Digital Innovation in Nigerian Correctional Service Revolutionizing Rehabilitation

Sylvester Oga Ogaji B.Sc (Hons) Computer Science, A+

Deputy Superintendent of Corrections

Nigerian Correctional Service

Headquarters

Abuja Nigeria.

?Abstract

Digital innovation is sparking a profound transformation within the Nigerian Criminal Justice sector and Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) is revolutionizing the rehabilitation landscape.

This paper delves into the pivotal role of technology in reshaping how custodial centers operate and rehabilitate incarcerated inmates/individuals.

Examining the impact of technology on legal procedures, this paper explores how digital tools ensure fair participation and access to crucial information for inmates in detention. Additionally, it highlights innovative educational approaches facilitated by technology, preparing inmates for re-entry into a digitally driven society (post-incarceration).

The paper scrutinizes the significance of digital communication in correctional settings, emphasizing its dual role in benefiting both inmates and staff while ensuring robust data security and management within regulatory frameworks.

Furthermore, it investigates the empowerment of NCoS staff through technology, fostering tailored rehabilitation strategies for diverse inmate populations. The potential of advanced technologies like Artificial intelligence AI and Virtual Reality in revolutionizing rehabilitation practices is also explored.

Digital Innovation in Nigerian Correctional Service Revolutionizing Rehabilitation

Introduction

In the realm of Nigerian Correctional Services, "Digital Rehabilitation" refers to using technology in ways that help improve the lives of people in custody and those transitioning back to society. It's like using computers, tablets, or other gadgets to make things better for people who are in custody or getting ready to leave.

Why is this technology so important in this area? Well, it's because it helps make things more up-to-date and better for everyone involved in the criminal justice sector of Nigeria. By bringing in technology, Nigerian correctional services have made rehabilitation efforts way more effective and modern.

Think about it this way: Imagine being able to use computers or special programs to help inmates in the custodial centers learn new things, prepare for life outside the custodial centers, or even access legal information easily. That's what digital rehabilitation aims to do – it's about using gadgets and tools to make the whole process of being in lawful custody and getting ready to leave much smoother and helpful. The importance of technology in modernizing rehabilitation efforts cannot be overemphasized. It is like giving a boost to how things are done, making them more efficient and useful within the custodial centers. By embracing technology, Nigerian Correctional Services has improved the way inmates are helped to access justice, making it easier for they inmates to learn, grow, and eventually reintegrate into society.

In the following sections, we'll dig deeper into how this digital technology impacts different parts of correctional service, from legal to education, communication, and even how it helps the staff. The aim is to show just how much of a positive change technology can bring to the lives of those in custodial centers.

The New Normal is Digital

Pre-trial Detention and Legal Procedures

In the time before a trial, an awaiting trial inmate (ATM) needs to have a fair chance. By using computers and special tech solutions, waiting for their trial, they can easily get legal information, like the last outcome at the end-of-day at the court. This helps everyone involved (the prosecuting agency, the accused, the legal representative, the judiciary, and the monitoring agencies) understand what's happening, making sure things are fair for everyone in the process. There are special tools that make sure all parties get a fair chance to be part of the legal process. The Controller General of Corrections has thought it wise to use the case management module of the Corrections Information Management System (CIMS) to solve these challenges.

Education and Reintegration

Learning in custody is not just reading books or sitting in a classroom. There are awesome gadgets and different ways to learn that NCoS has employed to help inmates in custody get ready to go back into society – the National Open University approach. It is not just about learning facts but also about learning useful skills, like how to use technology. When inmates leave custody, they will need to know about technology because it is a big part of the world outside the custodial centers.

Digital Communications in Corrections

Using technology to talk and share information in custody can be a good thing. It will help the inmates in custody and the staff communicate better even with their families. This is a way to ensure that inmates are reassured that their families and society still find them valuable. Is to this that the Controller General of Correction has constituted a strong committee to find the best possible approach to employ how best to immediately deploy this technology to all custody centers across Nigeria.

It is not always easy – there are problems to solve, like making sure everything stays safe and follows the rules. Keeping information and data safe is super important, and using technology smartly is a big part of that.

Managing Technological and Operating Risks

Technology can be great, but sometimes it can cause problems. The Controller General has rolled into effect all measures to ensure that using technology in custody is safe and doesn’t create big problems. It is like having a plan to deal with any issues that might come up, both with the gadgets and how they are used by the people who work in all custodial centers across Nigeria.

?Intelligent Offender Management and Treatment

Supporting NCoS Staff with Technology

Officers and men deployed to various custodial centers have a lot to manage daily. Technology like Corrections Information Management System - CIMS, Smart Custody Solution – SMACUS, helps officers do their work better daily. With special tools and systems, the Record Unit of all custodial centers has kept inmate records organized and handled their tasks more easily. It is like having gadgets that make their job less complicated and more efficient. The CGC has also looked at the need to have inmate property well-organized and digitally documented.

Any officer who has ever worked in a custodial center will tell you that one difficult aspect of being a correctional officer is searching for inmate property at discharge.

Digital Information Systems for Rehabilitation (DISR)

Keeping track of information related to rehabilitation is important. Using digital systems helps make sure all the important information is stored and shared safely. It is like having a safe and organized place for all the information that helps in making sure people get the right kind of service they need. The CIMS has made this possible, modules like the identity, and the welfare have played a very important role in the DISR.

Person-Centric Approaches

Inmates in custodial centers across Nigeria are not all the same in attitude, personality, and inward and outward disposition; they have different needs. Using technology, the help they need or require can be customized to fit their needs better. It is like having special plans and tools that are made just for them. This helps in giving them the right kind of support that works best for each inmate. The CGC has identified that from the point of admission of an inmate, special needs details of each inmate be collated and digitally stored. This will help the medical and welfare unit understand better the needs of such inmates. Also, their feeding habits.

Role of Advanced Technologies (AI, VR/AR/META-VERSE)

Fancy technologies like AI, VR, AR, and meta-verse can do amazing things. In our custodial centers across Nigeria, these technologies can help make rehabilitation better. For example, using virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) could help people in prison learn new things more interactively. These technologies might change how rehabilitation works and make it more effective. The AI tools can be trained in various Nigerian languages and deployed throughout all custodial centers in Nigeria to gather real-time intelligence on the real account of how most crimes are committed in Nigeria.

?Very recently, the CGC has mandated the amiable ICT team of the Nigerian Correctional Service to urgently see how to infuse these technologies into the management of inmates, crime account analysis and inmate learning and all critical processes in management, intelligence gathering, inmate data analysis for forecasting, and decision making.

Data-Driven Development and Evidence-Based Practices

Ethical Implications of Technology

Using technology in the Nigerian Correctional Service raises important ethical questions. How technology is used should always be fair and right. It is essential to think about how technology can make things better without causing any harm to the inmates, staff, and visitors. It is like making sure that using gadgets and tools always helps people without any problems.

Considering the ethical implications around the use of gadgets in custody centers to perform official duties and inmate learning, the CGC has over time in different intervals issued circulars that stand as user policy to all individuals involved, be it staff, inmates, and visitors to the custodial centers.

Leveraging Information Systems for Insights

Inmate data and pre-trail detention indicators are important to the service, the judiciary, foreign governments, visa officers in various embassies, and researchers across the world. Using systems that handle faster processing of inmate data, and pre-trail detention indicators will timely help get important insights and knowledge. These insights help in making rehabilitation work better. Is like having a treasure of useful intelligence that helps make sure people get the best possible support. The formidable Controller General of Corrections is way ahead of this. In 2019 when CIMS was launched by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the statistical module of CIMS was equally launched as an entity of the solution.

Data Analytics and Decision-Making

With technology, making decisions in the service can be quicker and smarter. Tools like Power BI, Tableau, Weka, and RapidMiner have been of great help in analyzing inmate data and pre-trail indicators. Statistical officers have been regularly trained to help support in providing insight to the CGC in making decisions that are important for the inmate in custody. It is like using technology to understand what needs attention first and how to make things better.

Value Proposition of Modernization

Making sure that using technology in all custody centers and the administrative headquarters is valuable and super important. Is like asking if using gadgets and technology is making things better for everyone.

By evaluating how technology is helping, it is easier to make sure that what is being used is worth it and truly helpful. Kuje, and Kaduna custody centers which are pilot sites for all new technology a true testament to how the CGC has ensured that technology must be used to help the inmates access justice fast.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 mandates the CGC in PART 12 - INSTITUTION OF PROCEEDINGS. See below:

(1) The Comptroller-General of Prisons shall make returns every 90 days to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, the President of the National Industrial Court, the Chief Judge of the State in which the prison is situated and to the Attorney-General of the Federation of all persons awaiting trial held in custody in Nigerian prisons for a period beyond 180 days from the date of arraignment.

(2) The returns referred to in subsection

(1) of this section shall be in a prescribed form and shall include:

?(a) the name of the suspect held in custody or Awaiting Trial Persons;

?(b) passport photograph of the suspect;

(c) the date of his arraignment or remand;

?(d) the date of his admission to custody;

?(e) the particulars of the offence with which he was charged;

(f) the courts before which he was arraigned;

?(g) name of the prosecuting agency;

(h) any other relevant information.

Returns by Comptroller General of Prisons.

(3) Upon receipt of such return, the recipient shall take such steps as are necessary to address the issues raised in the return in furtherance of the objectives of this Act.

The CGC through the enforcement of the use of CIMS in all custody centers has justified the preposition of the use of technology in the service. Where the CGC can render all required reports daily as opposed to section 111 of ACJA 2015

?Impact on Custodial Center Design and Infrastructure

Rehabilitating Existing Infrastructure for the Digital Era

The way custodial centers are designed and built can change with technology. Using digital tools can make old buildings and structures better suited for the modern world. It is like giving them an upgrade to fit with how technology works today. This helps in making sure that the buildings are safer, more organized, and ready for the future.

The CGC has recently demonstrated this in its 2022 capital project with the deployment of Smart Custody Solution and the Corrections Information Management System to very old custodial centers across the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeria. These custodial centers include the following:

????? i.???????? Kaduna Central Medium Security Custody Center

??? ii.???????? Kuje Medium Security Custody Center

? iii.???????? Enugu Medium Security Custody Center

? iv.???????? Kirikiri Maximum Custody Center

??? v.???????? Keffi-new Medium Security Custody Center

For SMACUS and over one hundred and thirty (130) custodial centers where CIMS is already working right now.

Most recently in July 2023, the CGC commissioned an ultra-modern 3000-capacity maximum custodial center at Janguza in Kano State command. This same project is currently replicated across the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeria and the facilities are designed with the concept of post-modern futurism or Neo-futuristic architecture.

Aligning Design with Digital Rehabilitation

When designing new custodial centers, it is very important to think about how technology can be a part of it from the start. Designing places that easily fit with technology helps in making rehabilitation better. It's like planning the buildings and spaces so that gadgets and tools can be used easily. This creates a space that is effective and helpful for everyone involved.

As mentioned in the rehabilitating existing infrastructure for the digital era sub-head, the CGC has strongly considered this approach and in the 2023 capital project approved the construction of newer custodial centers with the principles of post-modern futurism or Neo-futuristic architecture in mind and most recently the ICT Hub at the National Headquarters office in Abuja Nigeria

Conclusion

Digital rehabilitation holds immense potential to transform Nigerian Correctional Services for the better. By integrating technology into various aspects of the correctional system and the criminal justice sector of Nigeria, The Service has created a more effective and supportive environment for inmates in custody and those transitioning back to society.

The use of digital tools not only enhances fairness in legal processes but also aids in education, communication, and tailored support, promoting a more individualized approach to rehabilitation. Moreover, it helps in managing data effectively, driving smarter decision-making, and improving overall outcomes for those under legal custody in Nigeria.