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Prisoners Having Access To The Internet In Prison? Are We Serious? Yes, It Saves Taxpayer Dollars

By Steve Lombardi

PRISON EMAIL

What Trulincs shows is that when people commit crimes and are thrown into prison the unofficial policy of the U.S. government is upon to release for the extended family to pick up the pieces of the inmate's life.

Trulincs is the anachronism for the prison email system. (Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System (TRULINCS)) The idea is if inmates have limited access to internet communications with family and friends they will assimilate more easily into society upon release.

Strengthening or re-establishing family ties helps inmates improve the likelihood of a successful re-entry into the community, thus reducing the potential for recidivism.

You won't find PC's or Apples in an inmate's cell. It doesn't work that way. And you won't find inmates' blogging about what is bothering them or about the food items they'd like to see on the menu.

OFFICIAL CONTACT LIST: How do I correspond with an inmate by e-mail? Inmates are limited to sending and receiving electronic messages only from individuals on their approved contact list. An inmate must request to exchange electronic messages with a person in the community by placing that person on their contact list. If staff approves the inmate's request to exchange electronic messages, the system generates a message to that person advising them of the request and gives the prospective contact the option of accepting or rejecting the request and any future electronic messages from that particular inmate; or rejecting the request and any future electronic messages from any Federal inmate. The inmate will be notified of the requested contact's reply action, and messaging may begin if approval is received from the contact.

IS CONTENT MONITORED AND RESTRICTED: You can't add attachments or include anything other than text in the message. If you do it won't be provided to the inmate. While the rules aren't entirely clear, the system appears to be one in which email messages are printed and delivered to the inmate. His or her messages are more than likely written on paper, delivered to trustee prisoners that operate the email system. The trustee then types and sends the email to the recipient.

OFFICIAL PRISON EMAIL RULES CONCERNING CONTENT: Are there rules? E-mail correspondence may not jeopardize the public or the safety, security, or orderly operation of the correctional facility. Additionally, it may not exceed 13,000 characters (i.e., approximately two pages) or have attachments. Correspondence that is not consistent with these restrictions will be rejected. Any attachments sent with electronic messages will be stripped and not delivered to the inmate.

This system appears useful and one that saves tax dollars by allowing prisoners to operate the communication system; one that is monitored by the prison with fewer man hours and personnel costs.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on April 30, 2009 (boomark / email).