screening for select inmates.
Practical info
Visit reservations via the Kriminalomsorgen portal.
Known issues
Held mass-shooter Anders Behring Breivik (2013-2022). Critics argue conditions are too humane; supporters cite 20% recidivism vs 76.6% (US 5yr).
Notable inmates
Anders Behring Breivik (2013-2022, transferred to Ringerike).
Contact & address
Conditions Risk Score
Derived signal — not a judgement. How it's calculated
- Overcrowding
- 0/30
- Oversight reports
- 1/30
- Structural flags
- 5/15
- Death signals
- 0/15
- Conditions text
- 0/10
What the score is responding to:
- · 1 oversight report in the last 5 years
- · Substantial documented known-issues record
Trend over time
Population and occupancy by year. Source: official corrections statistics + oversight reports.
Population held
Occupancy %
Compared to other facilities in Norway
112 peersHigher risk than 100% of peer facilities in Norway.
Reports
- Norwegian Correctional Service29 Aug 2022
Anders Behring Breivik transferred to HMP Ringerike at his own request. Halden continues to hold ~245 men under the rehabilitative regime.
Data completeness
100%How many of our profile fields are populated. We surface this so families and researchers know the limits.
Sources
- Norwegian Correctional Service
- Norwegian Correctional Service — Kriminalomsorgen
- Wikipedia — Wikimedia Foundation
- See /data-sources for our overall methodology.