Department of Corrections launching virtual reality program for incarcerated parents and children - CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is teaming up with a Pittsburgh non-profit for a virtual world parenting aviator program.

The section and Amachi Pittsburgh are collaborating with Wrap Technologies to usage virtual world immersion that volition fto participants signifier parenting skills successful a 360-degree environment, gathering connected existing programs. 

Community providers Amachi Pittsburgh and Public Health Management Corporation successful Philadelphia volition facilitate virtual world visits for participating children, the section said. 

"The overwhelming bulk of incarcerated parents volition instrumentality to their families and communities astatine the decision of their situation sentence, and the DOC is committed to mounting them up for success," said Acting Corrections Secretary George Little successful a property release. "Practice makes perfect, and we anticipation relation playing with the assistance of virtual avatars volition assistance parents and children spot beyond installation walls and physique stronger families and safer communities."  

The VR programme has been introduced astatine SCI Phoenix, SCI Fayette and SCI Frackville and is besides disposable astatine SCI Muncy, a women's facility.

Penn State researchers person been tapped to measure the aviator program, which is lone disposable to incarcerated parents who are housed successful wide population, are wrong 3 years of their minimum day and aren't convicted of immoderate crimes involving children.