Crime After Punishment: A Comparative Analysis of Recidivism Rates in the United States and Norway

In the United States, 70% of previously incarcerated individuals will return to prison within five years upon release. In contrast, only 25% will return to prison within five years in Norway. This thesis explores the question: What explains the variation in recidivism rates between the United States and Norway? I have three hypotheses to understand this phenomenon. First, Norway has a better prison education system than the United States, leading to lower recidivism. Second, Norwegian citizens view the goal of prison as rehabilitation, whereas United States citizens view the goal of prison as punishment. Third, the War on Drugs contributes to the United States’ higher recidivism rates. To analyze my first two hypotheses, I took a statistical approach. For my third hypothesis, I took a qualitative approach and examined existing literature on the War on Drugs and recidivism. I found support for my three hypotheses.