Transformational Role of Technology in Modern Prisons

Without pulling needless punches, medieval ideology on imprisonment was mostly based on a two-pronged approach, punishment and deterrence. During that epoch criminal justice system was characterized by a rudimentary framework laced with abhorrent penal practices that provided breeding ground for undignified treatment of offenders in form of corporal punishment, solitary confinement and prolonged arbitrary detention exacerbated by inconsistent adjudication processes among other ills that pervaded all security sector landscape ranging from law enforcement, prosecution, defense attorneys, courts to corrections.

Fast forward, corrections philosophy and overall function within crime management value chain has incrementally evolved with targeted premium being placed on – containment of offenders, rehabilitation based on addressing individualized criminogenic needs and provision of wide arrayed pro-social services in form of incentivized regimes (education, vocational training/handicraft, employment, drug and substance treatment, mental health, social networks, cognitive behavioural development among others) to strengthen prospects of residents successful reintegration upon release.

Emerging technologies have thrown a versatile spanner in the works of security sector institutions in general and penitentiary administration in particular. ?Correctional stakeholder’s world over are currently grappling with complexities of adopting responsive technological stance in the wake of the emerging sophisticated global tech trends while on the other hand endeavouring to progressively entrench the ethos of dignified offender management.

In our present technology driven society, correctional practitioners and peers therefore should be on the lookout to leverage – emerging group messaging platforms (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Discord), Internet of Things (IoT), Metaverse, 5/6G Networks, Generative AI & Large Language Models (LLMs), Drones, Video Analytics and Human Machine Collaboration.

Scholars have averred that ‘technology has proven to be vital in maintaining the safety of prisons. ‘We can employ examples such as gates and permitter security, scanners, staff and inmate monitors as well as automated procedures (Longley, 2022)’. To a great extent therefore, operationalization of dynamic, procedural and static security stand to gain massively through strategic technological infusions.

The implication of a safe and secure incarceration environment cannot be overstated. If prison security is fluid without necessary safeguards for timely countering of security threats, then the maiden operational obligation for safe custody and rehabilitation of residents would be difficult to actualize.

Prison environment at all times requires conducive, safe and secure atmosphere. ‘A safe environment is a secure place which is stimulating, supportive and inclusive (Cristina, 2023).’ In such a desirable scenario there are reduced incidences of contraband proliferation, security breaches by outsider surveillance either covertly or overtly and staff complicity through unethical deportment. In essence 360-degree feedback can be used to gain insights from practitioners on the impact of emerging technologies as an enabler in strengthening round the clock prison security validly and reliably.

Towards this end, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Tags, Video Analytics, Personal Radios, Body Worn Cameras, Man Down Sensors, Mapping and Access Control Data (Longley, 2022) have been introduced to fortify overall security measures that previously solely relied on traditional interventions like foot patrols that are rapidly losing ground. Other notable technological prison presence in modern prisons are Integrated Prisoners’ Information Management System (IPIMS) together with Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

Pursuant to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), inmate’s rights remains a vital concern for prisons. It is against this backdrop that United Nations standards and norms were formulated. The Nelson Mandela Rules continue to offer much needed blueprint for secure, humane and dignified management of the estate. ‘There are also other United Nations instruments relevant to the prison system for instance the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Article 10 outlining that convicts must be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of human person (Easton, 2013).’

The aforesaid guidelines are indeed very necessary if not bare minimal in providing the necessary prison operational services particularly when deploying technology in screening, surveillance, contraband detection and retrieval, facility inspection and entire gamut of prison security risk management.

Suffice it to say, prison digital awareness, if harnessed properly, can hugely impact on the success rates of reintegration programmes. Data from Journal of Criminal Justice Volume 88, September–October 2023, based on 33 countries study state that ‘released prisoners had 2-year reconviction rates between 18% and 55%’. This state of affairs calls for agile, decisive and inclusive stakeholders’ mapping in analysis of opportunities and challenges posed by emerging technologies as a valid pathway for recalibrating correctional practice.