Gordon Graham
Category: Corrections
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in corrections. Today I’d like to talk about using artificial intelligence, or AI, to monitor and transcribe inmate phone calls.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, chances are you’ve heard of AI. I’m willing to bet you’ve even used AI to get driving directions or find a new restaurant. But you still might be wondering what exactly AI is and what it can do to make your job easier.
Though AI has its uses, it would be a mistake to rely solely on technology to protect your facility and everyone inside.
AI refers to any computer-based system that processes data and recognizes patterns in an effort to simulate human thinking or behavior. It can be trained to solve specific problems, such as analyzing and transcribing spoken conversations. It’s really good at sorting through massive amounts of data, and it never gets bored or sleepy. This makes AI an ideal fit for monitoring inmate telephone calls.
With a few exceptions, inmate phone calls can legally be recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for potential red flags. But doing so takes time, effort, and resources. In a 2019 National Institute of Justice study, unmonitored inmate communication ranked third in the list of the most pressing priorities for correctional facilities.
I bet some of you have spent entire shifts listening to recorded inmate phone calls to gather intelligence. Enter AI. When configured correctly, an AI system can help crack unsolved crimes, detect drug smuggling and contraband operations, and prevent suicides. And AI is able to do it all in real time.
Though AI has its uses, it would be a mistake to rely solely on technology to protect your facility and everyone inside. The human interactions between corrections personnel and inmates can provide a wealth of intelligence for agencies to use. Doing so also bolsters safety, security, and order. These interactions shouldn’t be replaced by AI, but rather, supplemented by it.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
