Bhubaneswar, Dec 20: The state prison administration has decided to deploy artificial intelligence–based surveillance systems to prevent incidents of prisoner escapes and maintain stricter security inside prisons. As part of the new measures, prisoners will no longer be able to escape by scaling boundary walls, pass items into jail premises, or create disturbances inside cells.
Under the initiative, AI-powered cameras will monitor both jail premises and prison cells round the clock. Any suspicious activity, including attempts to climb boundary walls, will trigger an automatic siren alert. The system will instantly identify the prisoner involved and relay real-time information to on-duty officials.
Frequent escape incidents from jails across the state have become a major concern for prison authorities. Prisoners ranging from hardened criminals to minor offenders have managed to flee by jumping over walls. Recently, two dreaded criminals from Bihar escaped from Choudwar Jail in Cuttack and remain untraced, adding to the department’s worries.
Data from the past 25 years reveals that 107 prisoners have escaped from various jails in the state. While 68 of them have been rearrested, 39 prisoners are still absconding, many of whom are convicted murderers.
To address the issue, the jail authorities have planned a pilot project in the first phase, under which around 300 AI-enabled cameras will be installed in 18 jails across the state. If the pilot proves successful, the AI surveillance system will be expanded to all jails statewide.
