Atorrus Rainer, a 41-year-old serving time at the Fremont Correctional Facility in Colorado, is using virtual reality (VR) technology to prepare for his release. In 2001, Rainer was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison as a teenager, but in 2017, the US Supreme Court ruled that life imprisonment without parole for juveniles was unconstitutional. In response, Colorado launched the “Juveniles and Young Adults Convicted as Adults Program” (JYACAP), offering young inmates a three-year project designed to prepare them for release on parole. The scheme is particularly challenging as many of the prisoners have no experience of basic skills, such as using a smartphone or a credit card, and have limited access to the internet.
VR is an innovative solution that may help tackle these challenges. A handful of prisons, from Ohio to New Mexico, have adopted the technology for a range of purposes, including reducing aggressive behaviour, promoting empathy, and reducing recidivism rates. In the case of Colorado, despite investment in prisons of nearly $1 billion, the state has some of the worst recidivism rates in the country, with around 50% of all parolees being re-arrested. Nationwide, up to two-thirds of the 600,000 people released from US federal and state prisons each year are re-arrested within three years.
Advocates of VR argue that it offers prisoners a chance to immerse themselves in the modern world and practise digital skills in a safe environment. VR training can replicate the experiences of real life more closely than other methods, according to Ethan Moeller, CEO of Virtual Training Partners, who helps organisations with their VR implementation. However, others are sceptical about VR’s efficacy. Associate Professor Cyndi Rickards, who teaches criminology classes in Philadelphia prisons, argues that VR objectifies prisoners and reinforces the dehumanising nature of incarceration.
Overall, VR technology offers a potentially valuable tool for prisoners to prepare for life after incarceration. While some doubt its ability to aid reintegration into society, others believe it is a powerful tool for young prisoners who lack basic digital skills, providing immersive virtual experiences to prepare them for the real world when they leave prison. Ultimately, the effectiveness of VR as a prison training tool will depend on the quality and type of training, as well as the individual needs and experiences of inmates.
