An Android-based application for convenient visitation at windhoek correctional facility

Abstract

A global outbreak of Coronavirus affected countries' economy, people's lives and businesses around the world due to lockdown restrictions imposed on everyday activities. Like elsewhere, logistics and visiting hours to correctional facilities in Namibia is no exception. Namibian correctional facilities are far located in remote areas, hence, visitation to these facilities tends to be cumbersome, time-consuming, costly and at times disappointing due to the lack of accurate and timely information. Also, the rate of imprisonment quadrupled due to unfortunate acts during the lockdown. In response to this challenges, authors of this paper developed an android-based application to support social distancing, help Namibians in locating their relatives and friends in Namibian rehabilitation centers and reduce recidivism while improving the morale and safety of inmates and workers amid the pandemic. This study adopted a mixed research methodology with a case study and an experimental as a research design. An Agile software development model has been used for the development of an application. Primary data were collected through open-ended questionnaires, direct observations in the prison and group interviews. The study has been also chiefly informed by related literature reviews, as secondary data. A simple random sampling technique has been used to select the respondents from a target population of thirty participants. The study concluded that the application developed was intelligent, innovative, helpful, easy and convenient to use. Mobile technology can drastically change how we can communicate. It has been recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety and Security consider funding and fully implement this project in all thirteen correctional facilities across the country. As part of future work, a similar version of iOS is to be developed and possibly implement a remote and/or onsite Inmate video visitation.