Digital competences of the prison population in Portugal
A study using the DigComp Framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35699/2238-037X.2025.59855Keywords:
Digital competences. , Digital technologies. , Digital inclusion, Training in a prison context.Abstract
The increasing digitalization of society, along with the need for all individuals to be able to communicate and interact in digital environments and to equip all citizens with digital skills for the development of active citizenship, has become a central concern for various international organizations. In light of this issue, the present paper aims to produce socially relevant knowledge about the digital competencies of the prison population in Portugal and to outline guidelines for training processes in prison settings that promote digital inclusion. To carry out this research, we adopted a quantitative methodology, using the European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp 2.2), which seeks to assess citizens’ perceptions of their digital skills. The questionnaire was completed by 374 adult male inmates in a portuguese prison. The results reveal an uneven distribution of digital proficiency levels, highlighting a reality marked by significant contrasts among different groups within the prison population. Overall, participants are positioned between intermediate and advanced levels of digital proficiency, indicating a perceived functional autonomy in various digital tasks. However, the study also reveals the existence of large disparities, with a significant part of the prison population demonstrating only basic levels of proficiency.
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