The UK Ministry of Justice has announced a sweeping “AI Action Plan” aimed at reducing prison violence, cutting reoffending, and modernizing offender management across the justice system.
Under the plan, artificial intelligence tools will help prison officers identify inmates at high risk of violence and intervene before conflicts erupt. Using factors such as age, behavior, and prior incidents, the AI-powered predictor will analyze threat levels, allowing staff to separate or closely monitor individuals before tensions escalate.
AI will also play a critical role in intercepting secret communications linked to gang activity, contraband smuggling, and escape planning. Advanced language analysis tools can scan messages from seized mobile phones, flagging code words and potential threats. Trials across the prison estate have already analyzed over 8.6 million messages from 33,000 confiscated devices, revealing intelligence that could otherwise go undetected.
“This technology is already fighting violence in prisons, tracking offenders, and freeing staff to focus on cutting crime,” said Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, highlighting AI’s role in enhancing safety while supporting rehabilitation.
Beyond prisons, the plan introduces a single digital offender ID that uses AI to link fragmented records across courts, prisons, and probation services, improving monitoring and sentencing accuracy.
The strategy also builds on successful AI pilots in probation, where automation has cut note-taking time by 50%, allowing officers to prioritize risk management and face-to-face engagement. Plans are underway to expand these tools across prisons and courts.
Government leaders emphasize that the AI Action Plan aligns with the broader “Plan for Change,” aiming to make streets safer while modernizing public services. With increased funding and a focus on responsible innovation, officials say AI will transform the justice system’s ability to predict risks and deliver swifter, more effective outcomes.
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