Namibia’s Correctional Service completes national rollout of structured inmate telephony with Telio, reinforcing its digital reform agenda.

Namibia’s Correctional Service has completed the rollout of a secure inmate telephony system across all 13 of its correctional facilities.

Developed in partnership with Telio Group, the system provides incarcerated individuals with scheduled, monitored phone access to approved family members—supporting both institutional security and long-term rehabilitation.

The initiative began in 2019 with a pilot at Windhoek Correctional Facility, where Telio installed weather-resistant phones in supervised, shared spaces. The system was carefully aligned with security protocols and daily routines to ensure reliable, respectful access.

Drawing on operational insights from the pilot, the Namibian Correctional Service developed a national policy that is:

· Scalable across all facilities

· Adapted to security levels

· Focused on emotional stability and personal responsibility

This rollout directly supports the goals of the Offender Risk Management Correctional Strategy (ORMCS) and forms part of Namibia’s broader correctional modernization efforts. These include the Digital Reintegration Strategy, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the Government of Japan—an initiative that brings digital inclusion to the heart of rehabilitation policy.

“This is not merely a communication tool. It is a platform for empowerment, reform, and reintegration,” said Honourable Lucia Iipumbo, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security. “It enables inmates to maintain monitored contact with their families—a connection proven to reduce recidivism and promote successful reintegration into society.”

Key Operational Insights:

· Real-life timing matters Access during evenings or weekends helps ensure families are available—making calls more effective.

· Administrative simplicity improves outcomes Streamlined management of contact lists and access requests eases the workload for staff and improves transparency.

· Clear structure builds trust Defined rules, adapted to institutional needs, promote fairness and reduce internal tension.

Namibia’s structured telephony system offers a scalable and values-based model for other jurisdictions working to balance operational security with meaningful rehabilitation. For Telio, it demonstrates the power of secure communication technology to not only connect, but transform.