e-learning and e-health services can contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners, says IST project
An information society technology (IST) project is exploring new ways of rehabilitating offenders through the use of health promotion and learning services. The 'health and educational support for the rehabilitation of offenders (HERO) project, which is funded under the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5), aims at targeting first time offenders between the ages 18 and 25, as well as prisoners soon to be released, with a view to improving conditions in prisons, and reducing the risk of reoffending. 'Prisons in many ways are 'dumping grounds' for society's unwanted and untamed. Research shows that a significant number of prisoners enter European jails with mental health and other medical problems,' explains Dr Joe Cullen, the project coordinator.' With nine partners from the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece and a total budget of 2.9 millio euro, the project is developing test learning and health support tools and services in eight European prisons. It is hoped that the initiative will breed a positive learning environment where offenders can be more proactive in managing their health and educational needs. Prisoners in the pilot schemes are given access to interactive methods of learning though CDs, digital interactive television (DiTV), Internet and Intranets. Using these online services, prisoners can access information on an array of health issues such as depression, drugs harm minimisation and risk reduction behaviour support for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. In preparation for the 'outside', the project is also providing skills assessment tools and employment schemes. However, as Dr Cullen told CORDIS News, providing prisons with the full set of HERO functionalities has proven difficult: prison governors and administrators are concerned that inmates will be able to access dangerous and subversive information via these online services, which they claim could threaten the security of the prison. In response to this, in addition to the full package, a static version of the tools and services has successfully been introduced to remand centres, as well as open and closed prisons. Dr Cullen believes this will result in a growth in confidence regarding the provision of online services for prisons. According to Mr Peter Walters, UK National Contact Point for the IST programme, the HERO project not only offers tangible help to prisoners, it also 'offers the real possibility of social and economic benefits to the wider UK and European Community at a time when rising prison populations are a growing concern.'