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7th ICT in Prisons Workshop


Call for Papers


The European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris) is for the 7th time organising a Workshop on ICT in prisons. Learn more about the workshop by visiting the event page here.

 

ICT experts in European prisons encounter similar challenges daily. Despite variations in organisational structures and levels of technological development, they share a commitment to enhancing prison environments to support more effective rehabilitation and safer society. Since the inaugural ICT in Prisons Workshop 11 years ago, this event has become a cornerstone and tradition for ICT professionals, providing a vital space for sharing experiences, discussing best practices, and presenting successful projects. It fosters a secure environment where colleagues can connect and collaborate in their shared mission to improve prison conditions across Europe. 

This time the Theme of the ICT Workshop is: 

 

Offender Management Systems – The Heart of the Digital Prison


The Workshop is scheduled to take place in person on 3 – 4 April 2025 in Split, Croatia. 

Over the past years, numerous events have focused on integrating digital technologies within prison systems, fostering in-depth discussions and exploring case studies on various relevant topics. To hone in on the most impactful areas, we reached out to ten members of the EuroPris ICT in Prisons Expert Group to identify active projects, key areas of interest, and the solutions they wish to gain insight into for their own prison systems. 

One of the main areas highlighted across European prison systems is the collection and processing of data through Offender Management Systems (OMS). This workshop will prioritise OMS as its core topic, reflecting its critical role in the digital evolution of prison management. A decade ago, OMS was the centrepiece of our discussions, but the technological landscape has transformed since then, expanding OMS functionalities and our expectations.

The meaning and scope of OMS have evolved significantly over this period. This workshop will explore how other countries approach OMS, the standards we now expect, and where we aim to be in the future. Also, successes and failures in OMS implementation or upgrading should be discussed. 

If you would like to present on one or more of the topics mentioned below or any other topic which may arise from the main theme, EuroPris would like to invite you to submit an outline of your proposed presentation below:

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The focus of this workshop is OMS and all its impacts on prison life:

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Expectations from Modern Offender Management Systems (OMS) 

  • Share your vision for the role of OMS in modern prison systems. 
  • What features or functionalities do you believe are essential for OMS today and in the future? 

The Changing Landscape of OMS Usage

  • How have the requirements for and expectations from OMS evolved over time? 
  • What challenges and opportunities have arisen from these changes?

Evolution or Revolution? Approaches to Modernising OMS

  • Is the development of OMS best viewed as incremental improvement or a disruptive overhaul? 
  • Share experiences, recommendations, and challenges in system evolution. 


Developing and Upgrading OMS: Case studies 

  • Case studies on designing and implementing new OMS solutions. 
  • Lessons learned from upgrading existing systems to meet current needs. 
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OMS and IoT: Integrating with Modern Devices 

  • Using tablets, mobile phones, wearables, and other devices in daily operations. 
  • Opportunities and risks of IoT in offender management systems.

     

Infrastructure Demands of Advanced OMS 

  • The role of WiFi, 5G, and other infrastructure solutions in enabling flexible OMS use. 
  • Security considerations for robust connectivity in secure environments.

     

Aligning OMS Development with Digital Strategies

  • How digital transformation strategies are shaping OMS development. 
  • Adjustments needed to incorporate AI and other advanced technologies. 
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Managing Big Data in OMS 

  • Strategies for handling the growing volume of data generated by modern OMS. 
  • Turning data into actionable insights for better decision-making. 


OMS as base for Business Intelligence (BI) and Reporting Systems 

  • Best practices for visualizing and utilizing OMS data. 
  • Real-world examples of BI systems driving operational improvements.

     

Predictive Analytics in OMS 

  • Introducing predictive models to offender management. 
  • Challenges, benefits, and examples of predictive analytics in action.

     

Artificial Intelligence in OMS 

  • The potential of AI to transform offender management. 
  • Current applications and future possibilities for AI in OMS. 
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Expanding OMS User Roles 

  • Who uses OMS today? Explore its impact on officers, inmates, and external stakeholders. 
  • How is the OMS redefining roles within prison administration?

     

Incorporating Education into OMS 

  • Using OMS to enhance training for staff and inmates. 
  • Experiences with integrating educational programs into OMS platforms. 
  • Is OMS a place for employee or inmate educational content?

     

Overcoming Resistance to OMS Adoption

  • Addressing stakeholder concerns and fostering acceptance. 
  • Strategies for change management within the prison ecosystem.

     

Eliminating Paper: Can OMS Truly Replace Traditional Documentation? 

  • Insights from implementing paperless workflows. 
  • What challenges remain, and how are they being addressed? 

Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on relevance to the workshop topic, learnings from innovative practices and evidence of a strong and objective research/empirical base that supports applied practices. In selecting papers, priority will be given to those clearly related to the Workshop’s main theme.  

Attending the Event: Those submitting an abstract for consideration should be intending to be physically present during the conference. If you are not planning to travel to Croatia in 2025, please do not submit a paper. 

*Please note that the ICT Workshop is Open to Prisons Staff and Academics only. 

*Academics are only considered when they are affiliated with a university and have to register with the official university email address.