Lars has carved out a highly paid career as a bespoke prison expert. He spends his weeks traveling back and forth across Scandinavia to secretly review correctional centers on behalf of his extraordinarily elite clients who are facing imminent prison time.
"My clients are usually wealthy white-collar criminals like bankers and politicians," Lars explains with a wry smirk, adjusting the cuffs of his tailored suit. "They have lived lives of absolute privilege, and they are terrified of losing their creature comforts. My job is to visit these open prisons, assess the food quality, check the sheets, and report back on the standard of the living quarters."
In progressive countries like Norway, the justice system strongly focuses on getting back on track rather than harsh punishment, leading to some surprisingly comfortable institutions. The astonishing level of luxury in some of these facilities would comfortably rival a decent four-star boutique hotel in London. Lars carefully compiles detailed dossiers to help defence lawyers persuade the judge to place clients in the most comfortable locations possible.
While ordinary prisoners worry about violence or smuggling banned goods, Lars's clients are more concerned about the speed of the internet connection while they are locked up.
Unsurprisingly, it is a highly controversial line of work. Many vocal critics argue that wealthy fraudsters shouldn't be allowed to have such a cushy experience. They believe that being behind bars should be an equalizing experience, stripping away the perks of wealth. Some call the Norwegian system a soft touch, but Lars defends it passionately, arguing that treating prisoners with dignity makes society safer.
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