Lawmaker Probes 'Free' Tablets For NY Inmates

YORKTOWN, NY — Sen. Terrence Murphy, R-Shrub Oak, is asking the state to prove that its plan to provide all prisoners in the state with tablet computers will in reality cost the taxpayers nothing. In a letter to Acting Commissioner Anthony Annuci of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Murphy, who chairs the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, is asking for a copy of the executed contract between the state and the vendor JPay Inc.

“There are many questions surrounding this proposal including the role of taxpayer funds,” Murphy said. “New Yorkers deserve to know for sure that their hard-earned dollars are not being used to buy presents for convicted criminals.”

The DOCCS recently announced that it had entered into an agreement with JPay, a company that provides services to prisons and inmates, to give all state inmates a tablet computer that will be pre-loaded with educational material and will be able to send secure emails without being connected to the internet.

SEE ALSO: New York To Give Inmates Free Tablets [Poll]

The state said JPay is fully financing all aspects of the initiative, and the state will not be taking commissions on any sales through the devices.

Murphy said his committee has not been able to locate the particular contract on the state Open Book website. However, there are two contracts totaling more than $9 million between DOCCS and JPay.

The Open Book portal is managed by the Office of the State Comptroller and lists every executed state contract.

In addition to the contract that is referenced on the DOCCS’ website, the committee has also requested copies of any requests for proposal or requests for approval for the initiative, as well as any responses to the requests.

Murphy has asked the DOCCS to provide the information by Feb. 15.

Photo credit: Office of Sen. Terrence Murphy.