Idea To Give Tulsa Inmates Smartphones, For A Fee, Considered At Jail

Tulsa County Sheriff Michelle Robinette talked about her new idea - giving inmates smartphones, for a fee.

We obtained an email from a Tulsa County sheriff captain, written six months ago, saying he distributed Android phones inside the jail for testing and the phones will eventually be sold to inmates.

Robinette said the devices would allow them to make phone calls, but not access the Internet.

"They can order movies, they can order books, they can order music. The juveniles can have their homework downloaded so they can do their homework in their cell at night," she said.

It sounds like a new idea, but a county contract with Correct Solutions Group from 2014 shows at least one tablet has been in the jail since 2014.

That is the iMate E-Device, "a handheld electronic tablet for inmates to access books, music, educational programs and other features" for a cost. The contract states the county gets 75 percent of the revenue.

In May 2015, former Captain Billy McKelvey sent an email to jail staff, saying "I handed out a number of test phones...inside the facility. The goal is to check the connect-ability and once the system is up and running to make these phones available to inmates for purchase. I know, this is a bit scary and unusual."

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It goes on to say the phones would be secure, with music and games.

"Why does an inmate need a cell phone," asked Marq Lewis with We The People Oklahoma.

Lewis said the jail wants to supply smartphones to inmates to make money; selling phone calls for up to $10.

"Why are we using our inmates as commodities," he asked.

Robinette defends that notion.

"Yes, it will be an additional revenue service, but we won't pay for the phones. They'll be put on commissary," she said.

The jail does have 225 landline phones, which inmates can also use for a fee.