Most prisons lack the modern technology that people outside the walls use to entertain themselves and stay connected to others. With rare exceptions, internet use is generally prohibited. There is virtually no access to social media, unless you have access to a contraband cellphone. And while some prison systems allow people to purchase personal TVs for their cells, that is not standard.
Despite those limitations, people behind bars have gotten more access to technology in recent years. Electronic tablets have made their way into many state and federal prisons. Some prison systems allow radios, rudimentary MP3 players and even limited-function laptops.
Obtaining and using these devices can be costly, especially when considering most prisons pay incarcerated workers less than $1 per hour. One PJP writer in Texas paid close to $120 for his tablet and $88 for his MP3 player. A 48-hour movie rental in his prison is $5, and video games run between $1.20 to $3.55. Another PJP writer in North Carolina pays 3 cents a minute, or $15 for 1,500 minutes, to stream music on their tablet.
On top of those charges, prices are also marked up for electronic messaging or phone calls with people on the outside. In New York, it costs $12 to buy 100 electronic stamps, which are needed to send emails on JPay, an electronic prison messaging system. And 15-minute phone calls in New York prisons cost around $5.25. Poor technical support makes the experience even more frustrating.
This collection pulls together stories about the presence of technology in prison.
“This Video Game Has Residents of My Missouri Prison Obsessed” by Byron Case: “The Harvest Moon video game franchise, made by the Japanese software company Natsume, debuted in North America in 1997. In 2003, Friends of Mineral Town was released as the ninth Harvest Moon game. Now, more than two decades later, the semi-obscure video game is undergoing a renaissance at my prison.”
“Prison Coding Program Helps Participants Reboot Life” by Victoria A. Dennis: “In prison I have lived in a technology drought for two decades. I am not the only one. A 2020 University of Kansas study of 75 women recently released from prison found that a lack of relevant skills was one of the main reasons they were not using the internet.”
“‘What Prison Needs is More Video Games’” by Daniel K. Talburt: “This year, my federal prison in Colorado received Keefe Group Score 7C tablets, an already old technology by outside standards but brand spanking new to federal inmates. While the tablet doesn’t allow me to surf the internet, it has provided me with the most freedom I’ve felt since my incarceration.”
“Laptops for Incarcerated College Students Create Buzz” by J.C. Rodriguez: “‘Oh look! There’s the new Starbucks!’ joked Joseph Gutierrez, pointing toward the students who had gathered with their laptops as they might have done at the popular coffee shop. The neon orange stickers now readily identify Cuesta students when they carry their laptops around, or when they gather near the ‘Starbucks area.’”
“My New Prison Tablet Makes My Bad Habit Legit” by Ali Moseley: “I finally gave up my phone completely in 2017. It didn’t happen overnight, for sure. I missed the face-to-face time with Mom, who lived in Ontario, Canada, and the instant messaging on Facebook. But I never again touched a device, until I got a sanctioned tablet.”
“Prison Tablets: Nothing More Than ‘Digital Pacifiers’” by Gregory Marcinski: “‘[T]hey gave us a binky,” Parker said. ‘They just want us to lay down in our bunks and waste our days away.’”
“My New Tech Cost Two Months’ Salary” by Brian Hindson: “I still prefer my watch and my MP3 player because I can run with them. But I’m paid better than most, so I was able to afford the tablet. The price equates to almost two pairs of shoes.”
“In Prison, My Radio is Saving My Life” by K.C. Johnson: “With just a touch, I go back to being a teenager, blowing illicit smoke out my bedroom window, pouring over lyrics from Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix, fantasizing about our kindred spirits.”