As AI becomes more common in corrections, mental health and substance use treatment, it is natural to have questions and concerns, such as:
Will AI replace the people who have specialized knowledge and skills and provide care and support?
Will sensitive personal information be secure?
Will technology create a one-size-fits-all approach to complex human problems?
These are important questions, and they deserve thoughtful answers.
The strongest argument for AI in these settings is not that it can do everything a human can do. It is that it can help humans do more of what only they can do.
Humans bring empathy, experience, judgment and the ability to build meaningful relationships to their work. They can recognize when a person needs encouragement, a different approach or simply someone who is willing to be present.
AI can take on some of the repetitive work that competes for that time and attention. It can help summarize participant progress, organize information and offer insights based on a person’s progress. By streamlining daily tasks, technology can give professionals more time to focus on listening, relationship building and creative problem-solving.
People in corrections and treatment settings often handle and document highly personal information. Their work involves understanding and responding to court mandates, substance use, mental health, trauma, family relationships, incarceration or other sensitive parts of people's lives. Protecting that information is essential.
If you've ever felt uneasy about personal information being collected, shared or sold, your instincts are not misplaced. Not all AI tools are created equal when it comes to respecting privacy and confidentiality. Platforms like Atlas, which take a closed-system approach to AI, are much more secure than open source models.
Closed-system networks are cut off from outside networks and are securely isolated from the public internet to ensure "absolute data sovereignty" for sensitive information. Additionally, ethical AI strictly prohibits the sale of personal information without consent.
Another common concern about technology integration is that it may lead to standardized approaches that treat everyone the same. In reality, responsive technology, or adaptive AI, has the potential to help practitioners move in the opposite direction.
People don’t follow identical paths through incarceration, recovery or community corrections. Their goals, challenges, strengths, and support systems are different. AI has the computing power to process and connect large amounts of information very quickly. It can identify patterns across many data points, including changes in behavior, risk factors, habits, mindset and progress toward individual goals. This information can be used to provide concise, actionable insights.
Allen Bell of Midland Judicial District reports that AI tools within Atlas transformed the way counselors and probation officers at the agency worked:
“After clients complete their entries, the AI analyzes the content and generates summaries, highlights key themes, and even recommends follow-up questions. Staff no longer have to sift through pages of entries before each session. Instead, they can immediately see where a client is in their change process.”
AI has the potential to make truly individualized, responsive support more practical and achievable at scale by optimizing personal data analysis and organization.
AI is here; there’s no denying that. Concerns about the new frontier in technology are understandable and warranted. Many experts agree that the future of AI will be largely what humans make it. If we choose responsible use and development, select ethical tools in the market and utilize AI to empower rather than replace or control, the benefits can be immense.
The path forward is about striking the right balance between embracing technology that can benefit people when used ethically, responsibly and with targeted purposes, while remaining vigilant about its risks and the potential for misuse. It also means choosing AI tools and partners that reflect our values as people and professionals, and holding ourselves accountable for making sure the technology we use ultimately helps us better serve the people we are here to support.
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