A Positive Way to Reduce Crime and Unemployment

This is an Open Letter to Ms Patty Stonesifer, President of the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation

Dear Ms Stonesifer,

I have a novel idea for how we can dramatically reduce crime worldwide by using technology in rehabilitation and would like to run it by you.

There are 3 reasons I'm contacting you in particular:

1. I admire the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's work in Africa
2. You were voted by Time to be one of the 25 most influential people in America (wow!)
3. Most importantly, your background in interactive media!

Here in South Africa, crime gets blamed on the lack of policing, the justice system, poverty, the legacy of Apartheid and the effects of HIV on our society, all of which are valid reasons.

Another large factor is that we have insufficient correctional services. We have a philosophy of rehabilitation, rather than punishment, but the reality is that our jails are overburdened and most all of the criminals are repeat offenders. There simply is no rehabilitation taking place. Inmates join gangs that function inside and outside of the prisons and the only skills they learn are of the criminal variety.

What if we created a social computer 'game' that's targeted at inmates?

What I have in mind is something akin to training simulations like those seen in 'The Matrix'. Now, we don't quite have that technology yet, but we have seen fantastic simulations in the form of games such as Oblivion and the World of Warcraft.

When an inmate arrives at prison, he could be locked up with a computer as his only cellmate. His only way to interact with the world is through the 'game'. He does not get a chance to react with any other inmates, who could contribute to reinforcing criminal behaviour. (A very anti-social kind of behaviour is needed to survive in the prison system, as opposed to the outside world)

In the beginning stages of the game, which will be similar to any online roleplaying game, the inmate would only interact with one real person: His online councillor. He can run around the virtual world and interact with virtual characters, but it's a restricted virtual world.

Along the way he learns skills. Early on, his aptitude could be determined: trading, driving, programming, farming etc, in a similar way to any Role Playing Game. Depending on his aptitude, the inmate is stimulated to develop these skills further. Either to use them when re-entering the 'real' world, or even to start a life selling goods on eBay for example. (no, not 'fencing'!)

He'll need to complete certain tasks and show improvement in behaviour to go 'up a level' and gain access to a wider world, and have interactions with more real people, inside and outside prison.

Some would argue that this 'virtual' world wouldn't really rehabilitate him to re-enter the 'real' world. But that's nonsense, many people these days in the 'real' world spend more time online than offline!

As the inmate learns new skills and shows improvement in behaviour, he's eventually given full online access, outside of the game, but still closely monitored. When the time is ripe, he may re-enter the real world. Very likely continuing to trade online, but also possibly with some high-tech skills such as tech support, programming, web marketing or online trading to name but a few. In South Africa, there is a dire lack of these skills while at the same time we have gross unemployment.

Some would say that such a plan is simply too expensive. But the fact is that it will save us millions if not billions in the long run. Prisoners will spend less time in prison. It will have a dramatic impact on crime, and as we know, crime has a dramatic impact on foreign investment and our economy.

Instead of having 20 inmates in a small room, we can now afford a reasonably comfortable environment for inmates. The idea is not that they have a 'fun' time while in prison, but that we see positive behaviour modification and skills learning.

There's a massive incentive for governments and companies to sponsor this because of medium and long-term benefits: reduced crime & less unemployment that leads to a stronger economy. But there may also be short-term incentive for marketing and software companies to market their products through this 'closed' internet game. Once back in the real world, the prisoner will need a computer, software tools etc.

A games developer, such as Microsoft, could develop such a 'game' through its gaming division in cooperation with correctional services and academics. The games developer can derive ongoing profits from, what is literally, a captive audience.

I realise that this might not be the Gates Foundation's cup of tea, but I do hope that you could perhaps introduce the concept to the right people or that you know the right person to champion such a project.

If we could 'banish' all the world's criminals to a virtual world where they stand a good chance of being rehabilitated, instead of the degenerate and inhumane micro-societies we currently create, it might just be the greatest achievement of the century.

Best Regards,

Henk Kleynhans
CEO - Skyrove Ltd.

p.s. I'm a constant 'idea generator'. Whenver I have a new idea that I feel could make a difference to the world, given the right champions, I share these openly.