Correctional Facility Tablet Solutions: A Guide

1 Dec, 15

• in Jails

When someone is awaiting trial, access to resources is critical. While some jails offer tablets to help inmates organize their defense or stay occupied, these tools have serious limitations. The introduction of correctional facility tablet solutions aims to provide a controlled digital environment, but it’s a pale substitute for the freedom to work with an attorney in person. Being released from jail is the most effective way to prepare for court. While this article explains the ins and outs of inmate tablets, it’s important to remember that securing a bail bond offers a far better path for communication and defense preparation.

A new movement has been spreading across jails located all around the country. The trend involves giving inmates access to tablet computers. The mobile devices can do most of what a regular laptop can do but are small enough to hold in the hand without effort. The tablets are intended to give inmates something to do while serving time in jail.

What Can Inmates Do on These Tablets?

So, what exactly can an inmate do with one of these devices? The tablets are more than just a way to pass the time; they are multi-functional tools designed to support communication, education, and even the daily operations of the facility. They offer a secure, monitored platform for a range of activities that can have a positive impact on an inmate’s time while incarcerated and their preparation for release. From connecting with family to learning new job skills, these tablets open up a new world of resources that were previously unavailable behind bars.

Communication with Family and Friends

Video calls, e-messages, and photos

One of the most significant features of these tablets is the ability for inmates to stay connected with their support systems. Maintaining ties with family and friends is incredibly important for mental well-being and can play a huge role in an inmate’s journey. Through the tablets, they can make video calls, send e-messages, and share photos, which offers a much more personal way to communicate than traditional phone calls or letters. This consistent contact helps reduce feelings of isolation and keeps family bonds strong, which is a critical piece of the puzzle for successful rehabilitation. For families trying to support a loved one, this technology can make a difficult time feel a little more manageable.

Education and Self-Improvement

Access to law libraries and job readiness programs

Beyond communication, these tablets are powerful tools for education and personal growth. They provide access to a wide range of resources aimed at helping inmates prepare for a successful life after their release. This includes digital law libraries, which can help them understand their cases, as well as job readiness programs and business skills training. Inmates can also access a library of books and other educational materials right from their tablet. Offering these opportunities for self-improvement is a proactive step toward rehabilitation, equipping individuals with valuable knowledge and skills that can help them find employment and reintegrate into their communities more smoothly.

Facility Services and Requests

Filing grievances and placing commissary orders

The tablets also help streamline the day-to-day operations within the correctional facility, making things more efficient for both inmates and staff. Inmates can use the devices to handle a variety of administrative tasks that used to require a lot of paperwork and waiting. For example, they can file grievances, submit requests to staff, manage documents related to their case, and even place orders from the commissary. This digital system not only speeds up these processes but also creates a clear, trackable record of all requests and communications. It’s a practical application of technology that improves the overall management of the facility and allows staff to address inmate needs more effectively.

The Financial Side: Who Pays and What Does It Cost?

While the benefits of tablets in jails are clear, a major question for families is about the cost. Understanding who pays for these devices and the services they provide is essential, as the financial responsibility often falls on the inmates and their loved ones. The pricing models can be complex, with costs varying for communication, entertainment, and educational content. It’s important to get a clear picture of these expenses to avoid any surprises and to budget for staying connected and supporting your loved one while they are incarcerated.

How Tablet Programs Are Funded

Third-party providers and subscription models

You might be wondering who foots the bill for all this technology. In most cases, the correctional facilities themselves aren’t paying for the tablets directly. Instead, the programs are often funded by third-party technology providers. These companies provide the tablets to the facilities at no cost. They make their money by selling digital content and communication services to the inmates and their families. This can include subscriptions for music, games, and movies, as well as per-minute or per-message charges for calls and texts. It’s a business model that allows facilities to offer modern technology without using taxpayer funds, but it shifts the financial responsibility to the users.

Specific Costs for Families in California

Changes in call and message pricing

For families in California, the cost of staying in touch has seen some recent adjustments. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has made changes to make communication a bit more affordable. For instance, the price for video calls has been reduced from 16 cents per minute down to 10 cents per minute. Similarly, the cost for sending an e-message has dropped from five cents to just three cents. While these amounts might seem small, they can add up significantly over time for families who are trying to maintain regular contact. These price reductions are a welcome change that can help ease the financial burden of supporting a loved one who is incarcerated.

New costs for entertainment and accessories

While communication costs have gone down, there are new charges for some of the entertainment features on the tablets. Previously free services now come with a subscription or a one-time fee. For example, access to internet radio now costs $5.49 per month, and games that were once free are now priced at $0.99 each. It’s a trade-off; the core communication services are becoming more accessible, but the “extras” that help pass the time now have an associated cost. It’s important for families to be aware of these charges so they can budget accordingly and decide which services are most important for their loved one.

Tablets for Inmates: Helpful Tool or Major Risk?

Arguments for and against distributing tablets to inmates are coming from many different places. Some of the most vocal opponents of the program come from within the law enforcement community. The very people who are guarding the inmates believe that giving them tablets is a bad idea. Some of the reasons are given are because of actual incidents that have already occurred in jails were tablets were or are given to inmates. Tablets could potentially help people who are sitting in jail waiting for trial after being arrested. A tablet could be used to help organize a defense. The tablets are a pale option for this when compared to just posting bail. These defendants can contact a bail bond agency once arrested. The agency will collect a small fee based on the amount of bail needed. A bondsman will guarantee the full amount of bail with the court. The defendant is then released from jail. Being outside of jail makes it much simpler for defendants to coordinate with defense attorneys. Posting bail is more effective than paying for a tablet in jail. One problem is that there have been inmates who attempted to reset the tablets to the factory settings. This would have disabled the software installed on the device that limits what sites inmates can visit and what functions they can access. Another possible problem is that only certain inmates are allowed to access tablets based on the charges landing the person in jail and behavior. If an inmate gets a tablet, then someone who was banned from using one could try to intimidate the person into handing the device over. A final concern for some officers working in jails is that the tablets will become weapons.

Monitoring and Misuse Concerns

Concerns about harassment and abuse

One of the most significant worries surrounding inmate tablets is the potential for them to be used for harassment and abuse. While these devices are meant to help inmates stay connected with family and access educational materials, they can also become tools for causing harm. News investigations have revealed shocking instances where violent offenders used tablet messaging to taunt and try to profit from their victims’ families. What makes these situations even more alarming is that prison officials were sometimes completely unaware of the abuse until it was exposed by outside sources. This highlights a critical gap in monitoring, turning a tool intended for positive change into a source of continued trauma for victims.

Public debate over inmate access

These troubling incidents have sparked a heated public debate over which inmates, if any, should have access to tablets. Many victims’ families and advocates argue that providing such devices to violent criminals is inappropriate, regardless of who pays for them. They question whether someone who has caused immense harm should be given the privilege of easy communication and entertainment. This puts correctional facilities in a tough position, as they try to balance the rehabilitative goals of tablet programs with the need to ensure public safety and prevent further victimization. The core of the debate centers on whether tablet access is a right for all inmates or a privilege that should be earned through good behavior and denied to those who pose a continued threat.

Why the Department of Corrections Supports Inmate Tablets

The Department of Corrections and a few others support the idea of giving inmates tablets. A primary reason for this support is that studies have shown that providing inmates with something to do tends to reduce the amount of violence and problems in jail. The second argument in favor of giving inmates access to tablets is that they can provide educational opportunities. The tablet can become a powerful learning tool. Educating inmates help to lower recidivism rates. This can be beneficial in the long run by reducing jail populations and allowing released inmates to become contributing members of society. The tablets are not given to inmates for free. Some jails provide the tablets temporarily and only in supervised areas. The Department of Corrections wants to institute a plan where inmates are able to buy tablets through the commissary in jail. The inmates would also be able to buy music and movies to stream on the tablets. The debate over this issue is not done although it seems to be inevitable since contracts for tablets are already being negotiated. Read about Vets small business week

Reducing Contraband Cell Phones

One of the biggest security challenges inside any correctional facility is the presence of illegal cell phones. These devices can be used to coordinate prohibited activities, harass victims, or bypass official monitoring. A primary motivation for introducing official tablet programs is to reduce the demand for these contraband phones. By providing a sanctioned, monitored way for inmates to communicate with the outside world, access entertainment, and pursue education, facilities hope to make the risk of using an illegal phone less appealing. This strategy aims to create a safer environment for both staff and inmates by cutting off an uncontrolled communication channel.

Lowering Communication Costs for Families

Staying connected with a loved one who is incarcerated can be incredibly expensive, adding a significant financial burden to an already stressful situation. Recognizing this, many tablet programs are designed to make communication more affordable for families. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, for example, has stated that a key goal of its tablet initiative is to lower the costs for families to stay in touch. While services like video calls and e-messaging still have fees, they are often priced more competitively than traditional phone calls, making regular contact more accessible for families on a tight budget.

What Happens When Tablet Providers Change?

Just when you get used to a system, it can change. Correctional facilities often contract with third-party companies to provide tablet services, and these contracts don’t last forever. When a facility switches from one provider to another—for example, from ViaPath to Securus, as has been happening in California—it creates a period of transition that can be confusing for both inmates and their families. This change isn’t just a simple software update; it involves entirely new accounts, different procedures, and the loss of previously saved content. Navigating these administrative hurdles is a challenge that adds another layer of complexity to an already difficult time. It’s often much more complicated than arranging for a loved one’s release by securing a bail bond, which allows you to communicate freely without these institutional barriers.

The Transition Process for Inmates

For an inmate, a change in tablet providers is disruptive. They are required to turn in their old device from the previous company and will be issued a new one from the new provider. This isn’t an upgrade in the typical sense. The process means starting from scratch. All their personalized settings, saved materials, and contacts will be gone. They will need to learn a new interface and re-establish their digital connections and routines within the facility’s system, which can be a source of significant frustration and anxiety, especially when it impacts their connection to family and legal resources.

Turning in old devices and losing digital content

The most difficult part of the transition for many is the permanent loss of digital content. It’s crucial to understand that any photos, messages, music, or other media purchased or saved on the old tablet will not transfer to the new one. If you’ve spent months sending cherished family photos or important messages through the old system, that content will be wiped clean. This can feel like losing a personal photo album or a box of letters, and it’s an emotional blow for both the inmate and their family members who invested time and money in building that digital connection.

Action Steps for Family and Friends

When you learn that your loved one’s facility is switching tablet providers, you’ll need to take a few key steps to ensure communication can continue smoothly. First, confirm which company is taking over and when the switch will officially happen. The facility should provide this information, but you may need to be proactive in asking. Once the new system is active, you will have to set up an entirely new account with that provider. This means you cannot use your old login credentials; you must go through the registration process again to add funds and connect with your loved one.

Creating new accounts and requesting refunds

Your first step is to visit the new provider’s website and create a family and friends account. You will need your loved one’s inmate ID number and facility information to link your account to them. At the same time, you should address any remaining balance on your old account with the previous provider. These funds will not automatically transfer. You will need to contact the old provider’s customer service to formally request a refund for any unused money. If you run into any issues or have questions about navigating the justice system, don’t hesitate to contact a knowledgeable team for guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who actually pays for these tablets and the services on them? While the tablets are often provided to the facility at no charge, the costs for using them are passed on to the inmates and their families. Third-party tech companies fund the programs by selling digital services. This means you will pay for things like video calls, e-messages, and entertainment subscriptions for music or games.

Can my loved one use a tablet to prepare for their court case? Yes, to a limited extent. The tablets provide access to digital law libraries, which can be helpful for basic research. However, this is not a substitute for working directly with a legal team. Preparing a strong defense is much more effective when done in person, which is why securing a bail bond to get released from jail is a far better option for communicating freely with an attorney and gathering necessary documents.

What should I do if the jail switches tablet companies? Will I lose my money? If the facility changes its tablet provider, any money on your old account will not transfer automatically. You will need to create a brand new account with the new company to continue communicating with your loved one. To get your money back from the old provider, you must contact their customer service directly to request a refund for your remaining balance.

I’m worried about safety. How are these tablets monitored to prevent misuse? This is a valid concern. The tablets operate on a closed, monitored network designed to track communications and restrict access to unapproved websites. Despite these measures, there have been cases where inmates have misused the devices for harassment. It highlights a challenge for correctional facilities as they try to balance the benefits of the technology with the critical need for security and victim protection.

If these tablets are so controversial, why do correctional facilities use them? Correctional facilities support tablet programs for a few key reasons. Officials believe that giving inmates access to education, communication, and entertainment can help reduce violence and tension within the jail. The programs also aim to decrease the demand for dangerous, illegal cell phones by providing a sanctioned alternative for inmates to connect with the outside world.

Key Takeaways

• Tablets provide a controlled connection: These devices allow inmates to communicate with family, access educational programs, and manage facility requests, but all activity is monitored and restricted within the jail’s system.
• Be prepared for the associated costs: Correctional facilities partner with private companies that charge families for tablet services, so staying in touch through video calls, messages, and entertainment subscriptions requires a financial commitment.
• Posting bail is the superior choice for a legal defense: While tablets offer some resources, securing a release from jail is the most effective way to prepare for court, as it allows for private, unrestricted communication with your legal team.

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