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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Electronic tablets are being introduced to the Harris County Jail, and administrators believe they will enhance safety and support inmates by facilitating contact with family members and access to legal research.
These tablets, which will be provided to every inmate by September, come at no cost to taxpayers and are supplied by Securus Technologies, a Dallas-based company that has been providing similar devices to Texas state prisons since 2021.
The tablets are strictly monitored and do not have full internet access. Inmates cannot use social media and are restricted to calling only pre-approved contacts.
The tablets come with free apps that offer access to a law library, religious texts, and self-help resources. “Idle time can lead to issues. Engaging in education and other services available on the tablets helps inmates stay busy and occupied, which in turn creates a calmer jail environment,” explained HCSO Assistant Chief Phillip Bosquez.
However, there is concern over the technology company’s practice of charging inmates for calls, with some critics arguing that the tablets are another way to profit from a captive audience.
As of Friday, the average stay at the Harris County Jail is 184 days. Inmate Carlos Garcia shared, “I talk to my wife every night. I have five kids, so I get to talk to my kids, my wife, and my mom. We’re all human and we all make mistakes. It’s good to have something like this in jail because it helps. Sometimes it gets violent in here, and this will reduce a lot of violence in the dorms.”
In addition to the free resources, inmates can also purchase approved movies and TV shows on the tablets.