ABSTRACT
This chapter, through a case study of Ringe State Prison, examines the history of some of the key components of what has later been termed Nordic penal exceptionalism. It looks at the subsequent rise of penal populism in Denmark, which has shaped the more recent history of Ringe State Prison and left the original elements of exceptionalism in disarray. The chapter addresses the relative lack of empirical historical research that deals directly with the history of those prison practices that are normally associated with penal exceptionalism. It presents a case study of Ringe State Prison which is split into two sections about what happened before and after the prison opened. The chapter includes a thorough discussion of the most novel elements in the Ringe Prison regime. Finally, it follows the history of Ringe Prison up until today, which prompts us to ask the question of the fate and possible downfall of Nordic penal exceptionalism.
