Why DuPage County Jail Is Giving Tablets To Inmates

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL --- Inmates in DuPage County Jail will now have access to tablets to help them pass the time while they are incarcerated. DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba's goal is to help save tax dollars while giving inmates "individual options to pass the time while awaiting trial or serving their sentence which decrease the anxiety of incarceration," according to a press release.

With the tablets, inmates can directly message friends and family. Inmates will also have access to educational opportunities via the tablets, officials say.

The tablets are being provided with no cost to taxpayers or inmates, the press release said, adding that costs will be "integrated into an inmate's individual choices of optional access, such as direct messaging to family members provided by the tablet service provider," officials said.

The sheriff's office also hopes the tablets will scale down inmate movement throughout the jail, limit paper consumption, and improve communication between jail staff and those incarcerated.

Of the tablet project, Zaruba said, "This project has been planned for the past three years and I amproud to see it implemented. The safety of my Deputies and the inmates are the first priority and saving tax dollars come a close second. This project accomplishes both.”

Image via DuPage County Sheriff's Office Facebook page