How Technologies Have Contributed to the Problem of Prisons - Assignment Example

How technologies/ information systems have contributed to the problem of prisons and a possible solutionWith millions of inmates in federal, state, as well as local prisons throughout the nation, prison facilities are resorting to technology to keep in control. Most modern prisons were built using the Panopticon design, which was conceptualized in the 1700s, which allowed prison staff to see inmates without the inmates knowing. The concept design is still in use in today’s prisons (Leonard & Kenny 54).

According to Denny Powers, a program director of criminal justice, the layout has a tower that provides a 360-degree observation point of all inmates and is backed up by videos surveillance technology. However, prison administrators today are taking inmates monitoring beyond camera surveillance. Some prisons are using a monitoring method called radio frequency identification tracker (RFID) which involves an inmate wearing an electronic bracelet that tracks their every movement within the facility.

An alarm goes off when an inmate wearing the RFID enters a prohibited zone (Siegel & Bartollas 129).Correctional institutes have also put in measure systems that provide prisoner information movements as well as notify staff of an unusual gathering of people in particular areas. Information of movement is stored in computers, which can be used in investigations. This is one form of information systems used in correctional facilities. They are more advanced tracking systems available like the biometric points of entry which scan’s iris or fingerprints of inmates.

However, cost factor is the main hindrance to the use of biometric technology. One of the downsides of technology, in some cases, is that it isolates dangerous prisoners as a way of protecting prison personnel, as well as other prisoners.Technology is also altering the health care system within prisons by equipping prison medical facilities with medical remote tools, and cameras that allow inmates to get virtual checkups. A telemedicine program is what is used to carry out virtual checkups whereby doctors use cameras to remotely look into or listen to an inmate’s organs via headphones (Stojkovic et al, 55).

Debates have arisen concerning the use of technology in that technology limits face-to-face contact and dehumanizes prisoners as well as inflicts psychological pain through continuous isolation. Various studies in psychiatric research and correctional standards have shown that individual deprivation of human contact makes extreme isolation conditions exacerbate the prevailing mental illness or even cause mental illness in persons that were perceived health. However, isolation is still needed to safeguard other prisoners from the more dangerous ones.

Furthermore, keeping inmates safe requires at times that they are locked up, isolated, and even segregated.While technology has helped in the running of administrative duties within prisons and correctional facilities, technology has seen the rise of crime within as well as outside of prisons. The number one device that has facilitated the whole process is the use of cell phones within prisons of which have all been smuggled (Christopher & DeJong 459-460). Smuggled cell phones are a sign of poor procedural standards of a prison.

Unfortunately, prison staff members are caught up in the web of corruption as they assist in the smuggling of cell phones as well as other contrabands.A solution to curb this technology especially cell phone technology is by first cracking down on corrupt prison personnel, then use technology to reduce the number of smuggled phones by using full body scan devices, as well as use of other technological devices.In conclusion, as the world gets technological, prisons too have become technological, but with a twist, a similar technology that is being deployed in prisons is the same technology that is increasing crime, so in order to fight prison technology, newer technology that is more advanced is needed as well as filtering out corrupt officials.

Works CitedGeorge, Christopher , and Christina DeJong. Criminal Justice in America. Books.google. 2013http:// books.google.com/books?isbn=1285545087Leonard, Liam, and Paula Kenny. Sustainable Justice and the Community. Bingley: EmeraldGroup Pub. Ltd, 2010. Print.Siegel, Larry J, and Clemens Bartollas. Corrections Today. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, CengageLearning, 2014. Print.Stojkovic, Stan, David B. Kalinich, and John Klofas. Criminal Justice Organizations:Administration and Management. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning - Wadsworth, 2012. Print.