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'Big Brother' Prisons

By Jeralyn, Section Inmates and Prisons
Posted on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:48:07 PM EST
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The Netherlands has introduced a new kind of high-tech prison that experts predict will spread further, and prisoner advocates are not complaining:

At a high-tech prison opening this week inmates wear electronic wristbands that track their every movement and guards monitor cells using emotion-recognition software. Authorities are convinced the jail in Lelystad -- quickly dubbed "the Big Brother Prison" by the local press -- represents the future of correctional facilities: cheap and efficient, without coddling criminals or violating their fundamental rights.

According to a local prisoners' rights group:

Pieter Vleeming of the European Organization for the Protection of Prisoner's Rights said prisoners should be given more opportunity for self-improvement and job training, though he generally gave the prison positive marks.

"From a punishment point of view there are no objections," he said. "You could call it progress."

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    'Big Brother' Prisons | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#1)
    by scarshapedstar on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 06:17:36 PM EST
    Sounds like the kind of thing that could stop prison rape. So, it'll never fly here. We gotta have something for late night talk show jokes.

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#2)
    by jimcee on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 07:01:12 PM EST
    The Netherlands tends to be a rather pragmatic place. They get a pass as far as I'm concerned. I've been there and with thier small population they know what to do. Especially after the Theo Van Gogh ordeal. Pragmatism wins the day there as it should in the US but somehow I'm sure someone would object to the classical liberal thing that seems to be happening there. There seems to be some here that think classical liberalism is wrong. As a liberatatrian I find that sad, but then again, not suprising.

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 07:47:22 PM EST
    Sounds like a high tech 'uber' panopticon. Jeremy Bentham must be smiling from his grave. link

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:11:06 PM EST
    Squeaky, nice to have you back!

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:22:02 PM EST
    Thanks!! I have been hovering, just needed a break.

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#6)
    by joejoejoe on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:18:45 PM EST
    I can see this technology dovetailing with US prison practices in good and bad ways. We are not going to be changing our drug laws any time soon so maybe the cost of imprisoning so many will point to this kind of solution. I also see the potential for large boondoggle tech contracts to implement the new program. But it could also just be added to supermax facilities as yet another layer of security. Or we could use the Dutch approach. But if we can't adopt the Dutch approach to levee construction I don't see us adopting their prison methods. It sounds like a huge intrusion to have 'emotion-recognition' hardware on your body at all times but after reading about some of the worst abuses of the prison system (guard sanctioned gladiator fights, paying crowds applauding the goring of prisoners at a rodeo) I'm more cynical than I should be about sound prison operations.

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 09:52:37 AM EST
    I don't know..it sounds a little creepy.

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 11:53:03 AM EST
    Fascinating. The only problem with transferring this technology to the U.S. is, some deep thinker at the NSA or Dept. of Homeland Security will decide it's more appropriate for the general population than the prison population . . . .

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 12:03:49 PM EST
    When do we start with the wireless network adapters installed in babies skulls at birth?

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Sun Jan 22, 2006 at 06:54:23 AM EST
    Exactly edger. First we allow easily abused technology like this to be used on caged gunieau pigs in prison, then the general population. For our own "safety". I don't trust any govt. with such technology, even the laid-back Dutch.

    Re: 'Big Brother' Prisons (none / 0) (#11)
    by Edger on Sun Jan 22, 2006 at 12:04:43 PM EST
    kdog: I don't trust any govt. with such technology "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. "
    It can be argued that IP [Internet Protocol] is the most advanced virus ever created — digital or biological... IP matched the Borg's practice of indiscriminately gathering anything in its path and continuing to grow... "Bluetooth" wireless body networks will link with IP-based pacemakers delivering remote real-time monitoring of our health and activities. Where will it all lead? To wireless-IP implants at birth, of course. And then the assimilation will be complete.


    'Big Brother' Prisons | 11 comments (11 topical)