Idaho inmates hacked prison-issued tablets for $225,000 in credits

TechCrunch ^ | July 28, 2018 | Taylor Hatmaker

[mass55th]

"I love a good prisoners outsmart prison guards story."

How did they outsmart the guards? Do you think the officers were happy when the inmates got these tablets? The convicts outsmarted the dumb-azzes who authorized the state to allow this type of contraband into the prison system to begin with. The hard working people of Idaho who pay taxes are the ones who will eventually get punished for this. I worked as an officer and Sergeant in NY State's prison system for 25 years. Cuomo is planning on giving these tablets, from the same company, to all the inmates in the state. I have two cousins who are officers, and as a retired Sergeant, I can tell you there probably isn't one officer in the state who thinks this is a good idea. It will only make their jobs harder, and possibly even cause someone to get hurt.

[mass55th]

"Why are they given tablets?"

Cuomo has plans to give these tablets, from the same company, to all the inmates in New York State prisons. I'm retired from NYDOCS, so it won't effect me, but I feel sorry for the people who still have to work in NY's prisons under this doofus. I survived working under his father's stupidity. He closed all the psychiatric centers, and all the whackos eventually ended up in our prison system.

[mass55th]

"If you want your prisoners to have some skill besides crime to support themselves upon release, it’s a good idea to let them use computers."

Yeah, give them computers so they can learn how to commit crimes via those computers, because that's just what they'll do. Take it from a 25 year retiree of NY State's DOCS.

[AbolishCSEU]

Had to work on a Securus kiosk last friday at the county lockup. I”m sure King Andy wants to issue tablets so that lal the jail birds and their fams can vote for him.

BARF!

[TexasGator]

These are special purpose ‘tablets’ smaller than a smartphone.

[gigster]

You have to give them credit for creativity.

[Flaming Conservative]

If they want a REAL education, I’m good with that. But, their computers should be programmed with the course material, including all reading assignments and only the research material needed to complete the course. Access to the WWW should not extend beyond that. I suppose monitored emails to family members only could be allowed, as well, though writing a letter instead, wouldn’t hurt them.

[mass55th]

You're probably right about the voting. He's so slimy that I wouldn't put it past him. I wonder who it is in his administration that has a link to JPay.

I had contacted my State Assemblyman and State Senator back when they first announced they were planning on giving inmates these tablets. I explained to them my misgivings, and urged them to reject it. I wrote them again today with the link to the story. I'm not sure if the plan has been implemented in any of NY's prisons yet, but hope it can be stopped. This is just one incident we know of. It may have happened elsewhere in the country, but we've not been made aware of it. I also wrote NYSCOBA, the officer's union, and sent them a link to the story. As a retiree, I'm not an active member. They got enough money out of me when I had to pay union dues all those years, but I figured they should know about this.

Lastly, I sent the link to my cousin who works at Orleans Correctional Facility. That's out near Albion, NY. He can print up copies, and share them with his fellow officers.

[mass55th]

"You have to give them credit for creativity."

We always told the cons, that if they spent as much time doing positive things as they did on criminal acts, that they'd be able to be legally successful, and not be behind bars.

[mass55th]

"I suppose monitored emails to family members only could be allowed, as well, though writing a letter instead, wouldn’t hurt them."

They have phones on their units, and in the yard in NY prisons, and they get five free stamps a month (maybe more since I've been retired 15 years), plus can purchase more stamps at the commissary. There's no need for them to be able to email anybody.

[HonkyTonkMan]

Thank you for the perspective. This is a bad idea pushed by “technologists” for the same of tech. These people have no.working experience in prison or jail system.

[PAR35]

Three hots and a cot.

Two hots is more than enough. Third meal, if needed, can be a cold bologna sandwich at a couple of radishes.

[bert]

Greed.... the downfall of all criminals

Steal a little as needed but not a lot once

[mass55th]

Thanks for your reply. It's appreciated. Did some searching online. Found an article from 2017 reporting a 2015 incident where Marion C.F. inmates in Ohio built their own computers and hacked into the prison system's network:

PRISONERS BUILD DIY COMPUTERS AND HACK PRISON NETWORK

[mass55th]

"Two hots is more than enough. Third meal, if needed, can be a cold bologna sandwich and a couple of radishes."

Wouldn't that be nice, but unfortunately the liberal courts would have something to say about that. They always do when it comes to coddling convicts.

[PAR35]

It’s hard to get a hot meal to them when they are out on a chain gang.

[Flaming Conservative]

I see your point, but, if their communication is monitored (and temporarily withdrawn for infractions), one is just as good as the other, as long as they’re being allowed the use of computers, anyway. And as I said, only used with actual accredited educational programs -— no video games, porn, radical sites, etc.

[Fhios]

I worked as an officer and Sergeant in NY State's prison system for 25 years

I bet you look great riding that high horse in uniform.>p> Shawshank redemption was great. Even better than Alcatraz. Cool hand Luke and the great escape are two of my favorites and of course the Longest Yard gets honorable mention

[mass55th]

"It’s hard to get a hot meal to them when they are out on a chain gang."

Not really. They can just put their sandwich inside their underwear while they're working, and it will be nice and warm by the time they get to sit down and enjoy it.

[mass55th]

I am a female...70 years old now, and never rode a high horse, nor did I ever want to. Only worked in all-male maximum and medium A facilities. I just wanted to do the job, and be left alone while doing it. It's no different than enforcing the immigration laws. You enforce the rules behind bars that are written by people making more money than you. You enforce them equally and fairly. Firm, fair and consistent we were told to be. Nobody got special favors, or was treated differently than anyone else. You don't do for one, what you can't or won't do for all. I was told that the first day I started as a rookie off the street. It worked for me my whole career.

After 25 years of murderers, rapists, child molesters, Shia and Shiite muzzies, Nation of Islam a-holes, as well as incompetent administrators and government officials who made the rules, but never worked a day in a prison their whole life, the last thing I want to watch is a prison movie. I saw the real thing, and have no interest in any of them.