This session marks the official launch of the new Handbook on the Use of Technology in Prisons, developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to support the navigation of digital transformation in custodial settings in a responsible and rights-based manner.

As prison and correctional systems modernise infrastructure and adopt emerging technologies, the handbook offers practical guidance for informed decision-making and implementation. It examines a range of technologies, including surveillance systems, biometrics, digital communication platforms, eLearning technologies, data-driven decision-making and artificial intelligence (AI). In addition to outlining potential benefits such as enhanced safety, improved efficiency, better case management and expanded rehabilitation opportunities, the Handbook identifies potential risks related to the use of technology in the specific environment of prisons. These include data protection and cybersecurity vulnerabilities, over-securitisation and automation bias, digital exclusion and inequality, the erosion of human interaction, long-term financial and infrastructure sustainability as well as legal and governance challenges linked to emerging technologies.

The session will present the rationale behind the handbook and demonstrate how it can serve as a practical reference for prison and correctional administrations to guide decision-making, manage risks, ensure regulatory compliance and align technological investments with institutional priorities. A panel discussion will address common operational challenges and outline how the handbook can assist in implementing safeguards that promote human dignity, accountability, safety and the rule of law.