Development of artificial intelligence to be started in prisons

The pilot will be launched in four prisons, i.e. Helsinki, Hämeenlinna, Sukeva and Turku Prison, which will have 12 workstations assigned for the work in total. The new type of work modernises the range of prison work activities and teaches prisoners digital skills they need when they are going to study, work and reintegrate into society. Digital skills are needed in society as more and more services are electronic and available online. Metroc will outsource the development of artificial intelligence to the Criminal Sanctions Agency and the prisoners carrying out the tasks linked to it will get the same allowance as for other work activities.

- Training artificial intelligence is a work activity that can be done in a closed prison and does not require big facilities or investments. Prisoners can be taught to do it in a short time, which enables prisoners with short sentences to work, too. Moreover, prisoners can be motivated by a possibility to participate in a more modern work activity than what prisons have traditionally been able to offer, says Senior Specialist Satu Rahkila.

The Criminal Sanctions Agency wants to develop the prison work activities and enable prisoners to get modern work assignments. Some prisons have already tested the training of artificial intelligence as part of a past project. The experiences were positive and showed that such work is suitable for being carried out in prison.

Prisoners learn to understand construction industry in Finland

In addition to digital skills, Metroc will teach prisoners the basics of construction industry, such as what type of construction projects there are in Finland, what kind of operators a typical construction project involves and what kind of phases different construction projects have. After the introduction, the prisoners’ task is to train artificial intelligence to find correct information from the texts related to the construction projects. The tasks consist of interpreting the contents of texts and replying to questions concerning the construction industry, such as “does this document include an approved building permit” or “is the contractor of this project chosen in this document”. Artificial intelligence is trained by repetitions and replies to questions.

- In order to develop artificial intelligence, a human must teach the computer software to interpret the documents related to a construction project. This can be done by giving the computer relevant material and correct answers, says Jussi Virnala, CEO of Metroc.

Prisons have several artificial intelligence projects

Prison work is highly important as it supports the prisoners to live without crime and reintegrate into society. All services, activities and rehabilitation arranged in prison create a path towards a life without crime. As a result of both the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing Smart Prison Project, offering digital services and teaching prisoners digital skills will also advance their reintegration into modern society.

- The first smart prison in Finland is the new Hämeenlinna Prison for women, where the prisoners can access digital services directly from their cells by using the cell terminals. Hämeenlinna Prison is also part of the pilot for training artificial intelligence as prison work, says Pia Puolakka, who is the project manager of the Smart Prison Project.

In addition to the digital projects, some prisons have already had projects linked to artificial intelligence and prisoners can take online courses on artificial intelligence offered by the University of Helsinki.

Metroc is a Finnish technology company that develops software for construction industry worldwide. The Criminal Sanctions Agency and Metroc have agreed on a one-year pilot project.

Further information:

Project Manager Pia Puolakka, tel. +358 50 528 9042

Senior Specialist Sanna Kohvakka, tel. +358 50 327 6821

CEO Jussi Virnala, Metroc Oy, [email protected], tel. +358 40 549 3107