Digital Inclusion in Finnish Smart Prison: A Qualitative Analysis of Incarcerated Women’s Experiences

Digitalization offers significant opportunities to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of incarcerated individuals, yet the limited digital access in prisons underscores the need to modernize prison environments. This study explores the digitalization of Finnish prisons from the perspective of incarcerated women, focusing on the concepts of digital inclusion and the “smart prison.” The study asks: How do incarcerated women perceive the significance of the smart prison? What are the main prerequisites for and challenges to digital inclusion within Finnish smart prisons? What specific characteristics are associated with the Finnish smart prison concept? The study follows a qualitative approach, with data collected through interviews with 12 incarcerated women. The findings reveal both positive and negative experiences regarding digital technologies and the smart prison environment. The study identifies that digital skills and motivation are essential to achieve digital inclusion, yet some women lack these. Restricted access to online services presents barriers, positioning staff as gatekeepers. However, the introduction of in‐cell laptops has significantly reshaped prison culture, enhancing interaction between prison staff and incarcerated individuals, which emphasizes the role of staff in facilitating access and supporting the use of digital services through motivational interaction. The research indicates that the Finnish smart prison combines ICT infrastructure with rehabilitative and face‐to‐face interaction, aiming to align prison conditions with those of society outside, in accordance with the principle of normality. However, full adherence to this principle remains challenging due to factors such as security concerns.