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The mandate of correctional services is to uphold and advance a just, peaceful, and secure society by ensuring that the corrections environment is secure, safe, and humane, while ideally rehabilitating criminals to minimise their probability of re-offending. Realising these objectives necessitates a shift from the traditional correctional system to a digital, intelligent, and data-driven approach, encompassing the gathering and analysis of information within correctional facilities to identify and mitigate hazards. Intelligence-driven corrections deploy correctional intelligence, data analysis, specialized software, and databases for mapping complicated relationships, assessing forensic evidence, and exchanging information across jurisdictions. They apply data analytics to foresee prospective dangers, such as the likelihood of violence, contraband introduction, or jail riots. The research examines enhanced corrections and intelligence-based advances in modern correctional services. A mixed-method approach was utilised, integrating qualitative and quantitative designs. Interviews, surveys, and secondary data were employed. The research indicated that more intelligent corrections utilise technology and data to oversee inmates, personnel, and visitors, minimise expenses, and enhance public safety and security. Intelligence-driven corrections utilise gathered and analysed intelligence to guide decision-making and resource distribution within correctional facilities, hence improving safety and security by recognising dangers and thwarting criminal activity. Digital technologies improve offender management, security, safety, surveillance, and efficiency through the use of biometrics, facial recognition, artificial intelligence, data analytics, robotics, and drone detection. Artificial intelligence in correctional services improves safety through real-time behaviour surveillance and incident identification, enhances efficiency by automating administrative functions, and offers personalised rehabilitation through customised educational and mental health initiatives, ultimately seeking to diminish recidivism. Blockchain technology in correctional systems provides improved security, transparency, and efficiency, especially in monitoring inmate movements and preserving the integrity of evidence. Evidence-based risk assessment facilitates tailored rehabilitation programs that aid in crime reduction. The study advocated for the adoption and implementation of advanced correction methods, intelligence-driven strategies, technological innovations, and digital devices to improve safety and security in South Africa, other African countries, and worldwide.

Female offenders are distinctly different from male offenders, and present with their own gender-specific needs and issues both in and out of the correctional setting. Most approaches to Coping Mechanisms for female offenders are currently based on research involving males and approaches designed for males. Inquiry regarding the gender-specific needs of female inmates as they pertain to treatment, reentry programs, and Coping Mechanisms is necessary so professionals can better understand how to serve this population. This study investigated the Coping Mechanisms Adopted by Women ex-offenders in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study specifically investigated the effects of not addressing the challenges identified for women returning from prison in Nyeri County especially challenges connected to housing, employment, relationships, drug, and substance abuse as well as mental health after incarceration. This was a qualitative study adopting a phenomenological design. The site and respondents were purposively selected with snowballing being used to select the respondents to the point of saturation. This study made use of 41 women ex-convicts, 3 FGDs, and 9 key informants. Data were collected by the use of semi-structured interview schedules. Results indicated that currently, prison is negatively viewed by the community; this is primarily because of the isolation of prisoners and whatever happens behind the bars. The government should involve other sectors such as the churches, the media, schools, and Non- Governmental Organizations in educating the masses in order to ease the re-entry of ex-convicts