Background
Computerization in the Malawi Prison Service started in the 1999 when the Department received a computer from the European Union, under the Rule of Law and Improvement of Justice programme.

This computer was used for general office tasks including Email and Internet access. However, by this time computer appreciation in the Malawi Prisons was almost zero. In March 2000, ten prison officer officers were sent for computer appreciation course at Mpemba Staff Development Institute, in Blantyre where they learnt MS Office Applications. This was also funded by the EDF.

By 2000, the Department had a website, hosted by Malawi SDNP, and also was being sponsored by the Rule of Law Programme until November 2005 when the Programme came to an end.

In November 2001, two members of staff were attached to the Department of Correctional Service of South Africa [SA-DCS] for a week, where they learnt a lot as regards application of ICT in prison setup, management of such service and the history of development of Computerized Information Systems in the SA-DCS.

During the same year, first initiatives were made to develop a comprehensive prison database with the aim to enhance inmate tracking and reporting. The system was ready for implementation by August 2003; but it was not implemented because the system itself was not comprehensive enough to carter for all the requirements of the Department due to improper requirements analysis and definition.

In March 2004, an IT Consultant was hired to come up with a prison-prisoner database model to be used as a blueprint for the subsequent development of the database. Accordingly, a workshop ,funded by the EDF, was conducted by the Prison Department where various stakeholders and institutions were invited to solicit ideas as regards the type of information they want from prisons so that it is consolidated into the system as reporting requirements.  Among the invited institutions were the Malawi Police, High Court, Law Commission, Immigration, National Compensation Tribunal, Law Faculty of the Chancellor College  and the National Archives of Malawi.

Following this workshop, a contractor was hired to  redesign the system basing on the new requirements and come up with a new system. The development of the new system was completed by October 2005.

CURRENT STATUS:

The Prison Department is very proud that it has really taken bold steps  towards total computerization of its service to ensure quality and efficient delivery of service. The following services are now efficiently running.

1. Internet
   The Head Office is now fully connected (24 hours) to the Internet through 128K bandwidth wireless connection using 24 dBi grid antenna. This development has enhanced email services, which are now available to all members of staff at Head Office. And it has also eased information accessibility as regards developments in the field of corrections, general events e.t.c.
   
   

2. Local Area Network:
   The European Union, under the Promotion of Rule of Law and Improvement of Justice Programme, funded the installation of Local Area Network at Prison Headquarters. Thus apart from making internet access available to all members of staff at the Prison Headquarters, the LAN has assisted in sharing of files and hardware resources.

   Management does not even have to wait for juniors to provide information, it is handy with this LAN technology.
   

3. Malawi Prison Integrated Management Information System:
   As already stated, the Department developed a system in October 2005, which would help in offender management.

   The system is web based application, which would help in ensuring that prisoners are lawfully held in our prisons, and also would assist management in making quick, accurate and well-informed decisions, providing accurate information to our stakeholders, and monitoring all prisons stations.

   However, the system is not yet fully implemented due to lack of appropriate infrastructure. But the relevant people have already been contacted for possible assistance.