The government introduced an AI transcription tool designed to help probation officers focus on reducing reoffending, as a second wave of prisoners were released early from overcrowded prisons.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) developed an AI transcription tool, ‘Justice Transcribe’, to help probation officers record meeting notes. After testing and a 2025 pilot, the tool was rolled out to all probation officers between February and March 2026.
It is estimated to save officers about 450,000 hours a year and improve note quality, with a focus on helping officers engage better with the people they supervise by reducing distraction from note-taking.
In a new report on Wednesday, the National Audit Office (NAO) viewed the AI tool highly positively and used it as a prime example of how public sector organisations can use technology to support frontline services and improve productivity.
One of the probation officers told City AM, “I used to be anxious I would miss things in appointments with offenders, focusing on my notes to make sure I got everything. Now I can look the people I’m supervising in the eye and focus on their needs – it’s so much more human and respectful.”
AI helps officers prioritise rehabilitation
Speaking to City AM, Catherine McKinnell, minister for prisons, probation and reducing reoffending, said: “This innovative tool is helping our staff to do exactly that and has saved them close to a quarter of a million hours of burdensome admin work, giving them more time to focus on the parts of their job that reduce reoffending.”
The government is overseeing an overcrowded prison system, with the majority of prisons in England and Wales labelled as overcrowded.
As a result, the government rolled out an early release measure, allowing inmates serving fixed sentences of up to 19 months to leave after serving one-third of their term, instead of the usual half, to ease severe overcrowding.
On Tuesday, under the scheme, a second batch of hundreds of prisoners were released from prison early.
In England and Wales, a large portion of those sitting in prisons are made up of reoffenders.
The MoJ is also exploring expanding Justice Transcribe to the prison and court systems, as well as the police.