Author(s):

Pernille Søderholm Nyvoll

Published date:

07/03/2025

This article examines the impact of various challenges on two Norwegian low-security prisons, Bastøy and Leira, during a particularly demanding period. Using ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews with 51 prisoners, the article applies the conceptual metaphors ‘depth’, ‘weight’, and ‘tightness’ to explore the severity of control, restriction and psychological burden. Findings reveal a reduction in activities and an increase in restrictiveness in both prisons. Additionally, pris- oners at Bastøy noticed reduced staff presence and deteriorated trust, possibly due to the prison’s larger size, workplace conflicts and complex restructuring process, exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions and austerity measures. The results point to a diminishing ‘exceptionality’ in Norwegian prisons, highlighting the importance of stability, institutional autonomy, and smaller prison size in fostering trust and close relationships.