Canyon County Jail Inmates Using Tablets to Contact Family

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Inmates in southwestern Idaho are now corresponding with family members and friends electronically via the jail's new tablets.

The Idaho Statesman reports the Canyon County Jail has about three dozen tablets for inmates to check out. The electronic devices were provided at no cost this fall from San Francisco-based company Telmate, which provides tablets to 300 jails and prisons nationwide. Inmates are charged 5 cents per minute to send text messages to those outside the jail.

They can also play games and view approved news, sports and weather websites. All general population inmates have access to the tablets, unless their privileges have been revoked due to disciplinary action. Jails in Twin Falls and Burley also provide tablets for inmates. Canyon County officials say they can monitor all tablet activity.