Federal prisoners can use text messaging apps to stay in touch with their loved ones while also serving as a safe platform for rehabilitation and connection with family.
These applications have been specifically created to comply with prison regulations and are managed by staff. This technology enables loved ones to send inmates messages, photos and eCards directly.
Cost
Text messaging provides prisoners with a cost-effective, discreet means of staying in touch with family and friends while in prison, fostering positive attitudes that contribute to rehabilitation and reentry into society. Texting offers many advantages over traditional phone calls in that there’s no login credentials needed – inmates can get notifications immediately of new messages instead of having to wait for others to respond first before being notified themselves of new ones!
Inmates may access ConnectNetwork via either their own mobile device or an approved tablet provided by the prison. They can purchase messages in bulk to send to multiple recipients at once, or pay per message at an individual rate; each facility’s Messaging rates can be seen by signing into ConnectNetwork account or clicking “Buy Credits”. Inmates cannot use cell phones to text as this would violate prison regulations and law; instead they can ask outside contacts to forward them messages on their behalf.
Many inmate communication services are profitable for companies offering them, yet do not always benefit the prisoner or their loved ones. Per-minute pricing structures may prove prohibitively costly for people with lower literacy levels who struggle to quickly read and respond to emails; it also seems unfair for families who send the same message twice for payment purposes – one when sent, and once when read by an inmate.
Regulations
Electronic messaging can be invaluable for both inmates and their loved ones; however, for-profit companies providing this service must be held accountable. Some firms impose per-message charges that don’t reflect costs; they also charge extra features like photo uploading or forwarding; they may limit how many messages exceed 13,000 characters due to security requirements; furthermore some charge per message over this limit due to security restrictions requiring review by prison staff.
Some jails and prisons have implemented secure messaging systems that enable inmates to communicate with approved contacts through computer kiosks or other devices. These services are typically governed by their facility’s contract with their service provider and typically impose stringent content and security standards, often necessitating use of an email account instead.
As well as these restrictions, some e-messaging services have privacy policies which can be difficult to comprehend. JPay, for example, states in their policy that users’ data may be shared with “law enforcement personnel and/or correctional facilities”. Such vague language leaves plenty of room for interpretation and raises many questions regarding how data is stored and utilized; its policies should clearly outline this usage so users know exactly how it’s used and can control their own information.
Privacy
Text apps provide an innovative solution for friends and family of people in incarcerated loved ones to maintain contact, eliminating costly phone calls or letters as forms of contact. Before using such technologies, however, it is crucial that one understands their privacy policies and procedures associated with these apps – for instance e-messaging providers should outline in their privacy policies the exact storage location and who has access. Furthermore, correctional facilities should allow competing providers to install their apps onto tablets; this would promote competition, reduce costs while improving functionality as well as competition among providers as well as functionality among facilities’ residents.
Though prisoners have limited privacy rights, they do have the right to quality communication tools. Unfortunately, however, the current communication landscape is dominated by companies that prioritize profits over user experience; many participants in our studies complained about being given communication tools that weren’t functional and were overpriced.
The GettingOut app enables loved ones of federal inmates who are housed at certain correctional facilities to send texts directly to them via tablet devices inside prisons, with messages costing $0.25 each being sent out. Photos and VideoGrams may also be uploaded for review by facility authorities before being shared with inmates.
Apps
Inmate text apps offer cost-effective and discreet communication options for prisoners to stay in touch with their families while remaining hidden from sight. Prison officials monitor these applications closely to ensure appropriate communication, prevent inappropriate messages from reaching inmates and facilitate rehabilitation and reentry back into society. Unfortunately, implementing such technologies within correctional facilities may prove costly and time consuming.
GettingOut allows family and friends to maintain contact with incarcerated loved ones by sending them messages, photos, and videos directly to certain facilities. Inmates also gain access to social media allowing them to easily update their accounts and share information – they can even edit photos with filter effects and check in via Foursquare directly from this app!
SmartInmate(tm) communication system enables family and friends to send electronic messages directly to an incarcerated individual from within a correctional institution using safe computer kiosks or tablets located there. Each message costs 50 cents, which is less than the price of one postage stamp; collect/COD can also be done free-of-charge while postage paid messages may incur fees upon delivery.
TextBehind is an inmate texting app with stellar reviews that provides federal inmates with secure, reliable, and cost-effective communication with family members behind bars. With user-friendly navigation and top-of-the-line security features it makes an excellent solution for communicating with loved ones behind bars.