En-suite bathrooms, flatscreen TVs, mini-fridges, a Banksy-esque mural, a gym with a rock-climbing wall, a music studio, a luxury library, wooded jogging trails. We're not talking about the latest outpost of the W Hotel; we're talking about a new Norwegian prison that looks nicer than most college dorms, youth hostels or NYC apartments.

The Halden Prison opened its doors last month after a decade of construction, and it's being called the most humane prison in the world. In addition to the aforementioned amenities, the 252 prisoners staying there will enjoy barrels windows, lounge areas with IKEA-esque furnishings, and communal kitchens with stainless-steel work tops. Norwegian street artist Dolk was reportedly paid $1.5 million to paint the huge mural in the courtyard. And half the prison guards will be female, as it's thought having more women around helps decrease aggression.

The idea behind the luxurious digs is to rehabilitate prisoners, not punish them. "The most important thing is that the prison looks as much like the outside world as possible," says architect Hans Henrik Hoilund. "In the Norwegian prison system, there's a focus on human rights and respect." That concept seems to be working. Only 20% of prisoners in Norway end up back in jail after release, compared with 50-60% in the US and UK -- though Norway also has a relatively low level of crime to begin with.