SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — State lawmakers criticized the Illinois Department of Corrections for how it has handled the switch from physical mail to electronic tablets.
On Sep. 29, Illinois prisons made the switch to tablets, giving all 29,000+ inmates their own individual tablet to receive mail from the outside world. They did this to reduce drugs coming into the state’s prisons.
Lawmakers have criticized how IDOC has implemented the switch, with some upset with the lack of communication between the department and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
"We received some answers to questions from our September meeting on Friday last week," said state Rep. Ryan Spain, a Peoria Republican. "We have to accelerate and improve the collaborative process between the Department of Corrections and this committee."
Another sore point for lawmakers have been the tablets themselves. Even though the tablets were specifically designed to scan mail for inmates, lawmakers said they’ve heard the scanning apps are not working.
They also said the tablets come with set applications which include games and a free library. While some said the library is a good addition, they asked officials at IDOC if they were prioritizing games on the tablets instead of scanning mail.
"Games were certainly not a priority," Illinois Department of Corrections Director Latoya Hughes said. "The plane is being built as it’s flown. We are continually building items on that tablet so that it has all the functionality it needs."
IDOC has implemented the switch to tablets through an emergency ruling, but that ruling ends at the end of the year. They’re looking for a permanent ruling before 2026 to keep the tablets in place.
Another way drugs have entered jail cells is through employees, visitors and contractors within correctional facilities. Lawmakers asked Hughes if she has considered a third-party oversight group to search employees as they enter the prison.
Hughes said they’ve strengthened their searching policies, but that they haven’t implemented such a plan.
