Regardless of what your beliefs surrounding incarcerated people are, they are still living, breathing people. Some have done terrible things, and some may only be there because of misdemeanor accumulation or other victimless crime. It would therefore be unfair to judge them all as violent criminals and to treat them all the same. That being said, the rights of incarcerated individuals are limited, perhaps none more so than their ability to communicate with the outside world. Time and time again, recently released people step out of the confines of imprisonment and are utterly bewildered at how much has changed. In extreme cases, inmates may not even know who won the Super Bowl that year. Obviously, circumstances allow for this kind of treatment, but having this outlook can be detrimental to reintegration efforts.
Within the cold, concrete walls, information is hard to come by. In most cases, inmates may be a week or two behind the latest news, and that would just be national news. Regular communications with families or friends is even more difficult and often lead to feelings of estrangement on both sides. The fractured relationship is hard to repair, and can actually lead to increased rates of recidivism stemming from feelings of loneliness and being lost. Many people spiral when they are cut off from their loved ones, and we shouldn't be surprised when it regularly happens with incarcerated loved ones. Lack of communication makes it hard to maintain connections, find jobs, and even learn while incarcerated, leading to a released inmate with no awareness of the current world and no idea on how to move forward. Increased access to technology such as tablets and phones can alleviate some of the negative effects that are associated with communication blockages, leading to an overall healthier mentality upon release.
Sonoma County, California is seeing solutions to provide minimum 500 tablets and 6 phone stations in each of the 13 modules in the MADF with access to a landline-style phone. Other than helping inmates stay connected with the outside world, fulfilling these services can be beneficial towards inmates' mental health by giving them regular access to the world. The primary goal of this RFI is find ways to provide access to educational content and entertainment as well as communication with approved friends and family. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes October 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM PST.
