Categories

Improving Prisoners’ Digital Literacy to Lower Recidivism

Posted on by HomeWAV Media

As our world becomes more and more connected through technology, digital literacy is essential for almost every aspect of life — and that doesn’t change for people who have been incarcerated. Unfortunately, prisoners have been cut off from much of the technology that is ubiquitous in the rest of the world.

Technology evolves at increasingly rapid rates, and the pandemic proved just how quickly it can change to meet new demands. That means people who have been incarcerated for years are missing out on the digital context the rest of the world is used to. The world now requires digital skills such as navigating popular applications, working with platforms, understanding social media’s impact, and connecting with smart devices. It’s a lot to catch up on.

In addition to the stigma of being incarcerated, people who are released and enter the job market have a steep learning curve ahead. Digital literacy is required to perform nearly every function within modern society, but especially the activities that are key to prisoner reentry into the outside world. From getting a driver’s license to writing a resume, confidently navigating an online sphere is necessary.

Why Digital Literacy Matters to Prisons

Experts agree that basic computer skills can have a big impact on prisoners, from reducing recidivism rates to increasing self-reliance. Technology is a key component to helping inmates cope and find stability after their release. So how can prisons help increase digital literacy — all without compromising safety or spending precious resources?

There’s certainly a large amount of technology being developed for and deployed in prisons. But a lot of the technology is used by the prison staff and not the prisoners themselves. Thankfully, some technology is being designed and utilized to successfully rehabilitate prisoners while they’re incarcerated. These devices and systems include HomeWAV’s virtual visitation system, audiobooks, computers, and inmate tablets in particular.

According to RAND, every dollar spent on education programs for prisoners saved about four or five dollars in re-incarceration costs. Not only does increasing the presence of usable technology help prisoners maintain and develop digital skills, but it can also help with education and improving mental health for inmates. For example, a prisoner who has trouble reading in a traditional format could benefit greatly from listening to an audiobook. Therefore, inmate tablets and audio devices are worthwhile tools that can increase engagement in education and mental health, addiction, and religious programs. This small and reasonable accommodation can make a huge difference in a prisoner’s trajectory.

In Pima County, Arizona, the prison system gave inmates access to tablets with electronic messaging. According to Sean Stewart, a recently retired corrections captain for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the tablet program reduced suicide attempts and ideation by 66%. Assaults on staff members declined by 60%, and inmate-on-inmate assaults decreased by 40%.

But it’s not just prisoners who benefit from this technology. Before the tablets, the prison would receive thousands of pieces of mail every day, and it took three staff members to sort through it all. When prisoners had access to electronic messaging and inmate video calls to communicate with loved ones and support systems, there was no longer a significant need for staff to spend time sorting mail.

Bringing Inmate Tablets Into Prisons

The benefits speak for themselves, but how can a prison implement a tablet program while maintaining safety standards and budget lines? The key is a solid partnership.

Find partners who you can trust to be transparent. Ask questions about the product, the safety measures, and the impact. Be sure you understand the contract. If you have any hesitations or confusion, ask potential partners to explain so you can feel comfortable.

The cost will vary by facility, but some prisons have designated items in the budget for “extras,” or educational assets such as tablets. Those extras can be paid for by the inmate, or facilities can offer trial periods for the tablet services with a fee after the trial ends. These fees can be collected through online commissary accounts. Often, basic resources such as facility rules and schedules will be offered for free.

Technology like tablets can be empowering for both prisoners and facilities. After all, finding stable employment, community resources, and establishing connections with a support system are the keys to reducing recidivism rates. In the 21st century, what do all of these activities depend on? Digital literacy skills. By offering inmate tablet programs, facilities can reduce recidivism rates and increase their bottom lines. It really is a win-win.

Interested in learning more about how HomeWAV can help you? Reach out to us today by clicking here!

Ensuring Safety Beyond COVID-19 While Boosting Inmates’ Mental Health

Posted on by HomeWAV Media

With one in five inmates in the U.S. testing positive for COVID-19 and at least 2,100 passing away from the illness, correctional facilities must grapple with the serious challenge of limiting the virus’s spread.

Popular solutions have included limiting in-person visitations, shutting down lobbies and facility programs, and reducing staffing on-premises. And though social distancing measures like these are effective, they also have unintended consequences. Research generally shows that visitations from prisoners’ friends and family members significantly boost their mental health.

Facilities’ goals, then, are three-fold: reduce infection rates, address staffers’ safety concerns beyond COVID, and improve inmates’ mental health. Thankfully, using remote video visits to facilitate inmate communications can address these issues.

The Many Benefits of Remote Video Calls

Providing video visitation options for inmates is one of the best ways to address their mental health needs and protect staffers at correctional facilities. Here are just a few benefits of doing so:

1.) Reduces the risk of infection: Of course, remote prison visits reduce the spread of COVID-19 cases in prisons, as family members and friends don’t enter facilities in person. They also limit the virus’s spread in small lobbies or waiting areas where social distancing can be difficult, protecting staff from exposure.

2.) Costs less for prisoners and loved ones alike: Offering inmates video visitation means they can connect with friends and family members who aren’t within driving distance of (or don’t have the means to reach) the correctional facility. In comparison, remote video or voice calls are a fraction of a dollar per minute and can be taken in a loved one’s home. They’re also not much more expensive than a traditional phone call and are much more engaging.

3.) Boosts convenience and limits exposure to a harsh environment: Inmate communication through remote calling means quick chats or calls can take place easily. As long as the call happens within approved hours, all that’s needed is an available kiosk in a correctional facility. However, the number of kiosks and their availability can vary by facility. Similarly, communicating with incarcerated loved ones often includes visits with children. A remote prison visit means children and other family members can sit safely at home and still connect. Video communication also makes quick conversations (like simply saying goodnight) possible.

Of course, correctional facilities that provide inmates with video calls via a secure platform like HomeWAV’s also see a general reduction in cost and staff burden as well as increased security. For example, video visitation in prisons often means:

• Less time transporting inmates to the lobby

• A reduction in illegal substances being brought into jails

• Fewer staffers needed to schedule visits and monitor inmates

However, as enticing as these benefits are, they tell only part of the story of why video visitation is a game-changer. The rest of that story is told on the other side of the fence. It’s about the positive effect visitation (and video visitation in particular) can have on inmates, whether that’s keeping them connected with positive influences and motivations; helping them stay in contact with legal counsel, clergy, and health professionals; or helping them plan pathways for when their sentences are over.

Other Points to Consider

To be sure, there are still some potential challenges to consider when it comes to providing inmates with video phone calls. First, remote calls might not meet inmates’ or loved ones’ emotional needs in the same way a tangible connection does. A level of intimacy and affection is lost when an inmate cannot physically see a family member or friend. At the same time, technology might be troublesome: Individuals who aren’t tech-savvy could struggle, and remote prison visits rely on friends and family members owning devices with cameras.

Regardless, facilities find that offering video call technology to inmates and their loved ones is a breeze after the initial learning curve. And when it comes to the problems above, there are generally workarounds. In time, everyone’s experience can be seamless.

Why Video Technology Is Still Worth It for Your Facility

Not only are video calls an effective way to improve inmates’ mental health and connect them with those they care about, but they’re also a way to keep your staffers safe and your operations streamlined. As of January 2021, more than 340,000 inmates had received a positive COVID-19 test since the onset of the pandemic; now is the perfect time to give your inmates the option of remote video calls.

Besides this, remember that even though inmate video visits with friends and family and video court and arraignments are essential to responding to concerns spurred by COVID-19, not every video conferencing service is created equal. Many current platforms (such as Skype or Zoom) have lax security measures or are incapable of monitoring services, for instance. When you’re ready, just reach out to the experts at HomeWAV. We have the latest in inmate communications technology to keep you secure while addressing your most pressing challenges.

Interested in learning more about how HomeWAV can help you? Reach out to us today by clicking here!

Bridging the Gap: Maintaining Connections Between Incarcerated Parents and Their Children

Posted on by HomeWAV Media

No fewer than 5 million kids around the nation share the same experience: They grow up as children of incarcerated parents.

Having a parent in prison can impact children in several ways. First, they might feel an emotional burden that friends can’t understand. This leads some kids to act out at home or school in an effort to make sense of their worlds. Additionally, they might find themselves in unstable living situations, which can create a sense of social imbalance and relationship instability.

However, kids whose parents are incarcerated don’t have to go through months or years of emotional ups and downs. In fact, those who maintain a strong bond with their incarcerated mom or dad routinely fare better than those who do not.

Keeping in close contact with an incarcerated parent has its challenges, not the least of which is distance. Case in point: The majority of incarcerated folks in state prison serve their sentences at least 100 miles from their hometowns, making it tough for loved ones to visit in person. And many jails, detention centers, and related facilities have strict rules regarding visitation. Some allow kids to visit only during limited hours, while others may not allow children to visit at all.

So are children of incarcerated parents limited to the occasional traditional phone call and old-fashioned mail? Not necessarily. Remote inmate video calls can remove many of the barriers to visitation — transportation issues and financial hardship among them. Simultaneously, video visits take away some of the scariness and harshness of walking into what can feel like an unfriendly prison atmosphere.

Strengthening the Child-Parent Bond With Remote Video Calls. Video calls are one of the most cost-effective, appealing resources for families of inmates. To prepare for these events, caregivers of children of incarcerated parents can keep the following tips in mind:

Start visiting through remote inmate-initiated video calls, if possible. Of course, most prisons aren’t designed with children in mind. Many youngsters end up fearing visits with their incarcerated parent after initially being exposed to a jail environment, given its surveillance and strict rules.

With that, caregivers might want to limit kids’ in-person visits and opt for more video calls, at least until the idea of having a parent in prison becomes “normal.” These calls help kids get accustomed to their parents’ surroundings and routines before meeting again face to face.

Explain what the child will experience on the call. The good news is that even young children have some comfort with video calls thanks to regular Zoom and FaceTime sessions during COVID-19. Regardless, they deserve to be prepared for a phone conversation with their incarcerated family member. Very young children might just want to say hello and then leave. Older kids can be encouraged to have drawings, stuffed animals, and other items handy to show to their parents to encourage more natural conversation.

Add on-site lobby visits after a few video calls. The longer a parent is incarcerated, the more important it can be for them to see their kids — and vice versa. Plan for the day by familiarizing yourself with the prison’s regulations, including any documentation you need. Then, explain to the child what’s going to happen to ease feelings of anxiety and worry. Find out all you can (like whether hugs are allowed or if a glass window will separate everyone in the visitation room). You can usually find this information on the jail’s website or via a simple call to the facility.

The more information a child has upfront, the more he or she will be able to enjoy being with mom or dad again for a little while.

Encourage quick drop-in video calls between remote calls and in-person visits. One of the hardest aspects for incarcerated parents is missing out on the little moments: a kiss before bedtime, a quick text to catch up midday, etc.

Thankfully, these tiny but important encounters are still possible with video calls from prison. The HomeWAV system has been set up to allow for mini check-ins whenever an inmate is able to use the kiosk. That way, parents and kids feel able to connect almost whenever they want, as long as it’s within the prison’s guidelines.

At the same time, HomeWAV’s one-minute fee structure also makes these kinds of calls easier, as there’s no minimum call length or connection fee. Why pay an expensive first-minute rate when you’re only calling to say goodnight? Children can sign off or say “I love you” to a parent — from the comfort of their own home — for the price of a one-minute visit.

Plan for the next video call at the end of each visit. It can be hard to end any type of visit with an incarcerated loved one. One way to make the process easier for everyone is toverbally discuss when to make the next video call at the end of the last one. Kids can add the date to the calendar, giving them something to look forward to. Their incarcerated parent will appreciate being able to plan for the next visit, too. It’s much gentler on everyone’s emotions to be able to say “See you on Monday,” rather than simply “Goodbye.”

The effects of parental incarceration on children and families are incredibly real. However, a balance of plenty of remote calls and some in-person visits can take away the sting of having a parent be away for a while.

At HomeWAV, we provide a one-minute billing structure that allows for calls of any length at any time — no expensive first-minute fees required. Plus, our second-to-none support team operates year-round to provide support, compassion, and insight. In total, HomeWAV offers the best video technology, lowest rates in the industry, and a per-minute billing cycle. Incarcerated parents and kids deserve the chance to create and maintain loving, lasting bonds.

Experience the HomeWAV difference: Create your free HomeWAV account today, or reach out to our dedicated support team via phone (1-844-394-6639) or email (support@homewav.com) if an issue occurs or you need help understanding a facility’s policies. Customer support for friends and family of incarcerated loved ones operates 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST).

Interested in learning more about how HomeWAV can help you? Reach out to us today by clicking here!