Computers for convicts: Is it creating potential problems?

702's John Perlman speaks to Nabeelah Mia, head of the Penal Reform and Detention Monitoring Programme at Lawyers for Human Rights.

Listen below:

The Constitutional Court has declared that the current policy which prevents prisoners from using personal computers in their cells in order to study is unconstitutional.

Mia clarifies that while inmates actually do have access to the computers, they are not allowed to connect to the internet, unless it is supervised at certain times of the day.

"Any student who is registered with a recognised tertiary education or further educational institution, and reasonably requires a computer to support their studies, is allowed access to a personal computer - without the use of a modem - in their cell."

- Nabeelah Mia, Lawyers for Human Rights

"There's not a high percentage of students who are studying in correctional centres, so the ability of the Department of Correctional Services to monitor the use thereof is a lot easier..."

- Nabeelah Mia, Lawyers for Human Rights

Listeners shared their opinions on this issue, with many feeling that prisoners should not be allowed to study, or have personal computers - and especially not have internet access as it could lead to some "Thabo Bester type of things" when they're not studying.

So how vulnerable does this potential 'improper use' of computers make the Department of Correctional Services?

Mia explains that no evidence was found to show that inmates studying with computers in their cells contributed to "any illicit access to the outside world."

"We know that cellphones as a form of contraband find their way into prisons, and that is not through someone that is studying... that is through the Correctional Services officials."

- Nabeelah Mia, Lawyers for Human Rights

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.