Communicational case Convict electronic monitoring: A national challenge
April 2016
A Cultural Change:
Prison Overcrowding
Technology is revolutionizing the way convicts are surveilled—no need to lock them in prison
Electronic Monitoring
Resocialization
COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGE
+
Crime in Chile 1.3m offenses per year Criminal cases increase
Concerned public opinion
CRIME= NATIONAL INTEREST
Track Group lands in Chile Global Electronic Monitoring Solutions
Devices
Applications
Headquartered in Chicago Present in the US, Bahamas and Puerto Rico
First communication objectives:
Monitoring Center
Convict monitoring
4,000 convicts in Chile 65,000 convicts in the US
Bid contract
USD 70m
-Facilitating the system’s kickstart -Promoting Cultural Change -Transmitting the Benefits of the Electronic Monitoring
Strategic Messages
US Recidivism rate
Prison, University of Crime
Recidivism
39.5%
10.7%
Chile has one of the highest imprisonment rates in Latin America
Electronic Monitoring, Prison costs savings Costs in the US
Sentence serving under custody (prison)
Resocialization
Imprisoned convicts
USD 19.24 / day
Electronic monitoring
USD 5.18 / day
Stakeholders Different agents involved
Different messages for each stakeholder Justice Ministry
District Attorneys and Public Defendants
Congress
Ministry of Women
Social Organizations
National Minors Service
Police Judiciary Officials
Media
Ministry of Interior
How the Electronic Monitoring bracelet works Second Phase - EM starts operating SATELLITE
First Phase - Approval for installation on convicts
BRACELET
POLICE
TRACK GROUP
CELL PHONE NETWORK
EMC
TRACKER PAL
Crisis arrives‌ and it was a byproduct of
high expectations about the system Bumpy start
Legislative changes regarding EM
Authority concerns
Excesive resistance
Coordination with the law firm
How was the crisis managed? Messages Proven Technology
Trust in Government
Transparency
Relationship Strategy
Communications Strategy
Identification of EM-related interests among each stakeholder Presentation of the system Training sessions EM-related oped coordination
Risk matrix development Interview with Guy Dubois, TG’s Chairman and CEO El Mercurio March 3, 2014
Media training sessions Media presence management Permanent contact with stakeholders
Results Criticism of EM and TG disappeared Improved quality of EM’s media appearances Improved TG image Improved relations with authorities
Authority interest to extend EM use to further areas Congressional bills
Michael A. Hammer, US Ambassador to Chile
Lessons learned Lowering expectations to calm the climate allow all parties involved to work towards facilitating te process. Collaboration with the client. Authority pressure through the media. However, it is sometimes advisable to stay away from the press except for risk control.
Convict electronic monitoring: A national challenge
April 2016