To begin researching we set ourselves with the task of creating 3 research deliverables.
The first research method I chose to conduct was a competitor analysis. I felt this would be the best place to start as it would broaden my scope in terms of knowing what is possible and what exists in current systems around the world.
I did conduct a mini competitor earlier in this project so it feels natural to pick it up from here. Using this previous analysis I had already pin pointed the prison systems with the best and worst recidivism rates so I decided to use these for my analysis as they will tell both sides of the story.
In comparing these systems, I focused on three criteria: how digital access is framed in policy, the level of practical access to devices and internet, and the extent to which digital skills are embedded in rehabilitation.
Our Benchmark
Northern Ireland is my primary benchmark and point of reference, so I treat the other countries mainly as comparators rather than targets. In broad terms, prisons in NI sit within a rapidly digitising society where key services and day to day tasks increasingly assume regular internet and device use. However, digital access and skills development in custody remain limited and uneven, so time spent in prison tends to stall or erode people’s digital confidence rather than actively building it for release.
Norway
I decided to start with Norway as they are known to have a rather progressive prison system with a very low recidivism rate. I came across this publication by the Scandinavian University Press which was perfect for my area of focus. With Norway they focus greatly on normalisation in prison, trying their best to not separate prison life from regular day to day life.
The core problem for Norway with digital exclusion amongst prisoners seems very similar to the issues we have here in NI. Prisons seem to become analogue bubbles of sorts. In the linked publication one prisoner described their time in prison as a journey back in time, implying that release would be like stepping into the future.
Norway like many countries have also adopted a digital first approach to public services and institutions, with the goal of eventually phasing out non digital solutions. This creates a catch 22 of sorts where users need digital access to engage with welfare services despite being banned from using digital devices in prison.
A notable quote from this publication states “You're in prison. You don't have access to a telephone. You can't access your email. You don't even know if the debt collector's coming after you... You get an email and then they say, 'You have to log on to "my page" on…' But I haven't got a BankID. So how can I do it?”
This is an interesting quote as it touches on aspect I have dealt with in my work life where many customers end up going to prison but have no idea what is going on with their bills, many of which continue to be billed for the duration of their sentence. This makes prisoners in this case slaves to an unfair debt as they are unable to manage or track their finances.
The rise of a digital first society and the workload that comes with integrating prisoners seems to fall onto the backs of individual staff members who pursue this integration on their own accord and is not a system solution but rather a personal one.
Whilst not perfect this positions Norway as a high performing benchmark where digital access is treated as part of normalisation, highlighting how far more restrictive systems need to move.