Exhibits
The Criminal Asylum
How has society treated people who are both dangerous criminals and seriously ill? The exhibit tells the history of high-security psychiatry in Norway's first criminal asylum, opened in 1895.
Confiscated objects from patients
The exhibit CLUES is about the police's role in the justice process, the what, how and why. Under the rule of law, no one can be sentenced without guilt being proven. The police serves the public by protecting citizens and investigating and preventing crimes.
A wall of evidence from the old Criminal Museum
The War Exhibit
The exhibits intention is to inspire reflection on what happens with the rule of law when an authoritarian power takes control. The tools used for torture by the Rinnan group is shown, and the Enigma machine.
The Enigma machine
Uniform exhibit
The first appointed chief of police was in Trondheim in 1686, but it was not until 100 years later that the police wore a uniform. The exhibit showcases the history of the uniform from 1796 to today.
1895 police helmet
PUNISHMENT
Why do we punish? Laws and rules lose their meaning if breaking them does not lead to any consequences. The earliest known acts of punishment focus on revenge and retribution, through fines and exile.
Branding iron used on convicted criminals
The Museum of Justice has exhibits in two buildings in Kalvskinnet, Trondheim: the Criminal Asylum og the Military Hospital. Both buildings are located at the end of Erling Skakkes gate in Trondheim, right by Ilen church. One ticket grants access to both buildings. Tickets can be purchased in the Military Hospital. Not all exhibitions are translated into English. You can find details about translations by reading about a specific exhibition.
Lensmann’s office
In the first cell on the first floor cell corridor you will find the Lensmann’s office. Most of the objects were donated to the museum by Eldrid Straume. The objects…
Ludvig Wang’s room
At the end of the cell corridor on the first floor, you can visit Ludvig Wang’s room, the man who managed to escape from the criminal asylum. His room has…
Prison history
Inside the second cell along the first floor cell corridor you can find an exhibit about the history of prisons in Trondheim. In the centre of the room you can…
Prostitution in the 19th century
Inside the third cell along the first floor cell corridor you will find a small exhibit about prostitution in the 19th century. All sex outside of marriage was illegal according to…
PUNISHMENT
All societies punish unwanted behaviour. Punishment is an evil that is inflicted on persons who have broken the law. In a state governed by law no-one may be punished without…
The Criminal Asylum
How has society treated people who are considered both dangerous criminals and mentally ill? The exhibit in the Criminal Asylum looks at the history of high-security psychiatric institutions with a…
The Executioner’s Room
The exhibit shows different forms of punishments that existed in King Christian Vs Norwegian law from 1687 up until the last beheading in 1876. Shaming punishments were conducted in public….
The War Exhibit
The exhibit is meant to evoke reflections around what happens with the rule of law when a foreign power takes control. Here you can see the collection from the trial…
Uniform exhibit
Norway’s first Chief of Police was appointed in Trondheim in 1686, but it was not until one hundred years later that Norwegian police put on their first uniform. A reconstruction…
Young offenders / Disciplinary Images
The exhibit Young offenders focuses on people who were registered in the criminal albums. Norwegian police began photographing criminals in 1864. In the beginning they only did so with the…