If you read one thing: Communications at the Harris County Jail are set to go mostly digital in coming months after officials reached an agreement with a prison technology company to provide tablets and other new devices.
What will change?
Starting before the end of the year, tablets will be available to people in the jail to use to send messages to friends and family, watch movies and read things. However, they will no longer be able to directly receive letters sent to them, which will now be scanned to make an electronic copy that they will receive on their devices.
Why this change?
Officials with the Sheriff's Office say the change will give inmates better access to the outside world and help make the facility safer, claiming that some people sent letters soaked in chemicals that inmates could use as narcotics.
Why are some upset about this change?
Advocates levied most of their criticism at the technology company, Securus, arguing it is using the county's contract to charge fees and profit off inmates. They also noted that rehabilitation can be aided with the connection and love that comes with real mail and pushed back against safety concern claims, noting that studies show most drugs come into jails through staff, rather than loved ones outside.
Read Matt deGrood's full story here.
No comments:
Post a Comment