CV: What is your name?

LF: Liv Fierro

I don’t know why this is necessary. The system has all my information on file and can confirm it’s me through the device

CV: Where are you located?

Like the system doesn’t already know. It’s dehumanizing enough to have to participate in these weekly check-ins as part of my sentence, but having to report to a VR bot somehow makes it worse. I don’t know why they bother with the theatrics – VR has come a long way, hell maybe if I didn’t grow up interacting mainly in person with actual human beings I might believe the trick. I wonder what study was conducted to indicate that this was the form female felons responded most positively to. The only bit of solace is that I don’t feel the same shame I would having to repeatedly admit my sins to another human being in the flesh – I guess I’ll take VR bot over a soul.

LF: California

CV: What is your offence? How long is your sentence

LF: Drug Trafficking – 15 year prison sentence

I am 2 years into serving my sentence and this weekly reminder of the time left and crime I’ve committed doesn’t make me hopeful for the future. Maybe 10 years in this will all feel habitual and normal. I suppose this “new” prison system is an upgrade from the alternative. About five years ago the issue of prison conditions combined with reoffence rates forced government’s hand to envision a new system . . . Some days I think a cell would be a welcome alternative

CV: Provide a summary of your whereabouts and activities throughout the week.

What I want to say is “Why don’t you check my logs?”. The “new” prison is a brain implant that tracks not only your whereabouts but also monitors your brain activity in response to your surroundings. It has access to all that you see and hear. The system could provide a far more accurate recollection of my last week than my poor old noggin ever could. At least in the prison’s of the past your own thoughts were private, even if nothing else was.

What I actually say is

LF: I spent most of my time in my apartment playing video games and applying for jobs. I take a short stroll through the park across from my complex at least once a day. I haven’t spoken to anyone really, other than a few brief hellos to the other tenants in my building.

CV: What actions have you taken to reintegrate yourself into society?

I almost laugh out loud. How would I integrate myself into society? While the implant is not visible the hardware involved in the reporting is very visible to the public – I might as well have my rap sheet stapled to my forward. My setup isn’t like the brain chip that the rich people are getting to store their memories and interface with computers. I am basically a walking social pariah. Nothing sexy about a tech collar that broadcasts “FELON” to the world. Society has no interest in me and the system flags any interactions I have with other collar wearing felons so that’s avoided as well. It makes for a lonely existence. Again, at least in old school prisons you could connect with others you had something in common with – even if those commonalities were problematic. I suppose I have to offer something . . .

LF: I have been walking daily and applied at several grocery stores. Most positions I am qualified for are automated, but I will keep looking.

I often wonder how those who choose to have the implants feel about all of their data feeding the larger system. I suppose it’s not all that different from all of the data collected from our phones. I don’t have a choice, but I want to hope that maybe my data helps future generations avoid reoffending or addiction in the first place – or at the very least protects society in some way. I am a bit disillusioned, however, the tech coming up has the potential to do great things – we’ve seen how AI has revolutionized education and healthcare while reinforcing the importance of doctors and teachers – but a lot of the time it’s applied lazily or to further capitalism or integrated only to benefit a small (usually already privileged) population.

CV: Do you feel confident in your ability to abstain from drug use?

I feel confident in the systems ability to flag by actions and reactions before I use again. I wouldn’t count that as confidence in MY ability not to use though. Funny how a decade ago they were exploring brain stimulation to address diseases like depression and addiction, that all got put to the way side to create the system to help deal with the broken policing and court system. Technology  itself is neither good nor evil, but those as the helm can really paint it in a bad light – I often wonder if my life would be different if my addiction could be addressed, monitoring me like a lab rat isn’t going to positively impact me in the long term. Talk about poor rehabilitation.

LF: I still think about using, but I know the system won’t allow me to

No sense in lying to a machine that basically reads your mind

CV: Have you had any thoughts about reoffending in the last week?

LF: No

I can answer this question truthfully. I’d like to say that I’ve turned a corner and I am ready to be a model citizen now, but in reality I am afraid of what the system might do to me. If anything in the data they are collecting through my implant in real time indicates or even hints at reoffence a pulse would be sent through my brain essentially activating a waking paralysis, where I would be able to hear and see what is going on around me, but I would be unable to move or speak. I have never experienced it and I have no intention to. I wonder what happens after my sentence is served and the implant comes out? I won’t have had the opportunity to learn to trust myself – am I capable without the fear of paralysis. I am also curious about the algorithms used to activate the pulse – is it always right? What if I am zapped and it’s an error?

CV: This concludes our session. A copy of this interview and your weekly system log will be forwarded to your corrections officer.

Your next check in will be March 29, 2036. Be well.