AI to Prevent Violence in Prisons Before It Happens
The Ministry of Justice has introduced a new AI Action Plan to reduce violence and improve safety in prisons. This plan uses artificial intelligence to identify prisoners who may pose a danger and places them under stricter supervision to prevent incidents before they occur.
AI tools will play a key role in tracking offenders, assessing risks, and uncovering hidden threats. By analysing factors such as age and past violent behaviour, AI helps prison officers gauge the likelihood of violence and take action early, such as moving or intervening with prisoners before situations escalate.
Detecting Secret Messages and Contraband
One AI system can scan mobile phones confiscated from prisoners to detect coded language or messages linked to gang activity, intimidation, or plans to smuggle weapons and contraband. This technology has already reviewed over 8.6 million messages from 33,000 phones across the prison network, helping staff identify potential dangers quickly.
Mobile phones are a major source of violence in prisons, enabling illegal activities that fuel unrest. Using AI-driven language analysis, prison staff can now disrupt these networks more effectively.
Linking Offender Records Across Systems
The Action Plan also introduces a single digital ID for offenders, connecting records from courts, prisons, and probation services. This system uses AI to match records despite typos or missing information, improving monitoring and supporting more informed sentencing decisions.
Improving Probation and Court Services
AI is reducing administrative burdens in the Probation Service, where pilots have cut note-taking time by 50%. This allows officers to spend more time managing risk and engaging directly with offenders. The technology will be expanded across probation, prisons, and courts.
Additionally, a digital assistant is being developed to help families resolve child arrangement disputes outside court, aiming to ease court workloads and improve public service.
Government Support and Funding
The Probation Service is receiving an increase in funding, up to £700 million, nearly 45% more than before. This boost will enable more offenders to be tagged and monitored in the community. Earlier this year, an £8 million pledge was made to introduce new technologies supporting risk assessment and reducing administrative tasks.
These investments reflect a commitment to safer prisons, better offender management, and faster justice for victims.
Expert Endorsement
Alexander Iosad, Director of Government Innovation Policy at the Tony Blair Institute, praised the plan for its ambition and potential to improve public services. He highlighted how AI technologies can reduce prison pressure, support personalised rehabilitation, and ensure victims receive timely justice.
- Predictive AI tools to assess violence risk in custody
- AI scanning of prisoner mobile communications to detect threats
- Single digital offender ID linking court, prison, and probation records
- Reduced admin for probation officers, allowing more focus on risk
- Digital assistant for resolving child arrangement disputes
- Significant government funding increases for probation services
This approach aims to make prisons safer, reduce reoffending, and deliver more effective justice while freeing up staff to focus on critical tasks.
For those working in government roles looking to understand AI applications in justice and public safety, further training and resources are available at Complete AI Training.
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