I have an ancestor who emigrated from Norway in 1886 with the notation "dimitt straff" on his passenger record. I am told that this means discharged prisoner. I do not know why he was in prison but since he was fathering children at regular intervals, I assume that he was not in prison for a long period of time. Can someone tell me why this note would have been put on the passenger record. Did Norway coerce people into emigrating as a condition of release from prison? If he had completed his prison term, why would it be necessary to include this note on his record? If Norway was forcing prisoners to emigrate, were they doing that to all prisoners or just those convicted of certain crimes? Was the prisoner not allowed to take his family with him? My ancestor emigrated in April and his wife and children followed 5 months later. Any information on this subject would really be appreciated. Karen