Living Conditions of Inmates in Norwegian Prisons 2014

Statistics Norway conducted a survey on living conditions among inmates in Norwegian prisons in the autumn of 2014. Statistics Norway also conducted a similar survey in 2003. The purpose of the survey is to map living conditions before and during incarceration for inmates and their thoughts about the future. The sample of 520 people was randomly selected among inmates over age 18 who are not in custody or had deportation orders. Of the drawn sample 11 percent turned out not to meet the selection criteria (departure), and the gross sample then became 463 people. Interviews were conducted by interviewers that visited prisons and interviewed inmates. Interviews we obtained with 57 percent of the total sample. The main reason for withdrawal was that the inmates who were selected did not want to participate. This group accounted for 21 percent of the total sample. In addition, we did not make contact with 15 percent of the sample. In this report, we document distortions as a result of this drop-out rate, and the weights are designed to adjust for it.