Predators, profiteers, opportunists — you’ve likely heard, or said, these labels about companies behind electronic tablets in America’s prisons. The tablets give incarcerated people access to a selection of news outlets, study materials and entertainment, but for a price that can strain the budgets of users and their loved ones.
I know how hard it is to access quality information behind bars. The Marshall Project brings investigative journalism to incarcerated audiences free of charge with our print publication, and an upcoming video series. But should we make our work more widely available on the much-criticized tablets?
We believe it’s important to report for people living in the system — by listening to them. So we sent out questionnaires to incarcerated tablet users and their loved ones.
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“I think I speak for the majority, that we will be thankful to access News Inside and video stories from our communication devices. ... Making it free will allow every inmate the opportunity to stay up with what’s going on, especially key topics. And it will give us hope knowing that people out there are fighting for us.” — Danny Y., Florida.
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This is why The Marshall Project is placing our work on more prison tablets with the agreement that no incarcerated person can be charged for our content. In my essay today, you can learn more about this decision and the questionnaire’s results.
Have thoughts you’d like to share? We’re listening — you can reply to this email and let us know.
Best,
Lawrence Bartley
Publisher of The Marshall Project Inside
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Weigh in by sharing your thoughts.
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