The number of prisoners and the prisoner population continue to increase around the world. The majority of prisoners are young people who have the potential to contribute to social welfare and production. A variety of prisoner rehabilitation programs have been used to reintegrate inmates into society. However, released prisoners often return to prison by recommitting crimes in the absence of effective rehabilitation and social support systems. The high rate of recidivism and the reintegration problems of inmates cause important economic and social losses. The study identified current problems in the Turkish prisoner rehabilitation system and designed a new system by utilizing digital technologies for more efficient rehabilitation. In light of the literature findings, the current problems and requirements for a more effective rehabilitation system were determined by interviews with ex-prisoners, ex-guards, and psychologists. After that, topics of the improved rehabilitation system were chosen by using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Psychiatry services are identified as especially problematic in Turkish prisons due to the inadequate number of staff and facilities. As a result, online therapies in prisons were chosen as the best way to improve the rehabilitation system. After the method was chosen, technical requirements to apply the project in prisons were investigated. Then, a system of online therapies with psychologists that will be hired by the Ministry of Justice is created. The designed new system could be integrated into the current digital infrastructure that recently started to be utilized by the Ministry of Justice for the digitalization of prisons.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Offender Rehabilitation, Prison Reentry, System Design, Digital Technology, Online Therapy
|
