Introduction
The rehabilitation of prisoners has been viewed as a way of punishing criminals for their wrongs and a means of preparing them for reintegration into society. However, over the past decade, this notion has changed following the introduction of tablets to inmates. The tablets provide prisoners with entertainment, education, and communication channels. They help prisoners educate themselves in ways that instill social and technical skills that could be useful once they are released from prison. 11 states are currently using the JP5 mini-tablet (Bhattacharya, 2015). The tablet offers communication features such as email, ecards, and videograms. Examples of facilities that use tablets within the US include Sanilac County Jail, St. Clair County Jail, Albany County Correctional Facility, Pima County Jail, and Davidson County Jail.
Main body
The tablets allow inmates to access resources such as libraries, brain teaser-type games, podcasts, news, books, music, movies, and job-search software (Diallo, 2015). Inmates can use these resources to pursue specific rehabilitation programming at their own pace. For example, they can use library resources to learn new languages, acquire new skills, and pursue their hobbies. Studies have shown that correctional facilities that have been running the tablet program have reported positive results about helping inmates reenter society (Diallo, 2015). The main goal of the program is to reduce recidivism by encouraging good behavior and the acquisition of new skills. The management teams of correctional facilities monitor the tablets to ensure that inmates use them appropriately (Bhattacharya, 2015). They have put in place several security measures. For instance, jail staff has master tablets that can shut down any tablet that they identify as being used in the wrong way. An inmate can pursue specific rehabilitation programming at their own pace.
Communication tools such as email, ecards, and videograms allow inmates to maintain contact with their families and build strong relationships (Diallo, 2015. In many jails, inmates are allowed to text only 10 contacts that have been approved. The screening and approval are done to improve security. Many tablets have been programmed to prevent prisoners from accessing social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter (Bhattacharya, 2015). On the other hand, communication with family members is highly monitored. People from the outside are required to get access to the communication platform created by correctional facilities to allow them to talk to inmates (LeBlanc, 2016).
The tablets keep inmates occupied with positive activities that enhance their rehabilitation experiences. The inmates get vocational training through the numerous educational materials that they receive (Bhattacharya, 2015). Many jails have replaced recreational reading libraries with more robust libraries that provide access to thousands of books in different disciplines and languages (Diallo, 2015). A study conducted by the RAND Corporation in 2013 showed that educational programs in jails play an important role in reducing the rates of recidivism among inmates. On the other hand, a study conducted by the Vera Institute of Justice revealed that inmates who maintained regular contact with family members were less likely to go back to prison compared to inmates who did not (LeBlanc, 2016).
Conclusion
Tablets are beneficial for rehabilitation because they provide education, entertainment, and vocational training. They keep the inmates productively occupied by allowing them to communicate with their families and attain knowledge and new skills. Moreover, inmates can use them to pursue specific rehabilitation programming at their own pace.
References
Bhattacharya, A. (2015). This is the tablet prisoners use.CNNtech. Web.
Diallo, A. (2015). With prison tablets, a choice between rehabilitation and profiteering.Aljazeera America. Web.
LeBlanc, B. (2016). Jail inmates with good behavior can get access to tablets.Detroit Free Press. Web.