How AI Video Walls Are Transforming Indian Prisons: Inside the JARVIS Surveillance System

Recently, an Indian company introduced an AI video wall to monitor activities across 70 prisons, marking the first use of AI technology in Indian correctional facilities. The system aims to enhance safety, generate revenue, and address chronic overcrowding and staffing challenges.

The iconic Tihar Prison, one of Asia’s largest with about 15,000 inmates, has even opened for public tours, offering "one‑day prison" experiences where visitors receive temporary supervision and are treated like inmates.

India’s prison system is severely overcrowded: as of September 2018, the country held 410,000 prisoners, representing 3.9% of the global incarcerated population, with an overall occupancy rate of 114% and some states exceeding 200%.

To combat these issues, the AI startup Staqu has deployed its "AI Monitoring System" called JARVIS in 70 prisons across Uttar Pradesh. The platform analyzes feeds from 700 surveillance cameras, detecting unauthorized use of phones, knives, guns, and other violations such as violence, unauthorized entry, and contraband.

JARVIS has been trained on over one million violent video clips, achieving an accuracy of 99.6%. Within a month, the first phase covered a 900‑kilometre area, providing real‑time alerts to prison authorities for swift action.

Uttar Pradesh Prison Director Anand Kumar praised the solution, stating that advanced AI tools are essential for ensuring public safety in the digital age. Staqu’s CEO Atul Rai highlighted that JARVIS brings science‑fiction‑level video analysis into real‑world law‑enforcement applications.

Similar AI‑driven surveillance is being adopted worldwide. In the United States, several state prisons use video systems with voice recognition and machine‑learning to monitor inmate conversations for signs of conspiracies, while GPS ankle monitors track parolees to enforce compliance.

Overall, AI technologies are reshaping prison management by reducing manual monitoring burdens, improving security, and potentially lowering violent incidents, signaling a broader transformation in the criminal‑justice sector.