Corrections Connections features New Hampshire Department of Corrections Commissioner Helen Hanks, the first woman ever to be confirmed to the role, as she and Torrey explore tech's transformative power within facilities to improve inmate rehab and staff efficiency. Their conversation examines balancing safety, rehabilitation, and community reintegration with an emphasis on the human element when making decisions, while also highlighting the challenges that tech partners can face in meeting the needs of corrections.

Helen overviews New Hampshire's tech for streamlined operations, safety, and rehabilitation, discussing electronic health records and more. She reviews the role of AI/ML in perimeter security, but emphasizes the human element in the decision process. The discussion also highlights the collaborative efforts not only with the community but also between tech vendors and correctional departments to achieve seamless integration, ensuring better resource allocation. Ultimately, this episode reveals a path towards a more effective and humane correctional system, proving that innovation, compassion, and collaboration are essential for success.

Episode Highlights:

• Helen's dedication to mental health and her journey from social work to Commissioner
• New Hampshire's tech-driven approach and how it boosts safety and efficiency within its correctional facilities
• How optimization through technology elevates safety and compliance within the correctional system
• AI role in supporting security and human decision-making in corrections
• The essential human element in re-entry support that officers provide
• A community based approach to rehabilitation and re-entry
• Leveraging technology to address staffing shortages
• Integrated tech platforms and how they ensure accessibility and affordability for technology solutions
• How VR and cell phones offer inmates enhanced preparation for community re-entry

"There's an opportunity in the correction system to really help our communities and help people who are going back to our communities really go back as the best people they can be."

"Having a mental illness is one of the primary conditions that we have to take care of while someone's incarcerated."

"If people are not well, they can't tackle those other areas of themselves to find self improvement."

"Having body-worn cameras in our correctional institutions is no different than having them on our police officers in our community."

"You have to stay progressive on what we're experiencing in corrections environments, so your technology has to be nimble."

"We don't want just one conglomerate or monopoly of a partner. We need to look at what's the best resource.”

"Our corrections officers are truly involved in monitoring and mentoring people.”

"Corrections isn’t TV dramas or ‘lock ‘em up and throw away the keys’ because we are not going to have good outcomes with those ideologies."

Links:

Correctional News: https://correctionalnews.com/

Helen Hanks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hanks-960205102/

New Hampshire Department of Corrections: https://www.corrections.nh.gov/

Viken Detection https://www.vikendetection.com/