Secure Internet access for prisoners Thursday, November 18, 2010 - 17:32

NIACE has been supporting the training of prison staff through their E-Guides staff development programme for a number of years, particularly in how to make a secure network part of prison learning sessions.

Alastair Clark, Head of the NIACE Digital Learning Team, said:

"Opportunities to learn digital skills can play a key part in rehabilitation of offenders. Secure and restricted access to information on the worldwide web can offer prisoners opportunities to pursue informal learning and to prepare for release."

"However, NIACE is aware of the importance of security and especially the need to protect victims of crime. We are confident that as staff become better trained in digital skills, that it will be possible to open up opportunities to support learners in custody to develop their own skills."

Patsy Quinn, Programme Director for the NIACE Digital Learning Team, said:

"The E-Guides training programme has been very popular with prison staff in the past. The skills that staff develop are key to being able to reduce digital exclusion amongst prisoners."