Norway: Musical Therapy at Bastøy Prison

Midway through his 18-year sentence, a Bastøy Prison inmate who asked to be called Jonas has discovered his own method of rehabilitation—music.

As leader of the prison blues band "Skyldig Som Faen" (meaning “Guilty as Hell"), Jonas is paving the way to healthier habits and a more constructive lifestyle. He credits these successes to a prison atmosphere that encourages growth, change and reflection.

Jonas and his fellow band members say that creating music as a cooperative effort has enabled them to develop interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and constructive communication, traits that he hopes will aid in a smooth transition back into everyday society in Norway.