Abstract: The article concerns the issues of improvement of procedure and conditions of serving punishment in form of imprisonment in Russia in the light of the Concept for the Development of Penitentiary System of the Russian Federation till 2020 and in modern Norway. For the modern implementation of the concept it is necessary to change the approach to the preparation of highly qualified cadres, knowing specificities of psychology of convicts, understanding their "forced" situation and capable of working in the conditions of counteractions of criminal structures.  They say, that in the opinion of Russians the Norwegian prisons have something in common with good educational institutions, normal cooperative company and cozy mountain skiing resorts with rather good food.  The Concept presupposes that bringing the conditions and treatment of convicted prisoners in accordance with the European standards presupposes larger personal space. It is noted that the conditions of serving punishment in form of imprisonment should provide for dignified life of persons and have maximum similarity to the regular life. 

Keywords: freedom, individual, arrested, Norway, deprivation, violation, prisoner, suspect, accused, convict