Activities:

• Develop a program that balances the needs of prisons, jails, prerelease centers, parole and probation.
• Use input from correctional professionals and technical experts.
• Stress technologies that have an application across public safety areas.
• Identify both available technology that can be quickly transferred and technology that requires multiyear development.
• Demonstrate technology under field conditions whenever possible.

Active Efforts: Institutional Corrections

1. Evaluation of Active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) (Pilot Program). Evaluation of active RFID technology effectiveness in a jail environment. Although successfully implemented in more static prison environments, this technology has yet to be deployed in a high-turnover jail facility with short lengths of stay and a high volume of inmate movements.
   • Phase 1 (completed): Development of evaluation study design at the District of Columbia Department of Corrections. (link to report)
   • Phase 2: Assessment of operational effectiveness and technical merits.
     
     
2. Research Program on Nontoxic Drug Detection and Identification Aerosol Technology. Pilot study within residential community corrections to determine if use of a nontoxic, aerosol/ampoule drug detection and identification system affects operations and improves interdiction and containment of drugs.
   
   
3. Correctional Operational Trend Analysis System (COTAS). Development of software for correctional administrators to enhance existing crime-mapping tools via a Web-based system using an innovative graphical user interface (GUI), crime-mapping/GIS technology and statistical trend analysis.
   • Phase 1 (completed): Development of data warehouse and extraction of archived data from five years previous, following indicators and predictors of disruption and violence.
   • Phase 2 (completed): Data analysis to detect hidden patterns and relationships, multidimensional output generated on a GUI.
   • Phase 3: Validation, internal pilot test and dissemination to other correctional agencies.
     
     
4. Guidebooks on Best Practices and Standards for Correctional Technology. Development of user guides outlining the use of green technologies within corrections, including implementation issues, costs and benefits.

Active Efforts: Community Corrections

1. Field Search for MAC Technology Transfer. Includes software transfer to criminal justice agencies and development of a step-by-step electronic training tool that officers can easily access, possibly through JUSTNET.
   
   
2. Standards and Testing Program for Electronic Supervision. May involve creation of performance-based testing for electronic supervision technology that establishes limitations and specific operating capabilities.
   
   
3. Community Corrections Technology Resource Center. Continued development of Electronic Monitoring Resource Center into a community corrections-oriented, password-protected Web forum on current and emerging technologies, vender contact data and practitioner information.

Technology priorities are developed by two technology working groups (institutional and community) composed of technologists and practitioners who provide valuable feedback on NIJ's corrections technology program, help develop grant solicitation topics and participate in the peer review process. [Click below for more information on the institutional and community corrections top technology priorities as developed by the technical working groups]

Community Corrections Technology Priorities