Buchanan County jail introduces tablets for inmates 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The Buchanan County Jail has started rolling out tablets to inmates as part of a new initiative to improve communication.

The program is currently in its testing phase, with about half of the jail's population using the tablets. The devices will eventually serve as the primary method for receiving mail, and will allow inmates to send text messages, emails and conduct video calls.

"A big reason for the tablets was so that the inmates would have more communication with their families," said Captain Joe Lysaght with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office. "They have more access to do that with the tablets instead of just the one kiosk in the dayroom."

Inmates can also access law libraries through the tablets, allowing them to research and track their legal cases. The devices offer added privacy when making calls, which is an improvement over the shared kiosks in common areas.

"I just talked to one of our inmates a little bit ago, asked him how he was enjoying it, and he thinks it's fantastic because they have much more ability to communicate with their families," Lysaght said. "It also allows them to have private conversations at their discretion without worrying about other inmates standing over them at the kiosk."

Families can send photos to the tablets for inmates to view and inmates are able to communicate directly with jail staff to make requests or raise concerns.

"If they’re having issues within the day room with other inmates, they can let us know," Lysaght said. "Giving them this form of communication is valuable to us because we want to make sure everyone is safe in here."

Officials said the technology could be especially helpful for families who often feel limited in their ability to stay in touch with loved ones while inside the jail. Inmates will have access to the tablets each day from morning until final lockdown at night.

If the testing phase continues to go well, officials hope to expand the resource to the entire jail population within the next two months.