Internet in prisons

Last updated

Internet use in prisons allows inmates to communicate with the outside world. Much like the use of telephones in prisons, the use of the internet under supervision, for various purposes, is approved in 49 U.S. correctional systems and five Canadian provinces. Each of the reporting U.S. systems, except Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska and Nevada, use computers to employ inmate educational programs, as do all five reporting provinces in Canada. There are 36 reporting U.S. systems to handle inmate health issues via telemedicine. [1] However much like the use of mobile phones in prison, internet access without supervision, via a smartphone, or personal laptop/iPad is banned for all inmates. [2]

Contents

Internet access in prisons globally

Australia

Prisoner access to computer facilities and Internet resources varies across jurisdictions in Australia. In some states personal computer capable devices are permitted for use in cells, managed Internet access is provided in some, [3] while in other states all existing devices are withdrawn. The use of computers is generally for study, legal purposes, and managed reintegration. The rationale for this policy is to ensure that all prisoners in need of access to computer for educational or legal purposes are not to be disadvantaged. The policy reduces and effectively manages the risks associated with prisoner access to computers in cells. [4]

Canada

In Canada, inmates are legally barred from internet access. [5]

Germany

In Germany, access to the internet is allowed in a few states. [6]

Iceland

In Iceland, inmates in open environment prisons are allowed limited access to internet (social media and porn being barred) and browsing activity logged. Inmates in other classes of Icelandic prisons are banned from using the internet but use various methods to gain access, this is kindly overlooked by prison officers as long as inmates are not caught browsing or the prison does not receive complaints about threatening or offensive behaviour online.

Malaysia

Since 2008, Malaysian Prison Department has allowed selected prisoners who have undergone higher education learning to use internet as their study mode. Open University Malaysia (OUM) become the first university in Malaysia who offered higher education to prisoners. Being a university that focused on online learning, OUM had provided a flexible learning system to the inmates. The role played by OUM in offering the education programs mark significant efforts in changing the path for inmates to lead productive lives in society.

The prison allocated the usage of computer and internet by the inmates from 8 am to 5pm daily. The prison management authority will also monitor and access the usage of the internet whereby it is strictly only for the learning purposes in getting references from the OUM digital library which has 700,000 references online. Their study time is limited and they must fully utilize it for learning. [7] [8] [9]

Norway

Closed prisons (high security prisons) do not allow the use of mobile smartphones while mid to low security do. All of these prisons have a limited access to Internet and prisoners do not have access to social media. Besides, all activities can be tracked. [10] This is a similar policy as in Iceland's open prisons, but does allow all prisoners access to internet while well behaved and this strategy has proven to be rewarding and does relieve stress from staff.

Philippines

In the Philippines, prisoners are allowed to access the Internet while closely supervised. [11]

Romania

In Romania, a survey was conducted in 2008 to assess the situation on availability of IT services to inmates in prisons. A response was received from 14 out of the 36 prisons in the country. Of the 14, 7 prisons had no computer access to inmates, 5 prisons had computers from different donations, 1 prison stated they had 5 computers with internet access but are for staff use only. The 6 prisons that had computer access sometimes used it for recreational purposes, however some do have organized training courses to teach inmates computer operating. Connection to the internet is forbidden to inmates in all prisons however. [12]

Ukraine

Recently in Ukraine inmates have been formally allowed to use the internet and cellphones without any restrictions. [13] This new law allows prisoners to use cellular networks, but a recent revision by State Penitentiary Service Head S. Starenkiy forces inmates to use prison phones exclusively if available. This law doesn't specify the right to possess electronic devices, a loophole that has become a cornerstone of prison administrations' arguments against the use of technology.

As it stands, internet access is only allowed where prisons have total control over their inmates internet activity. The administrations banned social networks, e-mail, and porn sites among other services. This regulation chipped away at the spirit of unfettered internet access written into the original law. [14] Human rights activists attribute these extra restrictions to being a consequence of staff illegally providing inmates with unregulated cellphones. [15]

United States

Federal prison system

In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, an agency of the US Department of Justice, put into place a fee-based system called Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System (TRULINCS) on February 19, 2009. This allows inmates access to electronic messaging through e-mails. The message must be text only, and must be conducted in a secure manner between inmate and the public. Messages are subject to monitoring. Currently all institutions operated by the Bureau of Prisons have TRULINCS. However outside of the TRULINCS program, nearly all states prohibit Internet use by inmates, severely limiting technology-based access to educational opportunities. Inmates are allowed to use emails to contact lawyers if they have no family to do it for them, and some states allow very limited contact to family if no funds are available for phone services. [16]

State prisons systems

State prisons systems offer JPay as a computer system offering video conferencing, messaging, and e-mail services on a monitored basis. While technological ingenuity and advancements improved the prison system, drawbacks emerged, such as insufficient funds for additional content. The California prison system contracted with ViaPath Technologies to obtain digital tablets for inmates. [17] Global Tel Link based in Virginia has also provided Tablets pre-loaded with LexisNexis to inmates in Washington State until their merger with ViaPath. [18] Juvenile tablets feature Khan Academy to assist with obtaining a GED or adult education. [19] American Prison Data Systems (ADPS) also competes in the prison tablet space with educational features such as TED talks. [20]

Rehabilitating purposes

A European conference on Prison Education and Training was held in February 2010. Over 200 delegates from across Europe were in attendance. It was suggested to be widely accepted that prisons are damaging to the inmates, and therefore a method to decrease the potential damage is to provide the inmates an education during their incarceration. This would eventually contribute to the inmate’s successful reentry into society. [21] The internet is a convenient study tool, and if used correctly would contribute to the inmate’s studies.

In Norway, the educational and sentence act[ clarify ] allows inmates in Norway to have a legal right to education. The internet is described as digital tool, and has been integrated into the curriculum. [22] This allows the prison to enact a structured and meaningful path for rehabilitation.

Due to the reliance on the internet in society, newly sentenced inmates have already developed a dependency on the internet. The restriction of the internet in the inmate’s daily lives would constitute a major setback in their daily functionings. [23] The sudden removal of a major part in their lives would debilitate their motivation for rehabilitation. Inmates sentences to a longer duration would become technologically impaired when released into a society that is increasingly becoming dependent on the internet. The institution needs to prepare the inmate for reintroduction into the outside society, and doing so necessitates the familiarity with the internet.

Controversy surrounding inmate access to Internet

Allowing access to the internet for inmates is a topic with much debate. The argument for the permittance of use is largely for rehabilitation, and/or providing an environment that encourages rehabilitation. However, in the United States, security measures and state statutes in both public and private correctional institutions are significant barriers in expanding the use of the Internet to support the delivery of postsecondary education. [16] Many inmates experience a lack of access to computer equipment and security routines in prisons interfere with their education.

Inmates can also use the internet for other, illegal purposes. It has been recorded that through smuggling smart phones, inmates have called up phone directories, maps, and photographs for criminal activities. As society becomes increasingly internet-dependent, gang violence and drug trafficking is being conducted through the internet, thus inmates are able to keep up with criminal activities even while being incarcerated. [2] In the United States, cell phone smuggling into prisons has been an increasing problem.

In 2010, the Federal Bureau of Prisons workers confiscated 1,188 mobile devices. [2] Most of the smuggled cell phones have access to the internet, and inmates are able to connect without monitoring from guards.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parole</span> Conditional release of a prisoner

Parole, also known as provisional release, supervised release, or being on paper, is a form of early release of a prison inmate where the prisoner agrees to abide by behavioral conditions, including checking-in with their designated parole officers, or else they may be rearrested and returned to prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incarceration in the United States</span> Form of punishment in United States law

Incarceration in the United States is one of the primary means of punishment for crime in the United States. In 2021, over five million people were under supervision by the criminal justice system, with nearly two million people incarcerated in state or federal prisons and local jails. The United States has the largest known prison population in the world. It has 5% of the world’s population while having 20% of the world’s incarcerated persons. China, with more than four times more inhabitants, has fewer persons in prison. Prison populations grew dramatically beginning in the 1970s, but began a decline around 2009, dropping 25% by year-end 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recidivism</span> Person repeating an undesirable behavior following punishment

Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been trained to extinguish it. Recidivism is also used to refer to the percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested for a similar offense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prison education</span> Educational activities inside prisons

Prison education is any educational activity that occurs inside prison. Courses can include basic literacy programmes, secondary school equivalency programmes, vocational education, and tertiary education. Other activities such as rehabilitation programs, physical education, and arts and crafts programmes may also be considered a form of prison education. Programmes are typically provided, managed, and funded by the prison system, though inmates may be required to pay for distance education programmes. The history of and current practices in prison education vary greatly among countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rehabilitation (penology)</span> Process to re-integrate a person into society

Rehabilitation is the process of re-educating those who have committed a crime and preparing them to re-enter society. The goal is to address all of the underlying root causes of crime in order to decrease the rate of recidivism once inmates are released from prison. It generally involves psychological approaches which target the cognitive distortions associated with specific kinds of crime committed by individual offenders, but it may also entail more general education like reading skills and career training. The goal is to re-integrate offenders back into society.

A conjugal visit is a scheduled period in which an inmate of a prison or jail is permitted to spend several hours or days in private with a visitor. The visitor is usually their legal partner. The generally recognized basis for permitting such visits in modern times is to preserve family bonds and increase the chances of success for a prisoner's eventual return to ordinary life after release from prison. They also provide an incentive for inmates to comply with the various day-to-day rules and regulations of the prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penal system of Japan</span> Penal system of the State of Japan

The penal system of Japan is part of the criminal justice system of Japan. It is intended to resocialize, reform, rehabilitate and punish offenders. The penal system is operated by the Correction Bureau of the Ministry of Justice.

The John Howard Society of Canada is a Canadian non-profit organization that seeks to develop understanding and effective responses to the problem of crime and prison reform. It is named after John Howard, a philanthropist and early English prison reformer. The society works with adults, children, and youths to help rebuild their lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prison</span> Facility where people are kept as punishment for a crime

A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, remand center, hoosegow, or slammer, is a facility where people are imprisoned under the authority of the state, usually as punishment for various crimes. Prisons are most commonly used within a criminal-justice system by authorities: people charged with crimes may be imprisoned until their trial; those who have pleaded or been found guilty of crimes at trial may be sentenced to a specified period of imprisonment.

Video visitation is the use of videoconferencing and/or analog CCTV systems and software to allow inmates and visitors to visit at a distance as opposed to face-to-face. It allows people with a computer, internet, webcam, and credit card to communicate with inmates at select jails. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 74% of jails dropped face-to-face visitation after installing video visitation. As of May 2016, over 600 prisons in 46 states across the U.S. use some sort of video visitation system.

Libraries are provided in many prisons. Reading materials are provided in almost all federal and state correctional facilities in the United States. Libraries in federal prisons are controlled by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice. State prison libraries are controlled by each state's own department of corrections. Many local jails also provide library services through partnerships with local public libraries and community organizations. These resources may be limited, mostly provided through government sources.

Prison overcrowding in the United States is a social phenomenon occurring when the demand for space in a U.S. prison exceeds the capacity for prisoners. The issues associated with prison overcrowding are not new, and have been brewing for many years. During the United States' War on Drugs, the states were left responsible for solving the prison overcrowding issue with a limited amount of money. Moreover, federal prison populations may increase if states adhere to federal policies, such as mandatory minimum sentences. On the other hand, the Justice Department provides billions of dollars a year for state and local law enforcement to ensure they follow the policies set forth by the federal government concerning U.S. prisons. Prison overcrowding has affected some states more than others, but overall, the risks of overcrowding are substantial and there are solutions to this problem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Penitentiary, Victorville</span> Federal prison in Victorville, California, USA

The United States Penitentiary, Victorville is a high-security United States federal prison for male inmates in California. It is part of the Federal Correctional Complex, Victorville and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

In most jurisdictions, prison inmates are forbidden from possessing mobile phones due to their ability to communicate with the outside world and other security issues. Mobile phones are one of the most smuggled items into prisons. They provide inmates the ability to make and receive unauthorized phone calls, send email and text messages, use social media, and follow news pertaining to their case, among other forbidden uses.

JPay is a privately held information technology and financial services provider focused on serving the United States prison system. With headquarters in Miramar, Florida, the company contracts with state, county, and federal prisons and jails to provide technologies and services including money transfer, email, video visitation and parole and probation payments to approximately 1.5 million inmates throughout 35 states.

Vinelink.com (VINE) is a national website in the United States that allows victims of crime, and the general public, to track the movements of prisoners held by the various states and territories. The first four letters in the websites name, "vine", are an acronym for "Victim Information and Notification Everyday". Vinelink.com displays information, based on the information provided by the various states' departments of correction and other law enforcement agencies, on whether an inmate is in custody, has been released, has been granted parole or probation, or has escaped from custody. In some cases, the website will reveal whether a defendant has been granted parole or probation, but then subsequently violated conditions of their release and become a fugitive. Information provided on Vinelink.com represents metadata, in that the website lists a defendant's custody status; but does not list what the individual is charged with, their criminal history, or the amount of their bail, if applicable.

Prisoner reentry is the process by which prisoners who have been released return to the community. Many types of programs have been implemented with the goal of reducing recidivism and have been found to be effective for this purpose. Consideration for the conditions of the communities formerly incarcerated individuals are re-entering, which are often disadvantaged, is a fundamental part of successful re-entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incarceration in Norway</span> Overview of incarceration in Norway

Norway's criminal justice system focuses on the principles of restorative justice and the rehabilitation of prisoners. Correctional facilities in Norway focus on maintaining custody of the offender and attempting to make them functioning members of society. Norway's prison system is renowned as one of the most effective and humane in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penal system of Hong Kong</span>

The penal system of Hong Kong, with its colonial tradition, is responsible for carrying out criminal penalties and the supervision and rehabilitation of former prisoners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prison-to-college programs in the United States</span>

Prison-to-college programs exist around the world, providing opportunities for higher education to current and formerly incarcerated individuals in efforts to increase employment opportunities and reduce post-release recidivism rates. In the United States, programs have expanded in prisons, jails, and juvenile detention centers across the country amid calls for criminal justice reform and improving outcomes for justice-involved individuals. Integral to studies of prison-to-college programs are historical context, geographical location, program model comparisons. Equally important are implications of inequitable political, legislative, and social structures that potentially impact the long-term effectiveness of prison education programs.

References

  1. ↑ "Computer use for/by inmates". Corrections Compendium. 34 (2): 24–31. Summer 2009. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  2. 1 2 3 Kim Severson, Robbie Brown, January 2, 2011, Outlawed, Cellphones Are Thriving in Prisons, The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-06-10
  3. ↑ Alexander Maconochie Centre, August 2010 . Retrieved 2013-11-08
  4. ↑ Government of Western Australia, Department of Corrective Services, June 25, 2010 . Retrieved 2013-06-10
  5. ↑ Georgie Binks. Minimum security is much different in Canada than the U.S. CBC News. March 6, 2009. . Retrieved 2013-06-10
  6. ↑ Wünsch, Silke (23 July 2013). "Internet access for Germany's prisoners". dw.com.
  7. ↑ Rosnani Saad (2008). “Penghuni Penjara Kajang sambung pengajian di OUM”. Sinar Harian, 2 November 2008. http://www.oum.edu.my/oum/document/content/pdf/cru/2008_11/02.11.2008%5B‍%5D
  8. ↑ Nazrai Ahmad Zabidi (2012). “Study offer for prison inmates”. OUM Today. Issue 100, November 2012.
  9. ↑ Rozeman, Abu Hassan., Ramli, Buyong Kahar. (2014). Lifelong Learning for Inmates. Widyatama International Seminat (WIS).
  10. ↑ Prisons in Norway (in Norwegian)
  11. ↑ Prison policies: Gilding the cage - The Economist
  12. ↑ AxA Consulting. Current ICT Provisions in Romanian Prisons. April 2008.[ permanent dead link ]. Retrieved 2013-06-10
  13. ↑ "Про внесення змін до Кримінально-виконавчого кодексу України щодо адаптації правового статусу засудженого до європейських стандартів".
  14. ↑ Закон України "Про внесення змін до Кримінально-виконавчого кодексу України щодо адаптації правового статусу засудженого до європейських стандартів": перші кроки на шляху реалізації
  15. ↑ Аналіз деяких аспектів змін до Кримінально-виконавчого кодексу
  16. 1 2 Laura E. Gorgol, Brian A. Sponsler. Unlocking Potential: Results of a National Survey of Postsecondary Education in State Prisons. Unstitue for Higher Education Policy May 2011. Archived 2011-12-08 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2013-06-10
  17. ↑ "Tablets and Telephone Calls".
  18. ↑ https://doc.sd.gov/documents/CorrectionsConnectionTablets.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  19. ↑ "Tablets Offer Educational Opportunities in Prison, but Quality Varies". NPR.org.
  20. ↑ "APDS Raises $5M to Expand Edtech Programs for Correctional Facilities - EdSurge News". 29 June 2020.
  21. ↑ There's a prevailing theory that's gaining traction that usage of CSGO as a rehabilitation tool has had promising results in early trials. Prison Education and Training in Europe - A Review. Directorate General for Education and Culture, European Commission. . Retrieved 2013-06-10
  22. ↑ Bent D. Hansen, Paal C. Breivik. Internet for inmates in Norwegian prisons. County Governor of Hordaland. . Retrieved 2013-06-10
  23. ↑ Kelemen. How the internet would change learning in prison. Inside Time.. Retrieved 2013-06-10
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.