As part of a major modernization campaign aimed at reducing escapes and enhancing prison administration, Odisha has increased prison security by installing AI-enabled CCTV monitoring systems in 20 jails and intends to expand the technology to all 86 prisons around the state. The Odisha government plans to install AI-powered cameras in every prison in the state in an attempt to improve prison security.
This came to light during the Prison Development Board’s fourth meeting, which Chief Secretary Anu Garg convened. The group examined ways to improve inmate welfare, bolster prison security, and improve correctional services. Prisons and Correctional Services Director General Twenty jails have already deployed AI-enabled surveillance systems with video analytics, according to Susanta Kumar Nath. In order to deter escape attempts, the cameras automatically sound an alert whenever an offender gets close to the prison border wall. There are plans to put the AI monitoring system in each of the state’s 86 jails.
Additionally, AI surveillance would be expanded behind jail walls. Prison officials will be able to react quickly to possible disruptions thanks to the system’s ability to identify odd inmate groups and automatically sound alerts if several offenders congregate in one location. Drones for aerial surveillance, body-worn cameras for jail staff, sophisticated metal detectors, and fortification of prison perimeter walls are all part of the prison modernization initiative. While stopping future escape attempts continues to be a top priority for the agency, a specific effort has also been started to track down and capture fugitive inmates.
The Prison Development Board also discussed establishing open-air jails in all seven circle jails of the state. Proposals have been prepared for setting up such facilities at the circle jails in Kataka, Baleshwar, Sambalpur, Brahmapur, Baripada, Koraput and Phulbani.