State of Iowa considers email for inmates

abregar · 09-13-2007, 07:51 PM

DesMoinesRegister.com

This was a recint article in the Des Moines Register. Just wondeering what national opinion is on this subject. Iowa opinion seems to be split.

northhunter · 09-14-2007, 07:37 AM

Would e-mail be easier (cheaper) to monitor than regular hand written mail? As long as it could be done in a secure manner I'd be ok with it.
My first impression was great, another example of pampering convicts. On reflection I see it as keeping up with the times. Imagine what it was like when prisoners were first allowed use of a phone?

hsmith · 09-14-2007, 08:49 AM

it is jail you aren't supposed to have fucking email

WickedLou9 · 09-14-2007, 09:52 AM

Jail is supposed to be "correctional" right? I mean they aren't called "punishment facilities". The idea is that the person not commit another crime. allowing them limited contact with thier families and such might be beneficial. They can already make a phone call and recieve mail and even have visitors to a limited extent.
Don't forget that they are still in jail. They eat when they are told, they sleep when they are told, they shower when they are told. If they got e-mail, they would be able to do e-mail only when they are told they can. The part of jail that is bad is the part where you lose your freedom. Giving them e-mail isn't doing much. Better for them to communicate with the outside world than only communicate with other criminals.

Phantom · 09-14-2007, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Jail is supposed to be "correctional" right? I mean they aren't called "punishment facilities". The idea is that the person not commit another crime. allowing them limited contact with thier families and such might be beneficial. They can already make a phone call and recieve mail and even have visitors to a limited extent.

Allowing more contact with families might also be beneficial - give inmates a connection to the outside world that hopefully they will re-enter and thrive in after release.

Writing requires an address, and visits are cumbersome. I can see advantages to allowing email use for some inmates.

motivez · 09-14-2007, 12:47 PM

I don't have a problem with it.. email is the equivalent of paper mail in this day and age and the ability to communicate with family, lawyers, etc, is certainly beneficial.

There should probably be some type of good behavior requirement, though, since I'm sure many still see it as more of a luxury than writing a letter..

I think we need to focus jail more on rehabilitation instead of letting prisons turn into places where criminals are taught to be better criminals, usually working their way up from less to more serious offenses as time spent in jail increases.

JaJae · 09-14-2007, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I don't have a problem with it.. email is the equivalent of paper mail in this day and age and the ability to communicate with family, lawyers, etc, is certainly beneficial.

There should probably be some type of good behavior requirement, though, since I'm sure many still see it as more of a luxury than writing a letter..

I think we need to focus jail more on rehabilitation instead of letting prisons turn into places where criminals are taught to be better criminals, usually working their way up from less to more serious offenses as time spent in jail increases.

I would assume it would be cheaper than paper mail which has to be sorted, read, etc. If they can store it electronically it might actually be more cost effective.

In NJ they started giving inmates laptops to search legal issues because the prison libraries were getting too crowded. I think it was only a matter of time before things changed. They have the ability to write letters, have them screened and mailed out. I see no reason to allow them to type up a letter have it screened and then e-mailed out. It probably saves taxpayer's money. The more they send electronically and not on paper the cheaper it probably is for us.

The cost of prison postal services for say 2,500+ inmates a year is probably a lot more than a $40 cable connection and 20 Dell entry-level computers.

motivez · 09-14-2007, 10:15 PM

You have to factor in the fact that they'd need a network, someone to run it, software that can block certain websites, programs, and so on and so forth. .. would be decently expensive to maintain

I don't know a cost estimate for the other end of the stick, but I'm not sure it'd really save money

JaJae · 09-14-2007, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

You have to factor in the fact that they'd need a network, someone to run it, software that can block certain websites, programs, and so on and so forth. .. would be decently expensive to maintain

I don't know a cost estimate for the other end of the stick, but I'm not sure it'd really save money

I've been in prisons, I really doubt it would be that involved. They'd probably buy a software parental control program, a few $350 Dell computers and a DSL or cable connection and a router (if they don't already have a network). I really don't think there would be much beyond that. I'm sure they'd have all outgoing mail saved to an outbox and screened like they do written mail. That would be the biggest expense, but still probably cheaper than the alternative.

In NJ they have laptops for the inmates so they can go online to research legal information. It's really not that involved or expensive.

abregar · 09-14-2007, 11:53 PM

Part of the proposal here in Iowa is that the inmates and their families would pay to use the email system just like their phone calls. I like aome others was at first appalled at the thought of giving convicts more amenities, however I have been convinced that it may be a positive influence on this people. I think they should start a pilot program with just one prison involved and work out any bugs with the system there before advancing to the entire prison system.

JaJae · 09-15-2007, 12:15 AM

As a side note I really don't think there would be much of a demand for felon e-mail...

nbiggershaft · 09-16-2007, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by hsmith

it is jail you aren't supposed to have fucking email

We're not in Turkey, our prisoners get to write letters home.

RMNIXON · 09-16-2007, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I don't have a problem with it.. email is the equivalent of paper mail in this day and age and the ability to communicate with family, lawyers, etc, is certainly beneficial.

I think most of us agree on this one. The basic right to communicate has been there all along. If it means they go to a room and use e-mail the same way they mail a letter or use a phone seems reasonable. It is not like they want to put computers will full internet in the cells. Not to mention the simple fact that many inmates must make expensive collect calls to friends and family. That is a burden on the public, not the criminal.

nbiggershaft · 09-16-2007, 03:50 PM

To be honest, I'd just as soon has inmates be able to pay for computers and tv's in their rooms. I could care less about them being 'coddled'. Especially if it means happy prisoners costing less in security and legal costs when they stab each other.