Sophie, a Political Correspondent for the Mirror since December 2022, recently delved into the Ministry of Justice’s cutting-edge technology by posing as an offender for the second time. This time, she explored a new surveillance system designed for released criminals and those serving sentences outside prison.
This innovative approach entails offenders answering behavior-related questions via a mobile questionnaire. Subsequently, they must record a brief video that undergoes identity verification using artificial intelligence. According to Prisons Minister James Timpson, the goal is to uphold accountability and ensure individuals recognize ongoing consequences even when not in custody.
With a focus on leveraging technology to address prison overcrowding challenges, Minister Timpson aims to enhance community-based punishments effectively. Sophie’s firsthand experience with the system involved responding to inquiries about her well-being and needs, followed by a video identity confirmation process.
The new surveillance tool, part of an £8 million initiative, reinforces the concept of a “prison outside prison” within the community. A pilot program has commenced in four Probation areas in England, supplementing existing offender requirements such as GPS monitoring, in-person meetings, and curfews.
Minister Timpson emphasizes the importance of supervisory measures for community punishments to be impactful. Future developments may include integrating wearable technology to remind offenders of rehabilitation appointments or implementing geolocation services for tracking purposes.
While the technology demonstrated efficiency during Sophie’s trial, its long-term effectiveness remains to be seen. Offenders could potentially deceive the system by providing false information, and the three-day response window allows for fluctuating circumstances. Lord Timpson underscores the irreplaceable nature of face-to-face interactions with probation officers.
Although online check-ins do not replace in-person visits, they hint at potential future advancements in offender monitoring. However, there are concerns about relying too heavily on technology at the expense of human oversight in the justice system.