Do some prisons allow inmates to use computers?

[xanthra]

I did not know if it was universal that inmates cannot use computers. Is it because it is too hard to control the sites they go to?

[RaRi]

I don't know of any prisons that allow inmates to use computers and access the www. There are certain jobs where inmates use a computer for data entry, I even saw once where a prison trained some inmates for a call center~ incoming calls, trouble shooting~ the pay was decent and it did teach them a skill.
The prison my son is in they have Jpay, I am able to send him something like an e-mail, it's printed out and given to him usually within 24 hours. He's able to write out a reply long hand, it's scanned and then sent to me. He told me he heard they are going to set up a Kiosk for replies with a keyboard and everything!
My son has told me lots and lots of inmates now have cell phones ( contraband) with Internet access so like always anything on the streets is behind the walls too.

[SusanWayward]

Originally Posted by xanthra

I did not know if it was universal that inmates cannot use computers. Is it because it is too hard to control the sites they go to?

Yes, none are allowed internet access. The Federal prisons have an email system, but all the inmate can do is type a message and hit send! It is only to communicate with approved family & friends.

Some prisons are teaching computer courses that don't include internet access and some have Microsoft Office or similar in the law library for the use of the inmates.

[xanthra]

Originally Posted by RaRi

I don't know of any prisons that allow inmates to use computers and access the www. There are certain jobs where inmates use a computer for data entry, I even saw once where a prison trained some inmates for a call center~ incoming calls, trouble shooting~ the pay was decent and it did teach them a skill.
The prison my son is in they have Jpay, I am able to send him something like an e-mail, it's printed out and given to him usually within 24 hours. He's able to write out a reply long hand, it's scanned and then sent to me. He told me he heard they are going to set up a Kiosk for replies with a keyboard and everything!
My son has told me lots and lots of inmates now have cell phones ( contraband) with Internet access so like always anything on the streets is behind the walls too.

Thanks so much. I did not know about the jpay messages. I'm new at this so I don't know about a lot of things!
I am on some guys contraband cell at the prison and I get some hair raising calls but I will not complain until my son is out. It is not his phone. He is in for 12 years, we will see.

[RaRi]

Jpay is in a lot more prisons now, if you go to their site and follow the directions it will tell you if they have it at your sons prison. Some states seem to be very slow at getting easier methods for communication. I just read someplace that some Ohio Prisons are offering video visits~ kind of like Skype~ My mom (she lives 1000 miles away) really wants to do that with him. You know being older and not getting around like she used to it would help her, to actually look at him while they talk.
I live so close to my son and am blessed with lots of phone calls and lunches we don't write as much as we did when we didn't live in the same city but if I need to get him a message quickly then I use it.