A Digital Inclusion and Technological Barriers: Investigating the Challenges Faced by Formerly Incarcerated Populations in Adopting and Accessing Technology

Johannes Badejo, Joyram Chakraborty, Mia Forbes

2024

Abstract

Digital inclusion and technological barriers are two phenomena that directly impact the lives of the formerly incarcerated population (FIP). Adequate access means reducing the high recidivism rates already being handled through the digitization of prison education. The digitization programs offer digital skills and technical skills that can be a handful in helping the ex-offenders secure employment. On the other hand, inadequate access to digital literacy is common among ex-offenders, as most prisons are yet to offer digital education entirely. Championed with the desire to improve the lives of the FIP, this study interviews 71 participants to understand the barriers they face in adapting and accessing technology. The findings indicate that the FIP benefiting from digital inclusion has the upper hand in securing employment and reintegrating well over those hindered by technological barriers. Limited internet connectivity, inadequate financial resources to afford technology devices, limited availability of internet access points (APs), and legal restrictions are majorly reported by the 71 participants. Going by the need to improve the FIP experience, this study found that the population must undergo digital training as part of the re-entry programs.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Badejo J., Chakraborty J. and Forbes M. (2024). A Digital Inclusion and Technological Barriers: Investigating the Challenges Faced by Formerly Incarcerated Populations in Adopting and Accessing Technology. In Proceedings of the 19th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: HUCAPP; ISBN 978-989-758-679-8, SciTePress, pages 464-470. DOI: 10.5220/0012360800003660

in Bibtex Style

@conference{hucapp24,
author={Johannes Badejo and Joyram Chakraborty and Mia Forbes},
title={A Digital Inclusion and Technological Barriers: Investigating the Challenges Faced by Formerly Incarcerated Populations in Adopting and Accessing Technology},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 19th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: HUCAPP},
year={2024},
pages={464-470},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0012360800003660},
isbn={978-989-758-679-8},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 19th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications - Volume 1: HUCAPP
TI - A Digital Inclusion and Technological Barriers: Investigating the Challenges Faced by Formerly Incarcerated Populations in Adopting and Accessing Technology
SN - 978-989-758-679-8
AU - Badejo J.
AU - Chakraborty J.
AU - Forbes M.
PY - 2024
SP - 464
EP - 470
DO - 10.5220/0012360800003660
PB - SciTePress