Bartholomew Jail inmates to receive personal tablets

Bartholomew County Commissioners have signed off on a plan to provide jail prisoners with limited use tablets while they are incarcerated. But one county commissioner adamantly opposed the program.

Jail Commander John Martoccia presented the proposal at yesterday’s commissioners meeting as a contract amendment with Homewav LLC, which maintains telephone and communications systems in the jail. Martoccia said that the jail now has limited kiosks inmates can use but there are too few, with two stations for more than 30 inmates in a cell block.

Under the proposal, each inmate would receive a tablet. The tablets will not have access to the general internet, but will allow inmates to take GED classes, access the law library, apply for jobs and purchase selected books, videos and music. They can also order commissary items.

The tablets would be provided at no cost to the county. If they are intentionally damaged, the inmates would face repair costs as well as potential criminal charges, Martoccia said.

Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz opposed the plan, saying that it would give inmates more reason to pressure family members and friends for money to purchase content and to provide money for the commissary fund. Plus he does not like the idea of an inmate laying in bed, in a warm jail cell, watching movies.

Kleinhenz ultimately voted against the proposal, which passed 2-1.