Technology in Correctional Facilities

Technology helps maintain safety and security in prisons.

Prison personnel rely on technology to keep facilities secure. Technology allows them to monitor prisoner movement and prevent the influx of contraband into the facility, and it provides guards with protection and the means to effectively subdue inmates.

Cameras

Network-enabled surveillance cameras covering a 360-degree radius allow guards to monitor inmates from secure control rooms. All video is recorded and archived for easy retrieval.

RFID Chips

Manufacturers have used RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips for years to track inventory. Prisons use RFID technology by sewing the chips into prison uniforms to monitor prisoner movement. This data can identify potentially dangerous situations before they erupt.

Guard Equipment

Cutting-edge equipment is augmenting the traditional baton and shotgun. Taser's XREP fires projectiles, for example, deliver a powerful, incapacitating shock, and night-vision goggles that allow clear peripheral vision are helping guards manage violent situations.

Contraband Detection

Prisons increasingly use milimeter wave systems to detect contraband. Used by the Transportation Safety Administration for airport security, these scanners can detect weapons, drug parcels, and other illegal items.

Videoconferencing

Many prisons use videoconferencing to allow inmates to virtually attend court proceedings and parole hearings. This eliminates the attendant hazards of inmate transport.

References

• "Using Technology to Make Prisons and Jails Safer"; Philip Bulman
• Popular Mechanics: High-Tech Lockup: Inside 4 Next-Gen Prison Security Systems
• "Stateline": States expand videoconferencing in prisons
• Tech Beat: Mock Prison Riot: A Showcase for New Technologies

Resources

• Prison Technology Extends Beyond Concrete Walls and Steel Bars