Iceland has 5 prisons with a total capacity of 138 inmates. In 1997 and 1998, the daily average number of prisoners was approximately 110, and the 1999 average was about 100. Inmates and staff are close in Iceland's small prisons, small institutions function better in many respects than large ones, and it is relatively rare that serious problems occur in Iceland's small prisons. On the other hand, small prisons do not offer as many treatment and rehabilitation programs for inmates as large prison systems, and the correctional system in Iceland is not called criminal care as it is in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In addition, community service in Iceland is different than the other Nordic countries where community service is sometimes used instead of other sanctions. In Iceland, community service is seen as an administrative implementation of an unconditional prison sentence. Authorities in Iceland have been subjected to some pressure from the Council of Europe to introduce changes in their crime policies, particularly with respect to the lack of facilities for young people and women. The author concludes that a small society can sometimes be an example to other larger societies with respect to corrections and criminal law. 14 references