How Has Technology Changed the Lives of Prisoners?

Incarcerating institutions are often portrayed as static, detached from broader societal and technological changes. In reality, the increased outsourcing of services to for-profit organizations has created rapid and often predatory changes within prisons and jails in the US. Over the past seven years, we have worked with jails, vendors, and non-profit organizations to examine these transformations across U.S. jails. We analyzed longitudinal data from over 8,000 inmates and interviewed 80 inmates and correctional officers. This presentation offers an overview of our findings, particularly focusing on the effects of introducing computer tablets in jails. I will discuss quantitative data on the impact of technology use, the experiences and perceptions of inmates and officers, and how these technological changes influence recidivism rates and reentry.