Did inmates at an Ohio maximum security prison get a free iPad because of COVID? We received a tip that asked SCDN to investigate reports of free tablets at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Our tipster said, “Inmates at SOCF received IPods when COVID came out (so they wouldn’t get bored). I was told every inmate got one. Don’t know truth or fake.” So what’s the truth?
We checked with a prison employee to find out what’s really going on. It’s true that some inmates do have tablets. However, they are not iPads and the tablets have nothing to do with COVID-19. The tablets have been part of prison life for several years. They’re provided to prisoners to enable them to stay in contact with their families. The belief is that inmates who keep in contact with relatives during their sentences are less likely to re-offend when they get out.
The tablets come from a company called JPay. JPay is a technology company that deals exclusively with prisoners. They offer special Android tablets approved prisoners can use in jail. In some cases, JPay donates the tablets to the prisoners for free. In other cases, relatives can either purchase the tablets from JPay or transfer money to the inmate’s account through JPay and the inmate can purchase the tablet.
One big difference you’ll notice is that these tablets are clear. That’s to make sure inmates can’t hide contraband inside.
Limited Access
JPay provides wireless hotspots at the prison. Only JPay tablets can access the hotspot. The tablets only connect to JPay’s server. Inmates can’t log onto Facebook, Netflix, or free email services like Gmail or Outlook.
Among the services available on the tablets are:
- Phone calls
- Emails, eCards and videoGrams
- Online courses, podcasts, and eBooks
- The ability to purchase music, play games, rent movies
- News
Tablet providers claim that access to music, games, and other media, “Fesulted in notable decreases in suicide attempts and ideations, successful suicides, inmate on staff assaults, and inmate-on-inmate assaults.”
Free With A Catch
Prison advocates have heavily criticized JPay for squeezing money out of Ohio inmates and their families with ‘free’ tablets. Phone calls, emails, and videoGramsare not free. The music, games, eBooks, and movies cost money. Critics say JPay charges substantially more than what people pay for these items outside of prison walls.
A single email is .35. Want to add a photo? Then it costs .70. Want to sent video? Then it will cost $1.40. The company places JPay kiosks in prisons where inmates can buy digital “stamps” to send mail.
Reports say a single album of music could cost more than $40. JPay charges for eBooks that people can often find free on Amazon or other book retailers. The media accounts for prisoners are funded by their families.
JPay isn’t the only company that offers tablets for prisoners. GTL also offers tablets for inmates and has also been accused of jacking up the prices to take advantage of people behind bars.
Back in 2018, 300 prisoners in the Idaho prison system managed to hack the JPay system and give themselves $250,000 in credits.
Bottom Line
- Prisoners do have tablets.
- The tablets have been around for years.
- Families of prisoners pay for the content and sometimes for the tablets.
