Text messaging federal inmates can be an efficient and cost-effective alternative to costly phone calls and letters, and helps build connections between inmates and their support networks that may assist during rehabilitation processes.
Correctional facilities often provide inmates with kiosks or tablets enabling access to this service, where messages can be scheduled for later delivery, and photo sharing allowed.
Cost
Text messaging services may be costly, but prisoners and their loved ones incarcerated need them in order to maintain communication. More private than phone calls or letters, text messaging allows incarcerated individuals to regain a sense of control over their lives in prison, as well as helping to ease family burdens that include stamps, paper, photo printers and money order shops.
These services make profits by forcing families to prepay in bulk and then charging more per message than is fair and just; thus, the Commission should intervene and stop this unfair and unjust pricing system.
At present, inmates can only be reached via email or the prison systems’ phone and video-conferencing programs. Each state operates its own program at different rates; costs vary widely depending on state monopolies such as North Carolina where family members of inmates must pay $0.20 per message through that state’s system; but California and Oregon offer much cheaper solutions.
Prison companies also employ “bulk-pricing” schemes which require customers to prepay for larger blocks of messages at a higher rate, incurring two charges: once when purchasing and again when their inmate reads their message. This practice violates Commission rules; thus Congress should address these issues accordingly.
Privacy
Communication is at the core of daily life; yet for individuals incarcerated behind bars it can be an immense struggle to stay connected. Federal inmate text messaging provides an effective solution, allowing inmates to stay in contact with loved ones even while behind bars; although these texts may not offer as much privacy than outside messages do they can still provide human connections as well as advocacy platforms to aid rehabilitation and support the process of rehabilitation.
Traditional forms of communication between inmates and their loved ones were expensive and time consuming, subject to censorship, and often difficult for inmates to navigate. Text messaging provides an efficient alternative that is quick and cost effective compared to more traditional means.
Inmates with access to tablets inside prison can send and receive text messages on those provided as a service, incurring data charges while their loved ones pay $0.25 per message sent or received. They can also submit photos for approval if no explicit images are allowed.
Inmate messaging services are subject to stringent privacy and security regulations, including strict guidelines regarding forwarded emails. Inmates can only forward them to family, lawyers and certain special recipients. Furthermore, anyone engaging in abusive conduct could be banned from the service entirely.
Security
Communication systems with inmates come with various security ramifications. Email systems for example often impose character limits of 13,000 characters – letters, numbers, punctuation marks all count against this limit – while these messaging systems were typically intended only to store messages for posterity rather than instant communication – making long documents such as legal briefs difficult to send through these messaging systems.
Prisons have reported instances wherein inmates use cell phones to send texts about criminal activities like gang activity, drugs and other illicit behavior to outside contacts and can have serious disciplinary repercussions for both themselves and outside contacts. Furthermore, this message can impact public perception of prison systems and staff negatively.
Jail officials can restrict Corrlinks access by excluding inmates with records that pose threats to institutional security or the public from its program, usually after reviewing an inmate’s presentence investigation report. Unfortunately, restricting access can be costly for jails – it could cost tens of thousands in total just to stop providing this service that comes as part of each tablet purchase price.
Global Tel*Link and ViaPath Technologies contract with local and state jails, prisons, and similar facilities to provide communication services for inmates who are incarcerated – this includes telephone and video calls as well as messaging systems – while collecting personal data about customers including names, addresses, government ID numbers such as passport or driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, financial account details etc.
Misuse
Text messaging among inmates has become an increasingly popular method of communication, yet it also poses several security concerns. To effectively utilize this technology for its intended benefits while meeting security measures, inmates should only be allowed to utilize approved devices and services that are monitored by prison officials – this will prevent harassment, threats or coordination of felony activities occurring without monitoring. Furthermore, programs equipped with synthetic intelligence can detect suspicious messages quickly and alert authorities as necessary.
Even with its potential misuse, inmate texting can have positive impacts on prisoner rehabilitation. It allows individuals incarcerated to maintain important family ties while receiving crucial social support essential to recovery and successful reintegration into society. Furthermore, text messaging has the power to boost an inmate’s psychological well-being, morale, and help make better decisions moving forward.
Text messaging for federal inmates can be an invaluable way to maintain healthy relationships while behind bars. Prisoners can receive updates on family matters and legal proceedings while building sense of community and morale within their prison cell community. Furthermore, texting can facilitate rehabilitation by giving inmates access to educational programs and vocational training resources; all this makes a big difference in an inmate’s life and increases chances of successful reintegration into society after release from incarceration.