All prisoners in the U.S. of New York are to be given tablet computers. The freebies are part of a struck between a private service called JPay and New York's prison service. The but controversial agreement involves the contractor providing 54,700 with a free tablet. The tablets will not be Internet enabled, but prisoners will be able to get , but monitored, online by plugging their device into approved at specific times. Inmates will be allowed to email an approved list of family and friends; order certain music, books and videos; and file grievances and reports of . All of this activity will be heavily monitored by prison staff.
Prisoner support services welcomed the free tablet . They called it a "game-changer" and a "huge step ". A New York State official said the tablets would help prisoners remain to their families, and reduce tensions between prisoners and prison . However, law enforcement agencies are questioning the of giving tablets to convicts. Some enforcement officers described it as a example of how crime does pay. Top police officer Ed Mullins questioned why prisoners were getting free tablets when other people in are struggling. He said: "Little is done for the , mentally ill, and -working people who can't afford tablets in New York State."
