Correctional intelligence: defining the domain and the privatisation conundrum

Correctional intelligence, also referred to as prison intelligence, jail intelligence or intelligence in detention facilities, is the systematic collection, analysis and operational use of information within custodial facilities (e.g. prisons, jails, detention centres) and non-custodial correctional settings (probation and parole supervision). I argue that despite processing intelligence on gang members, drug networks, extremist groups, criminal organisations and contraband operations across incarcerated and supervised populations, correctional intelligence receives little attention from scholars and policymakers. This invisibility has created space for a quiet revolution over the past years: the transfer of intelligence control from public correctional institutions to private companies whose algorithms now determine what gets monitored, how threats are identified and which information is collected. This raises concerns about accountability, governance and the future of intelligence practices. This paper argues that correctional intelligence must be recognised as part of the intelligence community and important intelligence domain, not separated as merely a ‘corrections' or ‘prison' issue and should be critically analysed in terms of who controls and manages intelligence within correctional settings, with greater transparency, accountability and scholarly attention.