Criminals are being given free mobile phones in a bid to stop them reoffending when they get out of jail.
In a pilot scheme at the privately run Mt Eden Correctional Facility in Auckland, approved inmates receive a cellphone sponsored by Vodafone when they are released, to help them stay out of trouble.
The phones have pre-programmed numbers for police mentors and other support services.
"Kotahitanga" is a trial project between private prison operator Serco and Counties Manukau police. It is for approved inmates released from Mt Eden, New Zealand's only private prison.
As Quoted above details from www.nzherald.co.nz article found here
Off target
Cell phones are banned in NZ jails the NZ Government has imported a new "technology" of "Cellphone Jammers" that surround all NZ jails. These devices are made in the USA and are installed around NZ prisons to block any non approved cellphones transmitting. The technology or ability to make a device has been around since we invented the uncorded handsets of the plain old house telephone . The growth of the use of these devices by militaries and governments world wide recently has been adopted because of the "Green Zone" in Baghdad Iraq. The USA military redeveloped this technology to stop the bombers whom were driving trucks packed with explosives in to the green zone and jumping out walking to safety and detonating the truck laden bombs to go off remotely by cellphone. The US military had a problem and mastered the device and sold them to friendly nations. China copies everything the USA does and offer the devices via websites like www.alibaba.com. The disruption of cell signal is a flakey technology not always reliable in certain situations. The funny thing is non approved cell-phones are still being used in NZ jails. Recently there has been a current serving South Island inmate a convicted murderer he has been mentioned in NZ media recently for posting and stalking a relative of his victim via a social media facebook page. Also it is an offence to operate a cellphone jammer for private services. It is an offence to disrupt or interfere with the channels of the radio spectrum. This is an offence against the "Radio Spectrum Act" an offence against the "Department of the Radio Spectrum" a sub NZ Government department of "The New Zealand Department of Economic Development. So it is unlawful to operate freely at Doctors surgeries or Student lecture halls a couple of everyday non offending activity. Sometimes we fail to see the far reaching possibilities of new technology. The media has reported only a couple of media articles about NZ criminals using and being charged for possession of such devices. The NZ government have them in use and the question that comes to my mind is "why don't they get charged held accountable as any Joe blogs use one for example?". This act the last time I looked up does not have any mention of in accountability or sub clause excluding the NZ Justice Department. In my mind it doesn't quite add up the civil rights regarding privacy of the individual or public citizens are being infringed on covertly world wide. I find it unfair and unjust this by our Government.
However this article I feel good on them and Vodafone NZ for doing something to aid prisoner rehabilitation a label or mark every prisoner has for every more to deny any or every ex-inmates future opportunities. Serving a Jail sentence is never going to be an easy one of the biggest experiences to deal with whilst confined in a cell is the isolation from the outside world from loved ones family friends work support everyday people take or appreciate without thought. Being cut off and after being confined after an extended amount of time it has got to be horrid on anyone I believe there is better use for giving inmates online devices as a tool for helping them reintegrate back into society. They could provide monitored educative resources social situations real time and simulated the oppurtunity to teach them the social skills needed to live a rewarded or improved life after serving time. After all the internet is the global tool of choice at the moment its here to stay. Today people use the world wide web to get self informed or meet people gain a channel of support,entertainment media of the 21st centuaryand all sorts of reasons and for example allowing an inmate at least an hour a day to catch up on the news family all rewarded on a system where good and bad behavior was dealt with appropriately and accordingly to further example such as rights and privileges granted for good behavior or online access revoked for bad behavior.
