REPORT: ICPA Technology in Corrections 2025 Bangkok conference.
24-27 February 2025
A Community Justice Coalition representative was present. The event was at the Peninsular Hotel in the centre of Bangkok.
The ICPA website is https://icpa.org/icpa-about.html
The ICPA is the International Corrections and Prisons Association based in Belgium supported by Canada and France govts originally. It is seen as the world leading prison authorities’ organisation. We attended the same conference in Turkey in 2024 and Adelaide 2023 after the CURE conference in Kenya 2023.
The focus of this conference was Technology in Corrections.
The CJC primarily attended to stay at the forefront of developments for computers in cells, particularly as a follow up after the Youth Justice Senate Inquiry and to get computers into the 865 children in detention, 63% of whom are indigenous.
The “import model” benefits were defined in 2024, however access to videocalls and keyboards in cells still haven’t been achieved in NSW. We had just been given details by NSW Corrective Services therefore we needed to know what is happening internationally on those issues.
The Minister of Justice and Director General of Thailand Dept of Corrections did the welcome. The President of the ICPA Peter Severin, former NSW Corrective Services Commissioner for eleven years, presided. Over 320 people from 50 countries attended.
Keynote speaker was Marcus Bullock – a US exprisoner who created Flikshop and is a Ted talk celebrity. He spent 6 years in prison and told of his mother’s support and how he used his time with education.
It was clear that the “import model” for delivery of external services through computers in cells has been accepted with no opposing voice and the issue being raised continuously. Norway and Finland systems were centrally presented as the future.
There were two major corporate vendors for computers in cells represented amongst other sponsors/vendors for elocks, illicit phone jamming, monitoring signs of life in cells etc.
Viapath and Telio are the two telecommunications vendors. They design the systems, supply the devices and link to either Telstra or Optus for the physical digital connections.
Viapath based in the US was previously called GTL and works with Telstra giving the NSW service, while Telio is based in Europe and offers some services in Victoria.
We had significant conversations with both these companies who were offering significantly different services, as it was a chance to define the services that could be championed for Youth Justice. Both of their top people were present.
Viapath said there was no problem with video calls. They said some software changes had been made recently to allow the tablets to be used without a wall socket.
Videocalls in cells could begin shortly with counselling, restorative justice, education with arts and music tuition to follow. Pricing will be an issue but the NSW contract is up for renegotiation which could even be put up for re-tender.
Keyboards are being negotiated. Viapath argued that they weren’t necessary as 420k diplomas had been attained by US prisoners. They said that the USBC slot at the bottom of their 8” tablet was for power only and they wanted to avoid security problems with data capacity or Bluetooth. When pressed they said they could do it if NSW asked, but it would take a little while.
Telio had a different approach. They have a 10” tablet and can do a keyboard. The costs probably will be similar.
Keyboards are really important. Using the tablets only, about 30% of the screen is used for the letters. And users are restricted to two thumbs rather than 10 fingers – 20% of the normal capacity of human hands! How dare they! Like handcuffs. As though prisoners aren’t entitled to their whole hands as a human right.
There is still work to be done, but the arguments to not block access to mainstream services are too compelling.
The prison industry’s hope to keep building its own services and keep the community out can’t succeed now that telecommunications is normalised everywhere and proven to be secure. The digital age has finally broken through the bars giving hope and opportunity to all.