In Greenland, the criminal code reflects traditional values and approaches to conflict resolution, with the emphasis on a criminal’s willingness to acknowledge wrongdoing and to undertake rehabilitation. Prisons are largely open. Instead of relying on strict sentencing rules, judges make decisions on a case-by-case basis with a large degree of freedom. However, despite tremendous praise for these methods from Canada, Denmark, and other countries, the Greenlandic Justice Commission believes the approach no longer works, and will present proposals in the fall to reform the system, based on a nine-year study.
