prison

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Place of confinement for those accused or convicted of contravening the laws of the state; after conviction, most countries claim to aim also at rehabilitation and deterrence as well as punishment. For major crimes, life imprisonment (or death in some countries or US states; see capital punishment) may be the sentence.

Experiments have been made in the UK and elsewhere in ‘open prisons’ without bars, which included releasing prisoners in the final stages of their sentence to work in ordinary jobs outside the prison, and the provision of aftercare on release. Prison overcrowding and spiralling costs have led to recent experiments with non-custodial sentences. Prison populations rose steadily in the UK at the beginning of the 21st century, partly due to harsher sentencing for minor offences. In the USA, parole and probation programmes exist, and ‘work-release’ furlough programmes allow convicts to work outside the prison or make family visits during their sentences.

Blue represents Finland's 60,000 lakes. White stands for the snow which covers the ground for 5–7 months each year. Effective date: 1 June 1978. >>