As prisons across the Tar Heel State look to hire more guards, they’re turning to technology to keep prisoners under control
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Almost half the jobs at North Carolina state prisons are empty. Understaffing is forcing prisons to get creative with how they keep inmates under control.
Tablets could be keeping prisons safe and helping inmates out in the long run.
Right now, there are more than 30,000 tablet devices across the state’s 54 prisons. It is all a part of a new program, available to all inmates, rolled out in the last few years.
They can get connected with the outside world by watching movies, talking to their families, and accessing several educational programs for free.
Those include classes on everything from basic math to getting their certification in the restaurant industry. So far, inmates have been taking advantage.
To date, state prisoners have taken more than 250,000 courses using their tablets.
It’s all part of a program to cut down on downtime. Prison officials hope it will help an understaffed system avoid dangerous flare-ups.
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