26,000 Indiana Prisoners to Receive Free Tablets for Personal Use

Indicating that the devices will be used for the purpose of furthering educational possibilities, programming, and providing entertainment, the Indiana Department of Corrections (IODC) recently announced a new initiative that would see the statewide prison system’s 26,000 inmates receive a free tablet computer, according to a report published by the IndyStar.

In what IODC officials are referring to as a “system-wide technology push,” the incarcerated constituents thereof could each receive a “secure tablet,” which would primarily be used as a mechanism to stay in contact with their families while behind bars. Likewise, the modified tablets could be used to “further education and personal development by providing inmates with access to classwork and self-help material,” FOX News reports.

Most controversially, however, under the terms of the proposition that would see Indiana’s 23 prison facilities outfitted with secure networking capabilities, the tablets could also be used by inmates to acquire access to digital content and entertainment — including music and movies — which would supposedly be offered as a reward for those who display model behavior while they’re simmering in the slammer.

“What we’ve learned is that sometimes through positive reinforcement you gain better performance, better behavior,” said IODC executive director, William Wilson, while adding that his department has, in the past, successfully implemented similar “consequence-based punishment and reward methods.”

In an apparent defense of this proposition, Rutgers University Professor of Criminal Justice, Todd Clear, expressed to the IndyStar how inmates face an unavoidable “technology gap” when they leave the prison system and resume normal lives.

“They don’t know how to download stuff, they don’t know how to click on links, they don’t know how to search,” said Clear, who added that by promoting technology skills among prison inmates “They’ll come out more able to navigate the contemporary world which involves connectivity all the time.”

Sure to quash speculation that this proposal has been promoted only to reward inmates, it should be noted that IODC won’t simply be doling out a bunch of high-end tablets like they’re merely Halloween candy — but rather, officials are apparently in the process of seeking a vendor who would be willing to create “specially-built” tablets that only allow certain core functionalities.

Interestingly, in a move that’s sure to raise its fair share of eyebrows, IODC officials are hoping they’ll ultimately find a vendor who is willing to foot the bill for the entire arsenal of tablets — with the ‘promise’ of ultimately being reimbursed, over time, if and when the inmates decide to purchase digital content. According to the IndyStar, the program, which was first announced in January 2017, will be open to consideration from vendors until the end of April — with tentative rollout plans slated by the end of this year.

Do you think tablets for prison inmates will foster education and personal development? Let us know in the comments!