It is pretty sickening reading how different companies and facilities are trying to make large profits off of the incarcerated and their families. I think that the charging of 3 to 5 cents a minute of reading a book on a tablet is ridiculous, especially when the online source where the books are found is completely free. I believe if the prisons and jails are going to provide the inmates with a tablet they should be able to read books, or use the tablet for further educational learning for free. There is no need to charge these men and women for trying to better themselves by learning and reading while they are already suffering enough by sitting in a cell away from their loved ones. There are things in this article I agree with though, I do believe there can be a charge for using the tablet to contact friends and family, but there is no need for it to be nearly as expensive as it is. Instead I believe it should be treated as a phone plan, that is if these men and women choose to use it as a contact device between friends and family. With that being said instead of charging them per minute, or per picture or video, I believe it could be simplified by giving each inmate a set number of times they can contact family a month and then charge everyone the same monthly, obviously not nearly as much as a normal phone plan. In all seriousness the easiest thing to do with this issue would be to get rid of the tablets all together and let the prisoners have accessibility to a library in the prison. -LW789
I agree with the phone plan idea in terms of contacting loved ones. Having a set rate and set times to contact family could be a reward for good behavior. Also the set price would protect families from incurring large bills for the usage of the tablet for communication purposes. -Family789
I completely agree that it is disgusting how they take advantage of the incarcerated as well as their families. I agree that charging to talk to friends and family is understandable, but the resources to better themselves for when they get out is absolutely absurd. Slim789
I found this article very interesting as it shows how private vendors constantly find their way into the correctional system in order to make money. Companies in question offer “free” eBooks for inmates to read. However, a book that would cost an average person about eight dollars to buy costs an inmate approximately twenty dollars to read! This is outrageous considering inmates are very limited financially. In the West Virginia correctional system, it would take a prisoner sixty-six hours to pay to read one book. It seems that private companies are making it increasingly difficult for inmates to gain education behind bars. Families of those behind bars love to talk to and see their loved ones on tablets through messaging and calling. However, this can cost prisoners and their families upwards of ten dollars a day. This would be another forty hours of labor in West Virginia for one day to talk to family. Prison is a very stressful time for people and adding stress of financial struggle will only make it harder for them to keep a positive attitude while behind bars. I do believe that policymakers are beginning to realize this and are beginning to enact criminal justice reform movements. -Family789
I agree that it is unfortunate to see some of the circumstances that these inmates are put in, their lives are hard and stressful enough as it is and adding the weight of paying for books they just want to read adds to that a lot. -Cubs789
I agree that this is a sickening way to use inmates. I think this is a horrible way of earning money for the prisons, not only are these prisoners stuck behind bars for a crime they committed, but now the facilities are wanting to charge them for attempting to better themselves for their upcoming release to become successful and get out of the criminal justice system. -LW789
Even though it does not seem like much money to most of us, 5 cents per minute or even 3 cents per minute, is a lot of money to people who do not have jobs who are in jail or prison. It is hard for them because for one, they are locked up, they cannot do anything really to get paid like a normal job. So when they are just going to read or go online, they have to pay for it. Which isn’t fair to them because 5 cents a minute can add up fast. It is stated that a book that is 330 pages and it takes someone 1 hour to read 30 pages, it will take them roughly 11 hours to finish the book, and that is if they only continuously read and don’t stop to reread or do other things. This will add up to at least $19.80, which doesn’t seem like much, but to them it is. I don’t think it’s fair to make people who are incarcerated pay for the “free” online books so the rest of us can read the “free” online books. At the very least it should be the other way around or make everyone pay a smaller fee for it so that one specific group is not targeted. -Cubs789
I agree with this statement. its honestly outrageous. As someone who has actually had one behind bars and it is extremely hard to do honestly. Everything adds up very fast and it honest is not fair at all. It is mind blowing that this is what i has come too. Sunshine789
Honestly this whole article is so bull on the private companies trying to make money. I really makes me sick and it disgusting like how can you possibly do that like what the hell is going on in there minds? And this might not seem lie its a lot of money that the companies are trying to get but over the time period it quickly adds up. people in jail do not make money or a lot of money because if they are to get a job in the facility hey barley do not get paid. And this is very interesting because I did not know this before reading this article. for the families that have ones behind bars it is not easy for them and sometimes its not doable. Sunshine 789
I never knew that there were agreements of this nature within the prison system. I knew about private prisons but I never thought there would be something like this that completely takes advantage of the people who have already taken all of their freedom away. People are just trying to make a quick buck because they can take advantage of these people locked up. If you think about it, they are kind of mocking these prisoners by giving them a “free” tablet. They are locked up for 24 hours with nothing to do beside the tablet that they have given them. If you are sitting there with nothing to do of course you are going to want to use the tablet. Then it's the families on the outside who are being punished by making them pay for the offenders use of the tablets. Slim789
I did not know that things like this were happening inside prison systems either. It is truly sickening that people that are inside of prison are still being taken advantage of when these people probably feel alone and like they have nothing so they are willing to pay to have services on tablets. It is wrong that private companies are doing this, it is a good thing that there are people making articles like this and exploiting them. -Jwilliejack789
This article is proof that there are alternative motives behind our prison system. It is a money maker. Private companies are acting like they are doing inmates a favor by giving them "free" tablets but are charging inmates by the minute for how they are using their "free" tablets. These private companies are even charging inmates for using services on tablets that are free. The book 1984 is a book you can get online for free but an inmate has to spend 3 cents a minute to access the book. For an inmate to work in prison to buy the book it would take them 66 hours of work to buy a free book. If an inmate can read 30 pages an hour. if they can not read that fast then they would have to work more. -Jwilliejack789
I know there is a cost for everything as in commissary in order for the prisoners to buy food or toiletries, but for them to have to pay to read a book on a tablet that is generally free to anyone is outrageous. Most prisoners have to ask for family members to put money on their books so they can keep in contact or even keep up their daily calories. How do you expect them to also pay to read a book that is free. Also, didn't it say that the how to books were not even allowed on there,seriously. You not only have a person who has been placed into the prison, who has all the time in the world now, to do what, let their brains rot. Give them the opportunity to read, educate, and enhance their skills so when they are released they can pick their life up in a better educated way. It's just like the actual cost to make a phone call to a family member. I remember reading that a single mother calling her kids is crazy priced too. I am and have always been a firm believer that education should be free, everyone no matter where you are should be able to enhance their mind to do wonderful things. This is just another way that the government puts more money in their pockets, sorry to say. Pitbull#789
I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that they are charging their prisoners five cents for every minute that they are on the tablet. That five cents might not sound like very much to us but it adds up pretty fast for someone who does not have a job. Just because they are in prison/jail does not mean they need to be charged to be able to read when the books that can be downloaded are free to download. They do not have the money to be paying for that. Some people like to read for hours so that five cents adds up really fast for them. It got to the point where even the Chief Executive and Director of Project Gutenberg, Dr. Gregory New by said in an email he wrote to APBP that it’s very sad that they are charging them to read free downloaded books and that he would be very pleased if APBP would change their ways and practices. They use the per minute charge because it will bring in more profit than some of the other options they could have gone with like an e-book vendor who only charges a set price. pearles789
It is pretty sickening reading how different companies and facilities are trying to make large profits off of the incarcerated and their families. I think that the charging of 3 to 5 cents a minute of reading a book on a tablet is ridiculous, especially when the online source where the books are found is completely free. I believe if the prisons and jails are going to provide the inmates with a tablet they should be able to read books, or use the tablet for further educational learning for free. There is no need to charge these men and women for trying to better themselves by learning and reading while they are already suffering enough by sitting in a cell away from their loved ones. There are things in this article I agree with though, I do believe there can be a charge for using the tablet to contact friends and family, but there is no need for it to be nearly as expensive as it is. Instead I believe it should be treated as a phone plan, that is if these men and women choose to use it as a contact device between friends and family. With that being said instead of charging them per minute, or per picture or video, I believe it could be simplified by giving each inmate a set number of times they can contact family a month and then charge everyone the same monthly, obviously not nearly as much as a normal phone plan. In all seriousness the easiest thing to do with this issue would be to get rid of the tablets all together and let the prisoners have accessibility to a library in the prison. -LW789
ReplyDeleteI agree with the phone plan idea in terms of contacting loved ones. Having a set rate and set times to contact family could be a reward for good behavior. Also the set price would protect families from incurring large bills for the usage of the tablet for communication purposes. -Family789
DeleteI completely agree that it is disgusting how they take advantage of the incarcerated as well as their families. I agree that charging to talk to friends and family is understandable, but the resources to better themselves for when they get out is absolutely absurd. Slim789
DeleteI found this article very interesting as it shows how private vendors constantly find their way into the correctional system in order to make money. Companies in question offer “free” eBooks for inmates to read. However, a book that would cost an average person about eight dollars to buy costs an inmate approximately twenty dollars to read! This is outrageous considering inmates are very limited financially. In the West Virginia correctional system, it would take a prisoner sixty-six hours to pay to read one book. It seems that private companies are making it increasingly difficult for inmates to gain education behind bars. Families of those behind bars love to talk to and see their loved ones on tablets through messaging and calling. However, this can cost prisoners and their families upwards of ten dollars a day. This would be another forty hours of labor in West Virginia for one day to talk to family. Prison is a very stressful time for people and adding stress of financial struggle will only make it harder for them to keep a positive attitude while behind bars. I do believe that policymakers are beginning to realize this and are beginning to enact criminal justice reform movements. -Family789
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is unfortunate to see some of the circumstances that these inmates are put in, their lives are hard and stressful enough as it is and adding the weight of paying for books they just want to read adds to that a lot. -Cubs789
DeleteI agree that this is a sickening way to use inmates. I think this is a horrible way of earning money for the prisons, not only are these prisoners stuck behind bars for a crime they committed, but now the facilities are wanting to charge them for attempting to better themselves for their upcoming release to become successful and get out of the criminal justice system. -LW789
DeleteEven though it does not seem like much money to most of us, 5 cents per minute or even 3 cents per minute, is a lot of money to people who do not have jobs who are in jail or prison. It is hard for them because for one, they are locked up, they cannot do anything really to get paid like a normal job. So when they are just going to read or go online, they have to pay for it. Which isn’t fair to them because 5 cents a minute can add up fast. It is stated that a book that is 330 pages and it takes someone 1 hour to read 30 pages, it will take them roughly 11 hours to finish the book, and that is if they only continuously read and don’t stop to reread or do other things. This will add up to at least $19.80, which doesn’t seem like much, but to them it is. I don’t think it’s fair to make people who are incarcerated pay for the “free” online books so the rest of us can read the “free” online books. At the very least it should be the other way around or make everyone pay a smaller fee for it so that one specific group is not targeted. -Cubs789
ReplyDeleteI agree with this statement. its honestly outrageous. As someone who has actually had one behind bars and it is extremely hard to do honestly. Everything adds up very fast and it honest is not fair at all. It is mind blowing that this is what i has come too. Sunshine789
DeleteHonestly this whole article is so bull on the private companies trying to make money. I really makes me sick and it disgusting like how can you possibly do that like what the hell is going on in there minds? And this might not seem lie its a lot of money that the companies are trying to get but over the time period it quickly adds up. people in jail do not make money or a lot of money because if they are to get a job in the facility hey barley do not get paid. And this is very interesting because I did not know this before reading this article. for the families that have ones behind bars it is not easy for them and sometimes its not doable. Sunshine 789
ReplyDeleteI never knew that there were agreements of this nature within the prison system. I knew about private prisons but I never thought there would be something like this that completely takes advantage of the people who have already taken all of their freedom away. People are just trying to make a quick buck because they can take advantage of these people locked up. If you think about it, they are kind of mocking these prisoners by giving them a “free” tablet. They are locked up for 24 hours with nothing to do beside the tablet that they have given them. If you are sitting there with nothing to do of course you are going to want to use the tablet. Then it's the families on the outside who are being punished by making them pay for the offenders use of the tablets. Slim789
ReplyDeleteI did not know that things like this were happening inside prison systems either. It is truly sickening that people that are inside of prison are still being taken advantage of when these people probably feel alone and like they have nothing so they are willing to pay to have services on tablets. It is wrong that private companies are doing this, it is a good thing that there are people making articles like this and exploiting them. -Jwilliejack789
DeleteThis article is proof that there are alternative motives behind our prison system. It is a money maker. Private companies are acting like they are doing inmates a favor by giving them "free" tablets but are charging inmates by the minute for how they are using their "free" tablets. These private companies are even charging inmates for using services on tablets that are free. The book 1984 is a book you can get online for free but an inmate has to spend 3 cents a minute to access the book. For an inmate to work in prison to buy the book it would take them 66 hours of work to buy a free book. If an inmate can read 30 pages an hour. if they can not read that fast then they would have to work more. -Jwilliejack789
ReplyDeleteI know there is a cost for everything as in commissary in order for the prisoners to buy food or toiletries, but for them to have to pay to read a book on a tablet that is generally free to anyone is outrageous. Most prisoners have to ask for family members to put money on their books so they can keep in contact or even keep up their daily calories. How do you expect them to also pay to read a book that is free. Also, didn't it say that the how to books were not even allowed on there,seriously. You not only have a person who has been placed into the prison, who has all the time in the world now, to do what, let their brains rot. Give them the opportunity to read, educate, and enhance their skills so when they are released they can pick their life up in a better educated way. It's just like the actual cost to make a phone call to a family member. I remember reading that a single mother calling her kids is crazy priced too. I am and have always been a firm believer that education should be free, everyone no matter where you are should be able to enhance their mind to do wonderful things. This is just another way that the government puts more money in their pockets, sorry to say. Pitbull#789
ReplyDeleteI think that it is absolutely ridiculous that they are charging their prisoners five cents for every minute that they are on the tablet. That five cents might not sound like very much to us but it adds up pretty fast for someone who does not have a job. Just because they are in prison/jail does not mean they need to be charged to be able to read when the books that can be downloaded are free to download. They do not have the money to be paying for that. Some people like to read for hours so that five cents adds up really fast for them. It got to the point where even the Chief Executive and Director of Project Gutenberg, Dr. Gregory New by said in an email he wrote to APBP that it’s very sad that they are charging them to read free downloaded books and that he would be very pleased if APBP would change their ways and practices. They use the per minute charge because it will bring in more profit than some of the other options they could have gone with like an e-book vendor who only charges a set price. pearles789
ReplyDelete