Clarion County Jail Inmates Not Likely to Get Tablets

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published August 16, 2017 8:30 pm
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SHIPPENVILLE Pa. (EYT) — A proposal to give inmates at the Clarion County Jail their own computers looks unlikely to come to fruition.

Warden Jeff Hornberger explained that a company from Virginia, Global Tel Link, offered the service to the county jail without any cost to the county.

GTL currently is the phone service provider to the county jail, and its tablet program is another thing it offers.

“At the last prison board meeting, one of their people presented it,” Hornberger said. “No vote was taken since there weren’t enough board members present, but at this point, I don’t think we’ll pursue it.”

“There doesn’t seem to be much interest from the board or the commissioners now. That may change, but we’ll see.”

Hornberger said when the tablet program was first presented to him, he admitted being skeptical about it.

“But, once I heard all the pros and cons, I began to think it could be a good idea,” Hornberger said.

His reasonings included the fact that the county would have no expenses for it and that it could lower the recidivism rate at the jail, which he termed high.

“The company would give each inmate a tablet, and the inmates would have to pay for the time they use them. The good thing about it is the educational programs that are available online.”

“Inmates could take classes and receive certificates that might help them find work once they are released instead of them committing more crimes and ending up back here,” Hornberger said.

Hornberger also talked about the perception of it.

“The jail board didn’t seem to have a lot of support for it for the simple fact that people consider it a luxury in jail. People say ‘I don’t have one, why should inmates?’”

Hornberger also said the jail would be able to control how the tablets would be used.

Clarion County Commissioner Ted Tharan said the only tablets he’s in favor of for jail inmates are the ones they write on.

“If the inmates have money for these, then they have money for victim’s restitution,” Tharan said. “They could spend the money for attorneys, instead of having to use the county-funded public defender, they could pay their fines.”

“I know I’m old school, and it may be something good, but I’m not in favor of it. I haven’t had one person come up to me and say it’s a good idea,” Tharan added. “And, what about security? The company says they are secure, but you’ve got hackers getting into the federal government’s computers. You have one of them in the jail, and in time, they’ll figure it out. Also, can these be used as weapons? I imagine they could.”

GTL provided an information sheet about its tablet program during the July 13 presentation.

It spelled out that the computers are designed for use in correctional facilities and that inmates wouldn’t have access to social media, just access to what jail staff wants them to.

Hornberger also said it could be used to keep inmates “in line.”

“It could be used as a disciplinary tool. If they aren’t doing what they are supposed to, we can take it away from them,” Hornberger said.

“Most of the bigger jails are using them, and although we are not, I imagine someday all the jails will have them,” Hornberger said.

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