Inmates at three prisons in North Rhine-Westphalia are allowed to use the Internet under supervision

The German magazine "Der Spiegel" revealed that inmates in three prisons in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are scheduled to be allowed to use the Internet for the first time, but under supervision and with limited restrictions. She added that the use of the Internet in prison will be for the purposes of education and communication with the outside world. While the German Ministry of Justice hopes that it will also contribute to enhancing security.

The Internet behind bars

The Ministry of Justice indicated that private rooms and secure devices will be equipped in three prisons, where prisoners in what are known as “digital social rooms” will be able to “maintain communication with the outside world, establish new relationships, and benefit from educational, rehabilitative, and recreational offers within an organized framework.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: “In order to better prepare for the release of prisoners, they will be able to use a variety of information sources and submit requests electronically. Language barriers can also be overcome through the use of translation tools.”

It is noteworthy that prisoners in Germany are currently allowed to watch television, listen to the radio, or read printed materials such as newspapers, magazines, and books, according to what was reported by the German “VD Air” website.

Quality experience!

In the same context, the German magazine "Stern" explained that the use of computers in the "digital social rooms" will be subject to constant supervision by a prison employee. She added that prisoners' use of the Internet will be limited to a limited number of websites. She added that the prisons of Geldern, Rheinbach and Essen were chosen to carry out this pilot project.

It is noteworthy that other German states are also implementing pilot projects that provide prisoners with limited access to the Internet. In Berlin, for example, a pilot project was launched in a women's prison in 2022, then expanded to include other institutions. Its aim was to give female prisoners access to vocational training programmes, according to Stern magazine.

The Ministry of Justice believes that restricting access to the Internet can also contribute to increasing the level of security. Through the use of electronic forms, the need to transfer prisoners to government departments and agencies can be reduced.

A spokeswoman for the German Ministry of Justice said: “Providing digital communication with the outside world reduces the exchange of paper letters, and thus also reduces the arrival of letters soaked in synthetic narcotic substances in prisons,” according to what was reported by the “Der Spiegel” magazine website.

Edited by: A.J.M