[ad_1]
Photo courtesy
Charging carts hold tablets in a Utah prison.
Beginning Nov. 9, inmates at the Utah County Jail will have access to electronic tablets that allow them to access educational, community, training, religious and recreational resources. Tablets are good for prisoners, for example for prison staff.
“We’ve been trying to make this project happen for several years, but because of COVID and all the issues that come with it, we can’t get these tablets,” said Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith. Be patient. During the process, several people have told me how excited they are to get them.”
According to Lt. Regan Clark of the Utah Sheriff’s Office, the tablets were created by communicating with simple, a communications company, also provides inmates with a phone, visitation and email system. Enough pills can be provided to each prisoner per day if needed, unless they are on special surveillance or are at high risk. There are about 460 prisoners in the prison.
“Once they’re sorted, we issue them a tablet. They can choose to use the free content or pay for additional services,” Clark said.
Free content includes clocks, calculators, financial history, thousands of podcasts, religious apps, eBooks, and job-seeking apps. While prisoners are able to research available jobs, they cannot apply while in custody. According to Clark, this is because inmates are not allowed to communicate with the outside world, but they have access to the information they need to apply after release.
Different educational apps offer K-8 and college content, as well as videos such as “Chasing the Dragon,” a documentary designed to educate about the dangers of drug addiction.
A reference-only app includes access to inmate handbooks, schedules, tablet rules, religious services and handbooks, and information on community resources such as shelters and mental health options, Clark said. “There’s a lot of potential to do a lot of good things there,” he said.
Communication is a key component of your tablet. Before the advent of tablets, prisoners could only use their phones when they were out of their cells for entertainment. But with this tablet, they can call family and friends from their phones. There is also the option to send electronic messages and send digital cards, such as birthday cards, from the tablet. “Our family and friends rave about this use,” Clark said.
Prisoners can also order commissary items such as food, hygiene items and stamps via the tablet. For an additional $5 a month, inmates can subscribe to additional content on their tablets, including games, movies, national news, TV shows and music — though some content costs extra per use.
According to Clark, there is no additional cost to the county to obtain the pills. Representatives working at the prison said the program went very well and the environment they used was calm. “Prisoners said they were happier,” he said.
Plus, the tablet is safe — no access to the internet or download of unapproved apps or services. Prisoners can get their pills in the morning and keep them until 9:30pm
Clark said he thinks the main benefit is in the education program, although there are many positives.
“During COVID, when things were shut down and we had to limit religious services to prisons, that would have been a good thing,” he said. “Now they can look at religious, educational and community resources. When they’re released, they can find something to look forward to and work on.”
communication
[ad_2]
Source link