Published: Mar 10, 2022
Prison Operations and Rehabilitation System (PORTS) & Digitalisation of Inmate Rehabilitation & Corrections Tool (DIRECT)
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) is transforming itself into a future-ready agency by harnessing digital technologies. NCS collaborated with SPS to deploy the Prison Operations & Rehabilitation System (PORTS) and the Digitisation of Inmate Rehabilitation and Corrections Tool (DIRECT) to enable its “Prison Without Guards” and ‘Prison Without Walls’ initiatives.
The challenge:
The SPS is facing challenges to balance between enhancing rehabilitation journey through the web for studies and communications while managing security vulnerabilities due to the increased demand for data storage and web access points.
The solution:
PORTS collates all information into a 24/7 centralised database–facilitating operations system with real-time access to inmates’ info. DIRECT is a suite of apps designed to roll out customised programmes to inmates based on their risks and needs, through a secured web network for rehabilitees’ studies, communication and data access points.
Snapshot of capabilities:
- IoT-enabled real-time centralised database–facilitating operations system
- Digital transformation – Application & digital platform customisation
The impact:
Both PORTS and DIRECT helped the SPS to enhance its operational efficiency and automate its work processes on a more secured digital platform – thus allowing officers to spend more time on strategic tasks. The use of technology also improved the digital literacy of rehabilitees, which aims to break the cycle of re-offending and ease them back into society.
Harnessing digital technologies to enable 'Prison Without Guards’ and ‘Prison Without Walls’ initiatives
Going electronic has cut down ‘manual and tedious processes’, such as the screening, sorting and distribution of hard-copy letters and newspapers. It helps to free up an officer's time to focus on higher value work, such as engaging with the inmates and helping them with their rehabilitation. It stretches the hours that they (inmates) can be engaged meaningfully, even when they are in their cells. Now, we can reach out to hundreds of inmates at one time”.
Clifford Lin
Deputy Superintendent
Tanah Merah Prison
Singapore Prison Service