Prison inmates often feel isolated from their loved ones while serving time, but modern technology makes staying connected easier than ever – with services such as e-messaging providing an effective alternative to letters and phone calls.
Contact loved ones incarcerated 24 hours a day! Simply add inmates to your Contacts list, purchase stamps (prices may differ depending on facility) and send your messages directly.
Cost-Effective
Text messaging services allow family and friends of incarcerated loved ones to stay connected at an affordable cost, while helping inmates maintain strong ties to family members while remaining abreast of current events – an integral component of rehabilitation processes and lessening feelings of isolation during incarceration. However, these services must be closely monitored to ensure a secure service for families as well as inmates alike.
Prison-issued tablets provide inmates with e-messaging apps to stay in contact with pre-approved contacts using electronic messaging services, allowing them to send and receive text messages, make phone calls, play digital games and listen to music as well as take courses. While inmates spend some money on these services through government subsidies (rates may differ by facility), these can still be expensive for their families.
Many e-messaging providers charge a fee for every message and some charge twice that amount if any attachments such as photos or short videos are included with that message. This can be especially costly for poor people trying to maintain relationships while in jail; some providers also encourage this practice, encouraging inmates to prepay large packages of messages which is ultimately wasteful spending of their hard-earned cash.
Prisons should explore more cost-effective communication options for inmates, such as video conferencing calling and mobile applications. They should also make it easier for prisoners to stay in touch with family by offering reduced phone call prices and better internet connectivity.
Discreet
Inmates using prison messaging apps have a convenient and discreet means of staying in touch with those outside. However, this technology may raise privacy issues that must be closely monitored by authorities; any communication through prison messaging apps could potentially be used against them in court proceedings.
TRULINCS allows inmates to communicate with family and loved ones outside through third-party vendors by sending emails or texts through third-party vendors. While inmate phone calls are limited to 300 minutes each month, emails have no time limit – however all inmates must consent to being monitored as messages may be reviewed for content that might compromise public safety or orderly operation of the facility.
Corrlinks messages cannot exceed 13,000 characters, and inmates must have approved contacts in order to communicate. Anyone not approved will receive an error message when trying to message an inmate. They can send and receive photos through this system for $0.25 each picture they send or receive.
Text messaging services allow families to stay in contact with incarcerated loved ones at an affordable and secure price, helping to enhance emotional wellbeing and facilitate reintegration back into society after release. In addition, these services save time by eliminating expensive phone calls or lengthy letter writing sessions.
Security Concerns
Federal prisons must find a balance between providing communication to inmates and upholding security. Prison authorities must monitor inmates to prevent illegal activities like criminal coordinating and harassment, while staff ensure messages do not enable prisoners to contact each other via text messaging (for instance using TRULINCS which limits public messaging for inmates to 13,000 characters and does not permit foreign symbols, bold font or photos). Achieving such an equilibrium may prove challenging.
Correctional facilities do not permit inmates to use personal phones for communication; thus they must rely on approved communication systems instead. Global Tel*Link, a private for-profit prison phone company, offers bundles that include call and texting services on tablet devices compatible with prison requirements; unlike phone calls, texting is free for inmates and their families alike whereas Global Tel*Link makes money through per minute pricing charges.
Families can deposit funds into an inmate’s account so that they may purchase other services, such as music, games and digital photo cards. Unfortunately, inmates cannot access outside Internet or social media through these systems – though their tablets allow them to browse DOC-approved websites offering links and news.
Inmates have reported that the sudden shutdown of tablet communication has exasperated feelings of isolation and frustration among them. One Brookings inmate reported having to wait 45 minutes during peak times before getting his turn with landline phone, only then to receive error notices on his message screen. The Department of Corrections did not offer an explanation as to why tablet communications were taken offline other than saying there was an investigation underway into security threats or hacking activities.
Privacy Concerns
Text messaging offers federal inmates’ families an alternative means of communication that allows them to stay in contact more frequently and discreetly than letters or phone calls, helping to maintain family ties, reduce feelings of isolation and enhance reentry success. Furthermore, it serves as an efficient method for monitoring inmates’ safety; yet comes with some privacy issues which must be considered carefully.
Prison apps such as JPay and Corrlinks are monitored by staff and may only be used with pre-approved contact lists. Furthermore, some services like these use encryption technology to help protect an inmate’s privacy; nonetheless it’s important for their loved ones to remember that any communication sent over these channels could potentially be subpoenaed in civil or family court proceedings.
Advocates and regulators have succeeded in successfully reducing prison phone rates, yet phone companies continue to find creative ways to profit off prisoners by increasing per-minute pricing or charging “literacy taxes,” both of which benefit them when an inmate sends or reads a message sent by loved ones from prison.
Prison messaging provides many benefits; however, it can also be misused for illicit activity. Inmates could potentially use it to plan illegal activity or bring contraband into correctional facilities. Authorities must implement stringent security measures and give prisoners access to review their email account history and ensure that unapproved users do not gain entry.