New research from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) highlights how prisoners might benefit from virtual reality headsets while serving time to help them rehabilitate to life outside.
The study has examined the effect using digital tools has on people in prison, using virtual worlds to help them see the consequences of their crimes and prepare for release back into society.
Dr Victoria Knight, Associate Professor for the Community and Criminal Justice Division at DMU co-led a pioneering study with Professor Stuart Moss, University of Melbourne, commissioned by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), exploring the potential of emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance rehabilitation in prisons.
Dr Knight, said: “This new research identifies a range of ways in which technology can assist in the rehabilitation process for prison services.
“Secure messaging and video calling systems allow prisoners to maintain vital family connections, while educational and vocational tools help prepare them for reintegration into society-and a better life after release.
“In addition to enhancing communication and education, the study examines the role of digital tools in addressing complex rehabilitation needs, such as addiction recovery, trauma therapy, and behavioural management. VR, in particular, is highlighted for its potential to encourage empathy among prisoners and prepare for re-entry to the community.”
Within the research real-world examples, such as in Catalonia, Spain, show how VR and other digital tools are used in prisons, where domestic violence offenders experienced immersive, victim-centred scenarios to help them understand the impact of their actions.
Over the last two decades, Dr Knight has observed the gradual adoption of digital tools within prison services. However, the pandemic created a unique opportunity for the widespread introduction of innovations such as secure video calls and digital learning platforms.
Dr Knight added: "The pandemic was a catalyst for change, prisons, which have long been digitally poor environments, were suddenly adopting technologies like video calls to maintain family contact, and secure platforms for communication with probation officers and therapists."
Dr Knight emphasised the importance of developing ethical frameworks to guide the use of these digital technologies in prisons, particularly in maintaining human rights and protecting data privacy. "As prisons adopt more technology, it's vital that human contact is not replaced but complemented by these tools," she added.
She continued: “We wanted this research to have practical use for prison services which are embarking on their digital journey, but fundamentally it’s about human rights, it’s not digitising for digitising sake, and Covid is a great example of that.”
Through this research working with experts including digital leads in prison services, people with lived experiences who have been in prison, developers who are designing the future of prisons, policy makers and practitioners, Dr Knight and team worked closely with prison services around the globe to create this new report- including case studies from the UK, US, Australia, Thailand, Finland, and Argentina.
Dr Knight said: “The reports end with a series of recommendations, like a checklist of what sort of things need to be considered and what services need to do depending on the different pathways they want to take.
“In some countries they want digitisation across the board and a whole digital transformation, whereas others want to use bits to enhance what they are already doing.”
The research, supported by UNICRI is now entering its second phase, and the United Nations are set to trial this research in Namibia and Thailand with a pilot programme launching in the coming months, to try and raise prison standards and rehabilitation in systems lacking strong public welfare.
Posted on Tuesday 1 October 2024