A hi-tech jail where inmates wear electronic wristbands to track their movements and officers are armed with emotion recognition software to monitor trouble opens today in the Netherlands. Dutch authorities are convinced the newly dubbed "big brother prison" is the future of correctional facilities: cheap and efficient, while not coddling criminals or violating their fundamental rights.

Detainees in the Lelystad jail, 50 miles west of Amsterdam, will be kept in six-man cells, where they can do their cooking and washing and run their schedules via a touch-screen monitor by their beds. Camera surveillance is only in public spaces, not on bunk beds or in bathrooms. Cell microphones are linked to the control centre with sounds analysed by emotion recognition software to alert officers to any violence.

The jail requires fewer officers, only six for 150 prisoners, instead of the usual 15. Having more prisoners in a cell is new in the Netherlands, officials said, adding that studies found prisoners behaved better when in small groups rather than in large groups, pairs or alone. With good behavior inmates can build up credits to watch more television or get more channels. They can also earn more phone calls, longer visiting hours, or even "buy" a switch to another room.
Officials added that hardened criminals, or people with a history of violence or mental illness, wouldn't be eligible. The system was tested on student volunteers.