Telio (stylized as tel.io), was founded in Hamburg, Germany 1998 and has more than two decades of dedicated experience in the global correctional facility environment. It develops, installs, and operates communications and media systems, including video interaction platforms, digital phone services for correctional facilities as well as digital services for inmates and staff.
A Worldwide Leader in Technology for The Criminal Justice Sector
In the early 2000s, Telio began with the straightforward objective of providing telecommunication services to inmates through secure hallway phone booths in selected German prisons. In a constantly evolving business landscape, it strives to embrace progress and innovation. It acknowledges the significant impact its work can have on the well-being and rehabilitation of individuals within the correctional system. By leveraging digitalization and advanced technologies, it aims to improve the living conditions in corrections, offering inmates hope, opportunities, and a pathway to a better future.
“We extend our services to regions where they are currently unavailable. For instance, we initiated a pilot project in 2019 at the largest prison in Namibia, located in Windhoek, where approximately 1,000 inmates now have access to hallway and in-cell telephony,” says Oliver Drews, CEO of Telio Group.
A Dedicated Leader
Oliver’s career began with a banking apprenticeship, equipping him with valuable financial industry insights. Little did he know that this background would lead him to make significant contributions in an entirely different field. Starting as a Managing Director and shareholder in 2004, he has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth.
Curiosity, innovation, and teamwork are at the heart of how Oliver works. He loves diving into new ideas and pushing the envelope to discover fresh perspectives. When tackling new challenges or tasks, he creates a team environment where open-mindedness and critical thinking are key.
“At Telio, we have the unique opportunity to work with a team of over 20 nationalities, making our team structure truly multicultural. By embracing diverse viewpoints and encouraging constructive feedback, we can craft inventive solutions and achieve significant progress,” explains Oliver.
Persistent in its Mission
At Telio, the mission has been to enhance life in prison through innovative communications. Today, they operate in more than 20 countries all over the world, providing advanced communication solutions to over 800 facilities. Telio’s guiding principle is to create modern socially responsible solutions for corrections that significantly improve the lives of inmates from their first day in detention. From the very beginning, the company paid attention to what correctional facilities, their inmates, and staff really need.
“If there is one lesson I have learned, it is the importance of staying persistent. In our sector, achieving goals can take longer due to legal regulations, tender processes, and other restrictions. A reliable network of partners is indispensable. This tenacity, combined with strong partnerships, has been crucial in driving our continuous progress and success in the industry,” states Oliver.
Telio’s exclusive focus on the prison sector has allowed it to specialize deeply and understand the unique needs of correctional facilities. This dedication has enabled the group to develop tailored solutions that address the specific challenges within this niche. By concentrating solely on prisons, Telio has built a strong reputation and expertise, which has facilitated its expansion into more than 20 countries.
Digitalization of The First German Women’s Correctional Facility
In May 2024 Telio launched its digital solution at the first women’s correctional facility in Berlin Pankow. This significant initiative aims to transform the culture within Berlin’s prisons for both correctional staff and inmates by converting paper-based communication and workflows into streamlined digital processes. Requests for visits and the regular, beloved shopping routines can now be handled without any paper. This digital shift brings a touch of normality from the outside world into the correctional environment.
As Oliver points out, the digital solution plays a crucial role in resocialization by integrating inmates into the modern technological landscape, thus preventing their exclusion from contemporary technical advancements. Additionally, digitization leads to significant time and cost savings, which is essential in addressing the current shortage of correctional staff.
Challenges in the Way
Oliver shares that introducing advanced technologies to correctional facilities involves overcoming challenges like resistance to change and ensuring security and privacy. Telio addressed these by establishing robust partnerships with jurisdictions, demonstrating the benefits of its solutions, and customizing its technologies to meet high-security standards. Telio does not see itself as merely providing telecommunication services to inmates; instead, it aims to bring services to jurisdictions that embrace rehabilitation.
“We work with jurisdictions that recognize the Mandela Rules and embrace the philosophy of a more humane approach. We ensure that our technologies contribute positively to the lives of inmates. By doing so, we align our services with the highest ethical and operational standards in the industry,” shares Oliver.
Ensuring Privacy and Security
Telio ensures the security and privacy of data while streamlining prison administration processes with new technologies. The group’s team is developing user-friendly tools, including the rapid and efficient handling of inmate requests and access to information.
Telio envisions a future beyond simple automation, aiming to replace paper-based processes with digital systems that incorporate Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for decision support. These advancements will accelerate processes and ensure decisions are made more accurately in alignment with policies. This not only enhances the inmate experience but also reduces the workload for correctional officers.
“By providing inmates with a sense of self-sufficiency and freedom of choice within a controlled environment, fast and efficient data exchange becomes essential for effective communication and decision-making for both inmates and administration staff,” explains Oliver.
Ensuring Continuous Growth
Telio is today the leading international technical provider for prisons because it has been 100% focused on the world of corrections for more than 25 years. Oliver has personally supported strong collaboration between the public and private sectors for 20 years. Telio continuously strives to be state-of-the-art, presenting its clients and potential clients with current and future technical instruments to solve their challenges. It delivers solutions and maintains a permanent exchange with jurisdictions worldwide to understand their needs. Besides its personal contacts, the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) is the most important platform for exchange and information. As a non-governmental organization, it aims to promote ethical and effective correctional practices to enhance public safety and healthier communities globally.
To underline its commitment to innovation, Telio has started integrating AI into its solutions, which will be a game changer.
“Growth is inevitable when you are a respected and reliable partner like Telio. Staying updated with industry changes involves continuous learning and engagement with the latest technological advancements. We participate in international conferences, collaborate with industry experts, and invest in research and development. By fostering a culture of innovation within Telio, we ensure that our team is always ready to adapt and evolve, keeping us at the forefront of the correctional technology sector,” asserts Oliver.
The Goals Ahead
Telio’s upcoming priorities involve increasing its footprint in the North American market and advancing the digitization of correctional facility operations to boost efficiency and inmate rehabilitation. To address future challenges, it intends to keep investing in advanced technologies, forge strategic partnerships, and concentrate on user-friendly solutions that simplify administrative tasks.
Moreover, Telio is investigating the use of electronic monitoring as an alternative to traditional sentencing, aiming to expand its influence and more effectively support the global correctional system.
“By developing a reliable and secure electronic monitoring solution, we can help jurisdictions embrace a more modern approach to corrections and keep families together. Thousands of children will no longer have to be separated from their parents as they serve their sentence at home rather than being sent to prison,” concludes Oliver.
A Quote to Live By:
The one quote that Oliver absolutely lives by and finds incredibly helpful is, “Never give up, and no vision is too big.”
“Never give up” is a powerful reminder that perseverance is key to overcoming obstacles. Whether facing setbacks in projects, navigating the complexities of business growth, or encountering personal challenges, this part of the quote inspires me to keep pushing forward. It’s about resilience, determination, and the belief that every hurdle can be overcome with enough effort and dedication.
The second part, “no vision is too big,” encourages bold thinking and ambitious goal-setting. In the fast-paced world of technology and innovation, it’s essential to dream big and aim high. This mindset has been instrumental in driving Telio’s growth from a small start-up to a global leader. It’s about believing in the potential of your ideas and not being afraid to pursue them, no matter how grand they may seem.
The Foundation – Bringing Care
Driven by a strong sense of compassion and family values, Oliver was inspired to make a difference in the lives of children with incarcerated parents. Seeing their silent struggles and the lack of support they received from society deeply affected him. In 2022, he established the Connecting Hearts Foundation to address this issue. The foundation’s mission is to provide these children with the care and opportunities they deserve, ensuring they are not forgotten. Through targeted international projects and initiatives, the Connecting Hearts Foundation aims to offer support, stability, and a sense of normalcy. Oliver’s dedication to this cause reflects his belief that every child should have a chance to thrive, even in challenging circumstances.
“Our commitment ensures that we continuously innovate and provide the most effective technologies to improve the lives of inmates and support the operational efficiency of correctional institutions.”
“Telio has a highly advanced product portfolio in the areas of communications and digital services.”
“Every system by Telio adheres to the highest security standards, simplifies work processes significantly, and supports rehabilitation.”