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All prisoners in the U.S. state of New York are to be free tablet computers. The freebies part of a deal struck between a private communications service JPay and New York's prison service. The lucrative but controversial agreement the contractor 54,700 convicts with a free tablet. The tablets will not Internet enabled, but prisoners will be able to limited, but monitored, online access by plugging their device into approved kiosks at specific times. Inmates will be allowed to an approved list of family and friends; order certain music, books and videos; and grievances and reports of abuse. All of this activity will be heavily by prison staff.

Prisoner support services the free tablet initiative. They it a "game-changer" and a "huge step forward". A New York State official the tablets would help prisoners closer to their families, and reduce tensions between prisoners and prison guards. However, law enforcement agencies are the wisdom of giving tablets to convicts. Some law enforcement officers it as a good example of how crime does . Top police officer Ed Mullins why prisoners were getting free tablets when other people in society are . He said: "Little is for the homeless, mentally ill, and hard-working people who can't afford tablets in New York State."