Los Angeles Times, 2024
Author(s): Anita Chabria
Los Angeles Times columnist Anita Chabria explored how corrections officers, inmates, victims and communities are affected by the Scandinavian rehabilitation approach. The four columns were spurred by California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to introduce the principles at San Quentin prison. The Scandinavian approach views the loss of liberty and separation from the community as punishment for inmates. It focuses on making incarcerated life as normal as possible, so people have the opportunity to learn and make better choices without being preoccupied by fear or violence.
Chabria’s columns dive into the philosophical underpinnings of the Scandinavian approach and highlight its potential as the largest public safety reform in California’s history. Her columns are grounded in reporting. From interactions with inmates in the “Little Scandinavia” unit at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution to learning more about life in high-security prisons in Norway, Chabria’s reporting examines the topic from multiple angles.
Her work combines investigative reporting with insightful commentary. Chabria’s series demonstrates the transformative impact of rehabilitation on inmates, showing how it fosters self-worth and community reintegration.
Following her first column, the California Legislature agreed to fund the reform. By the end of the series, those closest to the issue agreed the columns covered why California prisons are failing and how they can be improved.
Article by: Abbi Ross