WESTOVER, Md.- Inmates at ECI could be getting tablets soon after the state decided to expand their educational program.
Principal June Brittingham says those enrolled in GED classes could benefit from the new devices in the future, as the state will invest $50,000 into the program's expansion. The Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation are planning to split the cost to buy 47 new tablets for all of the state prisons. Brittingham says over the last year, a pilot program at three other correctional facilities in the state proved to be successful.
"The whole idea is to take the G-E-D and pass the G-E-D test giving them one more opportunity to be successful in the workplace when they get out and hopefully reduce recidivism," Brittingham said.
But Amanda Muir, wife of an ECI correctional officer, says she's skeptical about the program. Especially when she's already worried for her husband's safety due to understaffing issues at the prison.
"You're going to spend $50,000 on tablets when you could be putting that into your own officers, your own employees that need help and I just think there's better use for it, for that money," Muir said.
But Brittingham wanted to assure the public that the tablets do not have internet access. The tablets will additionally be monitored by a security company.
"They will not have access to the internet, they can't get into Google. This is a closed-program that there are specific programs that are downloaded to the tablet," Brittingham said.
Brittingham says the tablets have shown that inmates are able to pass their GED tests quicker after using the tablets. She says it also helps them gain technology skills they can use in the workforce when they are released.
But Muir says she thinks money could be spent more wisely.
"To me this is kind of an unnecessary expense when there are so many other things that these resources could be used for. I just don't see where it's necessary to spend all this money on tablets," Muir said.
Brittingham says there is still no word as to how many tablets ECI will be receiving as a part of this tablet expansion program.
The James T. Vaughn Correctional Facility in Delaware is currently utilizing a similar tablet pilot program.
