AI-powered CCTVs bring real-time oversight to Guyana’s prisons

…detecting prisoners’ behaviour, patterns, threats in real time

As the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) accelerates its shift from penal to correctional operations, newly-introduced AI-equipped CCTV systems are now detecting behaviours, movement patterns, and potential threats in real time, marking a major leap towards proactive security, transparency, and modernised inmate management.

Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ag) Glexroy Thomas announced that the GPS is ramping up its use of technology as part of its broader push to modernise the correctional environment during a recent Police and You interview.
In the interview, he highlighted how these new tools are transforming corrections, the impact they are already having, and the service’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability, transparency, and security across the system.
“With the implementation of these technologies, we also have CCC cameras that are equipped with AI, they’re being trained to detect certain behaviour, certain patterns, certain groupings.”

According to him, this will also help them to better respond to situations, or to prevent situations, similarly going forward.
To top it off, he mentioned that with the implementation of these technologies, they hope that they will provide high-quality service to the public.
“The start-up will be professional at all times, knowing the fact that they’re being monitored with the implementation of these technological advancements that the Guyana Prison Service has embarked on, it also helps us to keep our officers in line, give them training where needed, and also has live accountability of each action they take, whether good or bad, at that time.”
He also pointed out that these advancements are not only reshaping security operations but are reinforcing a culture of transparency and responsibility within the prison system – ensuring both officers and inmates operate under consistent, real-time oversight.
Meanwhile, Jamal Daniels, Prison Trade Instructor (ag), noted that this system, among other new improvements, strengthens public trust, since the alerts are generated in real time, providing instant accountability at the exact moment the breach occurs.
Jamal Daniels explained that the system not only alerts the command centre but also notifies the individual when the alert is made public. He emphasised that this feature strengthens public trust by providing real-time accountability at the exact moment a breach occurs.
Diving much deeper into what goes on behind the prison walls, Daniels relayed that going forward, with the implementation of these technologies, the service hopes to provide high-quality service to the public.
The start-up will maintain professionalism at all times, knowing that staff and inmates are being monitored. These technological advancements also help to keep officers in line, provide training where needed, and ensure live accountability of each action they take, whether good or bad.
Several innovations have recently been introduced across Guyana to enhance correctional services. The gps is testing electronic ankle bracelets to monitor low-risk inmates participating in work programmes. This technology is part of a broader initiative to modernise the prison system and improve inmate rehabilitation and reintegration. The tamper-resistant bracelets use radio frequency signals to alert officers if an inmate leaves an authorised area. In addition, the service is implementing other programmes, including IT and computer training, to help inmates develop skills that will support their reintegration into society.