For the two and a half days at the end of October, officials and staff of the Colorado Department of Corrections met with the Swedish Prison and Probation Service to share information and tour a state prison.

“It is an honor that they picked the Colorado Department of Corrections to visit and hopefully they learn as much from us as we have learned from them,” said executive director Rick Raemisch in a news release.

The Swedish delegation met with Raemisch and corrections department staff to learn more about Colorado’s policies and procedures in the correctional field.

Swedish Director General Nils Oberg, Head of Intelligence Niklas Bellström and Communications Advisor Lena Karvik spent much of their first day at the Fremont County Correctional Facility in Canon City. During the tour, they observed how corrections staff and offenders interacted, learned about the programs offered and educational opportunities provided for those inmates who choose to take part.

The second day of the visit included a Division of Adult Parole presentation on the paroled offender community and the reforms that are being made for re-entry. Corrections officials and the Office of the Inspector General also shared different methods of identifying security threat groups and intelligence gathering.

“I’m impressed with the way the Colorado Department of Corrections is focused on innovation and results when it comes to reducing recidivism,” said Oberg in the release. “We are grateful for this opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with our colleagues in Colorado.  It has been very valuable and we go home with new insights and ideas.”