Perhaps you've done time in both countries but I haven't. I'm merely guessing at the personal motivations of staff as they perform their roles, and making an as

Perhaps you've done time in both countries but I haven't. I'm merely guessing at the personal motivations of staff as they perform their roles, and making an assumption these might be approximately similar. The policy goals and strategies of the systems may differ, but only by degree its seems - unlike the Scandanavians, but its individuals who execute them and interpret the rules to achieve those ends. Fearful stupid or prejudiced screws only, well often - let's be fair, consider their own interests whatever the policy goals are.