Tablet technology in Texas jails was pitched as a game-changer for inmate communication, but three years in, it's proving to be a costly affair for inmates and their families. The tablets, which have spread across the state and reached county jails like Harris County Jail, were supposed to make life easier for inmates by facilitating better communication with loved ones, cutting down contraband, and providing access to digital resources.
However, as reported by KSAT, these devices have turned into another source of revenue on the backs of the vulnerable. In an unsettling twist, even pre-trial detainees, who've yet to be convicted, are subjected to the high costs associated with using these tablets. The cost for electronic messages and entertainment are particularly high, leading critics to refer to these fees as a "love tax."
The chief beneficiaries of these costs are companies like the Dallas-based Securus Technologies, which dominates the market for jail and prison communication tech. A spokesperson for Aventiv, the parent company of Securus, confirmed that nine Texas jail facilities have adopted their tablets, locking inmates and their families into their fee-based ecosystem. Advocates argue that communication, which is key to reducing recidivism, shouldn't come with such a hefty price tag. As Drew Willey, a Houston attorney, said to KSAT, "communicating with your loved one is an honored constitutional right."
While the tablets come with some free materials like religious texts, a law library, and self-help resources, the cost to access additional features adds up quickly. Phone calls and e-messages via tablets incur charges that can be a heavy burden on inmates' families. It's a stark contrast to the free or low-cost communication that people outside prison walls enjoy, raising ethical questions about the monetization of a captive audience's need to connect with the outside world.
In response to these concerns, some Texas counties are rethinking the way they handle inmate communication. Following national advocacy for lower costs, Harris County struck a deal granting inmates up to four free calls per week, yet still draws a minimum of $500,000 annually from call payments. Dallas County, on the other hand, has slashed call rates significantly by eliminating commissions from its Securus contract. Securus still profits from charges for tablet damages, with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins rationalizing that "if it's going to cost you something, you won't damage it," as he told KSAT.
