Based on literature and with experts from forensic care, it was investigated what social robots can mean – now or in the future – in the treatment of forensic patients. Social robots can connect with humans through speech, facial and emotion recognition technologies and also perform certain tasks. These applications are still used on a very limited scale in forensic care, but they are already used in (mental) health care. For example, for people with dementia and people with autism.
Online contact moments alternated with physical contact moments
The research shows that social robots mainly offer opportunities for forensic psychiatric patients who are treated on an outpatient basis or at home. And for patients in the rehabilitation phase who – under supervision – are given more and more responsibilities. Robots are then an addition or deepening to an existing treatment, in which online contact moments are alternated with physical contact moments. For example, in preventing relapse, gaining insight into illness and training social skills. Practitioners mainly see added value in digital solutions that support general daily tasks, such as medication intake and daily structure. They also see added value in a social robot as ‘company’ and as a warning signal for a possible relapse of the patient.
Voice interaction
Social robots may reduce the workload for clinicians and reduce patient no-shows. For patients, the added value is, for example, in the speech interaction, which can fit in well with the skills and needs of (relatively low-literate) patients. A robot also always reacts neutrally and value-free and repeats parts of the treatment as often as necessary. This is seen as an advantage for treating patients with a mild intellectual disability, for example. In addition, patients can work on their treatment at any time of the day via a robot, even if the practitioner is not present. This gives them a sense of control.
Sociale robots
Within forensic care there are many different patients. A one-size-fits-all solution of social robots is not desirable, the researchers conclude. The robot must match the motivation, recidivism risks, living environment, learning opportunities and digital skills of the individual forensic patient. In addition, the type of robot (tablet, smartphone, smartwatch or human-like robot) must be easy to use. As possible barriers to the successful use of social robots in forensic care, the respondents in the study point to the high workload of practitioners. This can lead to a lack of enthusiasm and time for the necessary knowledge investment. A lack of digital knowledge and skills among practitioners and patients also play a role. The researchers make several recommendations for follow-up research to exploit the added value of social robots in forensic care.
By: National Education Guide