Sophie, a Political Correspondent at the Mirror since December 2022, recently delved into the Ministry of Justice’s innovative technology by assuming the role of an offender. This experience followed a previous instance where she tested an alcohol tag at a pub.
In this latest endeavor, Sophie explored a new surveillance initiative targeting newly released criminals and individuals serving non-custodial sentences. The program requires participants to answer behavioral questions via a mobile questionnaire and submit a video for identity verification through artificial intelligence.
Minister James Timpson, responsible for Prisons, expressed the intention to utilize mobile technology to ensure continued monitoring and punishment for offenders outside custody. Embracing technological solutions, particularly amidst prisons’ overcrowding crisis, Minister Timpson aims to enhance supervision through innovative means.
The implementation of this new surveillance tool, part of an £8 million initiative, aims to create a sense of a “prison outside prison” within the community. A pilot of the technology commenced in four Probation areas in England, supplementing existing requirements like GPS tags and in-person appointments.
Minister Timpson emphasized the importance of effective community punishment supervision and hinted at potential future enhancements using wearable technology for rehabilitation reminders and geolocation services for tracking offenders’ whereabouts.
While the technology demonstrated efficiency during Sophie’s trial, its long-term impact remains to be seen. Offenders could potentially manipulate survey responses, and the three-day response window allows for changing circumstances. Minister Timpson clarified that online check-ins will not replace essential in-person meetings with probation officers.
Although tech-based emotional assessments present opportunities for future advancements, concerns arise regarding excessive reliance on technology over human-centered offender monitoring. The potential misuse of advanced technological surveillance could lead to undesirable outcomes in offender supervision.
Overall, the Ministry’s exploration of technology-driven solutions underscores the evolving landscape of criminal surveillance and supervision, with implications for the balance between technological innovation and human oversight in the justice system.
