Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Self-harm is a common cause of death in correctional settings. The constant monitoring and the rapid detectionof self-harm events are crucial for protecting inmates' lives and reducing the mortality rates. During the lastdecades, several technologies have been developed for preventing suicide attempts in prisons. However, mostof them use cumbersome devices and/or are greatly depending on human guard attention and intervention. Ourobjective is to develop autonomous video surveillance solutions in order to intelligently detect life-threateningevents in prisons, and allow a rapid and reactive intervention. The proposed system will be designed to operatecontinuously in realistic conditions to detect suicide attempts by hanging or by wrist cutting; 2- fights betweentwo inmates; 3- and symptoms of life threatening situations. These objectives will be achieved by ensuring theefficient exploitation of recent advances in visual acquisition technologies, computer vision methods andartificial intelligence. This project will lead to new knowledge in the intelligent video surveillance domain,while contributing to training highly qualified personnel who will acquire an expertise in high demand acrossCanada. Our work will also allow our industrial partner to develop a commercial product to be deployed incorrectional services. The impact of this product is expected to be more than merely economic. It will helpsaving the lives of incarcerated people at risk, and avoid the resulting suffering.