Making Prison and Probation work
Imagine for a moment that you are responsible for the operation of information technology in prisons and probation for perhaps 10,000 inmates and a similar number of staff. What are your priorities for investment in technology? How do you make the choices? What degree of risk can you take? What about the security of the software? Should you develop it in-house or find a third-party supplier.
As the CIO of a Justice Department you face a bewildering array of choices. But it’s a chimera. The risk of failure makes the possibility of procrastination real and which is why perhaps today many DoCs have major system software that was developed twenty of more years ago. Be assured, if system runs on MS-DOS (1985) today you are not alone; at least you don’t have to be concerned about remote hacking.
Prison IT is really challenging to deliver; on the one hand rapid IT developments outside the custodial setting put massive pressure on Prison IT to deliver, and on the other budgets, politicians, the public and the risks of compromising security combine to create an environment where change is difficult to achieve if not completely unwelcome. Outside of prison, commercial companies develop products for audiences running into billions, but these are designed to be used easily by a general population. They are not designed for the custodial environment.
For example, can calls be monitored? Can the system be set to only allow approved visitors? Can children be prevented in some instances and allowed in others? It is the reason why specialist products are needed and is just another example of the challenges facing the Justice CIO.
Here is some thoughts shared by prisoners about their experience of Prison technology. “When I moved to HMP Northumberland I was so happy to see a kiosk. In my previous prisons friends spoke of how the kiosks made everything so much easier and reduced frustration and anger. And they weren't wrong; I could see people taking charge of their lives, of having real-time information in front of them showing them their money, their work allocations, their visits and so forth. It was like going from the information blackout that is every other prison where things happen randomly and you never know from one minute to the next what is going on, to a place where you felt like you mattered. The contrast between a prison with and without kiosks is like night and day. So imagine a kiosk, where right there all the vital information is laid out in front of you; right there, and then you can push buttons to organize visits, family visits, job applications and so forth, and get confirmation there and then that the work has been actioned. It is like jumping from the 1860's Pony Express to the 2020’s smartphone all in one giant leap. It is the sense of liberation and empowerment that restores a man’s pride and gives him hope he can get through his sentence and come out a better person, that there is hope.”
Aside from reducing prisoner’s frustration and therefore self-harm and violence, the self-service kiosks also benefit the prison in that there is mundane admin work to be performed behind the scenes by OSG so front line prison officers spend less time listening to prisoners asking for help then ringing admin offices to try and resolve prisoner's issues.
Prisoners are expected to emerge from prisons rehabilitated and ready to be a productive member of society in terms of work, housing, family, finance and personal skills. Those prisons that embrace self-service technology for prisoners via kiosks and, more recently, in-cell devices such as laptops and tablets are beginning to deliver rehabilitation programmes direct to prisoners. These courses are tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual including education, health and wellbeing advice and access to appropriate entertainment to alleviate boredom. But these digital prisons are still the exception rather than the norm. Until technology becomes ubiquitous the rehabilitative benefits that it offers will be fragmented.
Georgie Morgan
Georgie Morgan
Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, then becoming Head of Programme in January 2022.
Georgie leads techUK's engagement and activity across our blue light and criminal justice services, engaging with industry and stakeholders to unlock innovation, problem solve, future gaze and highlight the vital role technology plays in the delivery of critical public safety and justice services. The JES programme represents suppliers by creating a voice for those who are selling or looking to break into and navigate the blue light and criminal justice markets.
Prior to joining techUK, Georgie spent 4 and a half years managing a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Westminster. She worked closely with the Metropolitan Police and London borough councils to prevent and reduce the impact of crime on the business community. Her work ranged from the impact of low-level street crime and anti-social behaviour on the borough, to critical incidents and violent crime.
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- https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-henley/
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia Miatto
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.
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- [email protected]
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.
Before joining the team, she was working at the Magistrates' Courts in legal administration and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022. Ella attained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics, and a master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies, with a particular interest in studying asylum rights and gendered violence.
In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, watching true crime documentaries, travelling, and making her best attempts to become a better cook.
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- [email protected]