Summer Greetings - International Collaboration, Digital Reform and New Board Roles

Summer Greetings - International Collaboration, Digital Reform and New Board Roles

The summer of 2026 has been an active and inspiring one for MindTech, bringing international presentations, new partnerships and exciting opportunities to contribute to the future of criminal justice and correctional reform.

A common thread has connected many of these developments: the growing international interest in digital transformation, responsible artificial intelligence and new ways of sharing knowledge across correctional systems.

Sharing Finnish Experience in Cambridge

One of the summer highlights was a visit to Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where I had the opportunity to speak about correctional innovation and the development of digital prisons, including Finland's Smart Prison research results.

In my presentation, I also looked beyond current digital prison models and explored how artificial intelligence may transform prisons and correctional practice in the future. AI has the potential to influence areas ranging from rehabilitation and personalised services to healthcare, staff support, risk assessment and prison management. At the same time, its development raises important questions about ethics, human oversight, privacy, security and the appropriate boundaries of technology in correctional environments.

International discussions around Smart Prisons are particularly valuable because there is no single model that can simply be transferred from one country to another. Successful digital transformation requires attention to organisational culture, staff practices, legislation, security, digital inclusion and, importantly, the needs of the people who ultimately use the services.

Across the Atlantic – American Correctional Association Congress

Another major summer event was the American Correctional Association Congress in Pittsburgh.

I participated in the Emerging Technologies Summit, where we explored what correctional systems in the United States can learn from successful technology initiatives elsewhere in the world. I joined an international panel with perspectives from countries including Finland, Morocco and Mexico, discussing digital transformation, innovation and the future of corrections.

I also participated in the ACA International Committee Meeting, where discussions continued around strengthening international cooperation and knowledge exchange between the United States and correctional systems worldwide.

Beyond the formal programme, the congress provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect with international colleagues, establish new contacts and discuss potential future collaborations.

A New Digital Reform Initiative

Perhaps the most significant development of the summer has been the launch of the Digital Reform Initiative by Reimagining Criminal Justice CIC (RCJ) in the United Kingdom.

I have the pleasure of leading the initiative as part of my role as Director at RCJ.

The Digital Reform Initiative aims to create an international platform for collaboration around digital transformation across prisons, probation and the wider criminal justice system. The ambition is to bring together correctional professionals, policymakers, researchers, technology experts, organisations and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and practical experience, identify promising practices and explore opportunities for international cooperation.

We are now building an international network around the initiative and connecting with organisations and professionals from different jurisdictions interested in contributing to the discussion.

For me, this represents an exciting opportunity to bring together many of the themes that have shaped my work over the past years: digital transformation, Smart Prisons, digital rehabilitation, responsible AI, human-centred justice innovation and international cooperation.

Digital reform is ultimately not only about technology. It is about how technology can support better services, more effective rehabilitation, professional practice and criminal justice systems that are capable of adapting responsibly to a rapidly changing society.

Two New International Board Roles

The summer has also brought two exciting new international roles.

I was elected to the Board of Directors of the IJIS Institute in the United States. IJIS brings together public-sector agencies, technology organisations and experts working at the intersection of justice, public safety and information technology. Joining its Board provides an excellent opportunity to contribute international and European perspectives to discussions about justice technology and digital transformation.

I have also joined the Advisory Board of Ask the Network in the United Kingdom, an international network connecting professionals and organisations across criminal justice. I am particularly looking forward to contributing perspectives related to corrections, rehabilitation, behavioural science, digitalisation and responsible artificial intelligence.

These roles complement my work through MindTech and RCJ and create further opportunities to connect developments taking place across Europe, North America and the wider international correctional community.

Looking Ahead

If there is one lesson from this summer, it is the value of international collaboration.

The most interesting innovations rarely emerge within one profession, organisation or country. They develop when practitioners, researchers, policymakers, technology specialists and people with different international experiences come together to exchange ideas and challenge established ways of working.

For MindTech, the coming months will continue to focus on digital transformation, responsible AI, Smart Prisons, digital rehabilitation and broader criminal justice reform – while building bridges between Nordic experience and international developments.

I am particularly looking forward to developing the RCJ Digital Reform Initiative and expanding the international network around it.

Thank you to everyone I have met, worked with and exchanged ideas with during the summer. There is much more to come in autumn 2026.

Warm summer greetings from Finland,

Pia Puolakka
Founder & CEO, MindTech
Forensic Psychologist | Digital Transformation & Correctional Reform Consultant