eCarrots: Prison Control and Profits from Correctional Tablets

In recent years, tablets have gained tremendous popularity behind bars for their ability to expand access to educational and rehabilitative services for people in prison. However, there are downsides to tablet implementation, including high costs at the expense of a captive population and shifting power dynamics resulting in possible volatility. This Article examines the use of correctional tablets in jails and prisons as mechanisms for administrative control and profit-making in an era of beleaguered correctional budgets. It also considers legal and policy implications related to the disproportionately negative impact of the introduction of tablets on people in poverty, increased dependency on third-party contractors through the elimination of existing service structures, and the dangers of screentime addiction for people in prison. Ultimately, tablet suppliers are likely to continue working their way into prison systems, and there are many benefits to the incarcerated population from this expansion. However, it must be done thoughtfully and under careful oversight of interested parties to ensure the worst impacts are mitigated.