REVOLUTIONIZING JAIL OPERATIONS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY, REDUCE RISKS, AND ADDRESS STAFF SHORTAGES
Jonathan Ede, CJM, MSCJ
If you are in the corrections industry, you recognize that we are facing a unique challenge: how to manage an increasing inmate population with fewer resources, specifically manpower. I say the corrections industry, but this is an issue facing most industries across the nation and the world. For us in corrections, the reality is that the number of inmates continues to grow, and we continue to see a decrease in manpower causing jails to be stretched thin and unable to provide the level of care that is needed.
You cannot have a conversation with any jail professional today that does not at some point revolve around recruiting and retaining staff, to help meet our most basic operational needs. Well, I am writing this to propose another possible solution, a solution that will allow us to still recruit and retain true correctional professionals, but also leverage technological innovations which could further enhance our operation’s accountability and efficiency. This potential solution comes in the form of the technology known as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
AI technology is not new, but it is still vastly unknown, and its potential benefits are still a mystery to many that work in our nation’s jails. By no means am I an expert nor an authority on AI, but the literature is interesting and does give me cause to pause on its potential for jail operations.
AI technology is a way to increase efficiency and improve security as it can help mitigate manpower shortages by automating tedious administrative tasks currently being conducted by physical staff, such as monitoring, data analysis, and risk assessment. It may also offer more accurate tracking of inmates’ activities for better insight into potential threats or suspicious behavior. By freeing up time for staff that would otherwise be spent on administrative duties, AI can help ensure that each inmate receives the proper attention they need while in custody. AI has the potential of becoming an invaluable tool, a force multiplier, in helping jails operate more effectively and safely while reducing costs associated with rising inmate populations.
The potential AI has in helping with various aspects of the management and operations of jails, could be most beneficial in the areas of threat assessment, risk management, mental health, and more. In this article, we’ll take a look at how AI could be used (in some cases, currently being used) in jails to improve security, reduce risks, and increase operational efficiency.
Enhancing Security
AI is becoming increasingly useful in helping to enhance security in jails and prisons. By automating tasks such as monitoring, data analysis, and risk. AI-powered systems can be used by jails to identify potential security threats before they become major incidents. For example, surveillance systems powered by AI technology can detect suspicious behavior or determine if someone is exhibiting signs of aggression that could pose a security risk. Additionally, machine learning algorithms can be used to automate the process of tracking inmate movement throughout the facility to ensure safety standards are met. This helps simplify the tedious process, fraught with human error, of manual tracking, by providing accurate real-time information on an inmate’s whereabouts and activities for corrections officers. Facial recognition software powered by AI can also be used to detect changes in facial expressions that could indicate psychological distress among inmates.
Risk Management
AI-based systems are increasingly being used to help with managing risk in jails and prisons. For example, AI-powered analytics can be deployed in some jails to help identify inmates who may be at higher risk for committing a crime again after their release. By analyzing data from a variety of sources—such as criminal records, behavior patterns, and psychological profiles—AI algorithms can (potentially) accurately predict which inmates are more likely to re-offend after release and provide useful insights into how best to reduce that risk. This can help in making the decisions about which inmates should be placed on probation or parole or offered rehabilitation programs with a greater likelihood of success.
Mental Health Care
Artificial intelligence shows promise in revolutionizing the way jails provide mental health care to inmates. AI-powered technologies are being used to help identify and address psychological issues among inmates, as well as create better access to mental health services. AI chatbot systems are being developed that allow inmates access to anonymous online therapy sessions with qualified professionals at any time or place within the facility itself. These sessions provide inmates with private counseling services that promote psychological well-being while also promoting confidentiality and privacy for both participants. Interestingly to note, the same learning algorithms, used to determine inmate risk for reoffending, could also be used to determine which inmates may be at higher risk for depression or anxiety disorders.
Infection Control
The spread of infectious diseases in correctional facilities is a major concern, with inmates and staff at risk of contracting contagious illnesses. Artificial intelligence has the potential to help reduce the risks associated with such infections by providing enhanced analysis for infection control. AI-powered technologies may be used to identify high-risk areas within correctional facilities where infections are likely to occur, as well as monitor inmates’ health status in real-time for early detection of any symptoms. Learning algorithms can help automate the process of contact tracing within jails so that potential cases can be identified quickly and isolated before they have a chance to infect more people.
Conclusion As AI technologies continue to improve and become more widely available, correctional facilities around the world could undoubtedly benefit from enhanced safety protocols and improved efficiency in managing inmates that these systems provide. In addition, as shown above, artificial intelligence could benefit jails by providing better mental health care options for those who need it most—a key factor in helping ensure successful reintegration back into society after incarceration. I could go down a rabbit hole of all the potential benefits AI technology promises, but the key to this article is, could it be a viable partner solution to our manpower issues? Well, I will end with this, I do not know, only time will tell, but it is thought-provoking and worthy of conversation as a starting point in overcoming one of the biggest challenges the field of corrections has ever encountered.
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Jonathan Ede CJM, MSCJ, is a Captain with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office in Austin Texas, assigned to Housing and Special Operations. He has over 17 years of experience in the field of corrections and is a dually certified Master Jailer and Peace Officer for the State of Texas. For more information, he can be reached at (512) 854-7851 or via email at jonathan.ede@traviscountytx.gov.