DOC says small ‘Little Scandinavia’ unit at SCI Chester shows positive early results; department aims to expand

The Department of Corrections and researchers are studying an experimental housing model at SCI Chester known in testimony as “Little Scandinavia,” and department leaders told the Appropriations Committee the pilot shows promising early results and could be expanded to other sites.

Secretary Laurel Harry described the unit as modeled on Swedish correctional practices and said preliminary research in partnership with Drexel and academic partners shows positive indicators: fewer violent incidents, higher staff‑inmate interaction and improved moods among residents. “The research up to this point looks very positive,” Harry said, noting she traveled with the Chester team and met Swedish practitioners as part of the study.

DOC officials said Chester’s unit is smaller and operates differently from a typical higher‑security housing block: single cells, congregate meals, a kitchenette in the unit and staff who may exercise and eat with incarcerated residents. Harry said the unit averages about 57 occupants and has had “only 1 inmate fight on the unit,” a rate officials described as lower than comparable custody‑level housing.

How staff and inmate experiences differ: the department said staff report lower stress levels and stronger sense of purpose on the unit, which it called a staff‑wellness benefit in a challenging work environment. “They feel much calmer walking onto that unit, less stress… they definitely feel a sense of purpose,” Harry said.

Questions from lawmakers focused on how the model would scale. Harry and DOC deputies said Chester was suitable because it was designed as a smaller treatment‑oriented facility and that more research is needed before transplanting the model to maximum‑security facilities with custody‑level 4 inmates. “One of the things we want to look at with research is putting it at a maximum security facility with custody level four’s,” Harry said.

Costs and scope: the department did not provide a dollar estimate for expanding the model, but members noted that the Swedish model typically provides single cells for every resident — something DOC said would be costly in the U.S. if replicated at scale. DOC said it hopes to test the model’s core components (staff‑resident interaction, congregate food, smaller unit size) in other institutions where feasible and to measure impacts on violence and recidivism.

Ending: DOC said the unit’s initial outcomes are promising and that the department will continue research partnerships to measure operational, safety and recidivism outcomes before committing to a broader rollout.