
When you think of the current
prison climate, you probably envision an atmosphere of isolation and
confinement; some people do. Well, it might surprise you to know that prisons
nowadays aren't what they used to be. In the field of corrections, technology
has been gradually integrating itself into prison operations and transforming
how facilities are operated and inmates rehabilitated.
Our society is developing continuously, and the penal system
is not left behind. It is accepting novelties with an outlook of reinforced
security, better processes, and surprisingly to some people, an even more
humane approach toward incarceration. Modern jails have applied the most modern
technologies to better security, simplify functions, and help with
rehabilitation. This article will discuss, “5 interesting prison
technological systems used today in the U.S.”.
This article may help you understand how such technological breakthroughs
are aiding correctional facilities' management efforts while supporting inmates
on their way back into society if they are released. Whether you're a tech
enthusiast or just curious about how tech advancements can revolutionize even
the toughest settings, this listicle is sure to give some eye-opening and
informative insights. So, shall we get started?
1.
Ankle Monitoring & Prison
Tracking Systems
Ankle monitoring devices have become a more common prison
tracking system in recent times as an alternative to imprisonment. It was once
something of science fiction but now it's a reality present in many prisons
across America.
This Global Positioning System (GPS) -enabled ankle monitor
has become well-known among low-risk convicts who may be close to finishing
their sentences. It is considered as an option instead of traditional
imprisonment yet still gives administrators the power to keep track of where
its wearer goes without being excessively strict. Some say this technological
innovation helps decrease recidivism rates and overcrowding in jails and
prisons while others praise it as a way towards recovery and integration back
into society; however, some argue these bracelets give users an unrealistic
sense of liberty while never addressing what led them down a criminal path in
the first place if they’re actually guilty. Could this be valid?
Image Source: Pixabay
2.
Email And Tablets For
Prisoners
In today's digital world, many prisons have welcomed the idea
of emailing and handing out tablets to inmates to facilitate communication
between them and their family members, friends, and acquaintances. These
technologies can give imprisoned individuals an opportunity to stay connected
with people outside prison walls, access educational content as well as
increase their chances of finding employment upon release. Some prisoners may also
take advantage of this technology to find love through prison dating sites.
However, not everyone is in favor of such an initiative citing security
concerns, claiming that the availability of technology could be misused or
exploited leading to potential issues related to safety protocols, avoiding
unauthorized activities, or exchanging illegal information.
3.
The Rise of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) Technology in Prisons
As AI continues to develop, it has opened both opportunities
and issues within the disruptive system.
For example, with surveillance cameras fueled by AI tech, prisons can utilize
its advantages like monitoring inmate behavior accurately while also making
sure no contraband gets inside and that violence is being prevented before it
happens. Predictive analysis - a tool powered by AI technology, tries to anticipate potential security problems as
well as detect any signs of aggression just in case anything needs avoiding.
However, some don't agree; they believe artificial intelligence systems could
be flawed leading to either over-surveillance or wrongful convictions, which
raises certain ethical and moral questions considering that society depends on
these machines for things such as coming up with risk scores during parole
hearings.
Image Source: Pixabay
4.
Video Conferencing for Remote
Hearings and Medical Care
As the world of prison technology continues to change, new
possibilities have opened. Technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and
Telemedicine could completely revolutionize prisoner education and mental
health assistance in ways we haven't even imagined yet.
Considering this
pandemic-driven era, prisons are now forced to find alternate solutions when
conducting hearings and meetings with inmates. This is where video conferencing
comes into play: it eliminates the need for physical transportation between
locations; provides more effective scheduling options and allows greater
involvement from legal representation. It's clear that these types of virtual
interactions can offer major benefits! Some downsides with videoconferencing are
that it is not suitable for all conditions and gives prison medical
professionals limited physical access to patients and misdiagnoses are
possible.
5.
Inmate Management Systems
Prisons
Nowadays, jails and prisons use sophisticated computer
systems to manage prisoner data, from their basic details to medical and
disciplinary records. The field of prison safety has seen a big boost due to
the introduction of biometric identification and surveillance methods. From facial
recognition technology through iris scanning, these instruments are used for
keeping track of inmates, as well as jail and prison personnel members to block
any unwanted access or potentially dangerous or illegal situations. These
frameworks help simplify administrative tasks and raise record accuracy levels
with ease of hand communication among staff members too.
Even though they can improve effectiveness while minimizing
human errors in of equation, there is still a chance that something might go
wrong; either technical glitches can arise or worse, someone could gain
unauthorized access leading to compromising secure information, like HIPAA
violations, and opening a window for possible escape attempts. Critics point
out this risk along with the increased importance placed upon protecting fairness
& integrity when it comes to legal proceedings related matters here. So,
taking extra precautions should always be the main priority when such powerful
tools get deployed somewhere.
Weighing The Pros And Cons Of Applying
Technology To The Incarceration System
Those in favor of prison (or jail) technology emphasize how
much it could help with rehabilitation, safety, and resource management. For
example, they say that having remote communication with family members would
have a tremendously positive effect on an inmate's mental health --- not to
mention lowering recidivism rates. Plus, there are surveillance systems that
can prevent violence or contraband from getting into the prisons too.
But then again, some people worry about drawbacks as well.
Drawbacks like potential abuse or invasion of privacy. The increasing
dependence on technology might inadvertently lead to a decrease in humanity, and morality, and reduce the chances of real rehabilitation. Additionally, there's
always the danger of technological failures, glitches, or cyberattacks which
could disturb prison processes.
Image Source: Pixabay
Conclusion
As prisons and jails go tech-savvy, it becomes crucial to
find a balance between progressiveness, ethics, morals, and security. There is
a need for clear policies and procedures as well as frequent assessment and
re-examinations of how emerging
technology is impacting things; also strong safeguards against potential
abuses must be enforced. It requires close collaboration from experts in the
information technology space with
legal specialists plus criminal justice professionals so that everyone can
explore this complex world called Prison Technology together for safety,
fairness, and checks and balances.
References
Martinez, J. (2016). Jail Tech Phones Tablets And Software.
Retrieved
from PCMag.
Paulter,
J. Law Enforcement Technology And The Future Of Prison
Systems. Retrieved From Real
Time Networks.
Quaker Special Risk – A Jencap Company (2023). Pros And
Cons Of
Virtual Doctor’s Appointments. Retrieved from Quaker
Special Risk – A Jencap Company.