Justice – Hanover – Research project: Artificial intelligence in prisons – Panorama
Hanover (dpa / lni) – A research project is intended to announce the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in the prevention of suicide and violence in Lower Saxony prisons. First of all, the AI is to be developed as part of a project, as the Ministry of Justice in Hanover announced in response to a dpa request. These are then to be tested in the Oldenburg correctional facility. It is not yet known when this could be exactly.
A draft by the state government to amend the state enforcement law will be discussed in the state parliament on the final Tuesday. According to the ministry, this amendment also deals with the implemented use of artificial intelligence in the context of suicide and violence prevention. A legal basis is required for this.
Artificial intelligence can be found in many areas: Examples are self-parking cars, language assistants and machines capable of learning – but also purchase suggestions in online shops or playlists in streaming services, which are calculated on the basis of previous consumer behavior by machines.
According to the ministry, video surveillance is already being used to prevent violence, for example in the corridors or courtyards of prisons. Accordingly, these images accumulate in the security centers of the prisons – simultaneous monitoring of all camera images is not possible due to the high number. Anomalies could then be recognized by the artificial intelligence and lead to an activation, i.e. a kind of notification. The AI could use it to support employees.
If special security measures were also ordered against prisoners, for example if there was a risk of suicide, an AI could bring additional security and be a kind of third eye. So far this year, two people have started suicide in prisons in Lower Saxony.
The research period is set at three years – the call for applications was issued at the end of March. According to the ministry, research has already begun. If the investigations are successful, the technology may also be used on the basis of the new version of the law.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220517-99-317536/2