Inmate Tablets Explained: What They Are, What They Cost, and How Families Can Help

Inmate tablets are secure electronic devices distributed to incarcerated people at facilities that participate in a tablet program. The devices are provided by companies under contract with the facility or state Department of Corrections. Common providers include JPay, which operates under Securus Technologies and Aventiv Technologies, and GTL ViaPath Technologies.

The tablets connect to a secure internal network inside the facility. They do not have open internet access - inmates cannot browse websites, use social media, or access any external services outside of what the provider has approved and loaded onto the device.

Tablets must sync to a facility kiosk periodically to remain active. Some facilities require syncing every 30 days. If an inmate does not sync their device, it may lock and become unusable until the sync is completed.

Access to tablets can be restricted or revoked as a disciplinary measure. Facilities use tablet access as an incentive for good behavior. Inmates who receive disciplinary infractions may temporarily or permanently lose access to their device.

Most inmate tablets come with a mix of free and paid content. Free content typically includes some educational materials, religious texts, law library access, facility handbooks, and a limited number of ebooks or other resources provided at no cost.

Paid content includes electronic messaging, video calls, music downloads, movie rentals or purchases, games, additional ebooks, and premium educational programs. Each of these services is charged separately through a credit or stamp system linked to the inmate media account.

Electronic messaging through the tablet works similarly to messaging through the provider website. Families send messages through JPay or ConnectNetwork as normal, and the inmate reads and replies on their tablet rather than at a shared kiosk. Photo attachments and VideoGrams may also be available depending on the facility.

Video calls on tablets allow inmates to initiate calls to approved contacts without needing to use a shared video terminal or schedule in advance at some facilities. Families receive the call through the provider app on their smartphone. Costs are charged per minute or per session.

The tablet device itself is often provided free of charge to the inmate under the facility contract. The provider recoups costs through usage fees paid by inmates and their families for content and services.

Electronic messaging typically costs between $0.25 and $0.50 per message depending on the state and facility contract. Photo attachments cost additional stamps or credits per image. VideoGrams, which are short video messages, cost several stamps each.

Music and entertainment downloads are charged per song, per album, or per rental. Prices vary by provider and contract but are generally comparable to standard retail digital media pricing or higher. Games and additional educational programs are also charged separately.

The costs families absorb can add up significantly if messaging, video calls, and entertainment are all being used regularly. Setting a monthly budget and communicating it with your loved one can help manage costs and avoid unexpected charges to your account.

To use paid services on the tablet, the inmate needs funds in their media account or trust account depending on how the facility structures payments. Families send money through the same platform that manages the tablet - typically JPay for JPay tablet facilities or ConnectNetwork for GTL tablet facilities.

Log in to your JPay or ConnectNetwork account and look for the option to send money to your loved one. Select the appropriate account type - some facilities separate the inmate trust account used for commissary from the media account used for tablet content. Make sure you are funding the correct account.

Transaction fees apply when sending money. These fees vary by provider and the amount sent. Keep your confirmation number until you confirm the funds have been received. Processing times vary but most deposits are credited within one to three business days.

Some facilities allow families to send money by mailing a money order in addition to online transfers. Check the facility website for current accepted payment methods and addresses.

Tablet programs are widespread but not universal. Most large state prison systems have contracted with a tablet provider, but availability varies by state and individual facility. County jails are less likely to have tablet programs than state prisons, though some larger county facilities do offer them.

JPay tablets are available in many state systems including Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and others. GTL ViaPath tablet programs are available in California through the CDCR system and various other states.

The federal Bureau of Prisons also operates a tablet program. Federal inmates can access messaging and some entertainment content through facility tablets managed under the TRULINCS system.

To find out whether your loved one facility has a tablet program, search our facility directory or call the facility directly. If a tablet program is available, the facility or provider will explain how to send money and how messaging works through the device.

When an inmate is released from a facility, the tablet typically goes with them in states where the device is considered the inmate property under the program contract. Pennsylvania, for example, allows released inmates to keep their tablet. However, content linked to the secure facility network may no longer be accessible after release.

When an inmate transfers to a different facility, the situation depends on whether the new facility uses the same provider. If the new facility uses the same provider, the tablet and its content usually transfer with the inmate. If the new facility uses a different provider, the old tablet may need to be mailed home or turned in.

Families should be aware that when a state switches tablet providers - which happens when contracts expire and are renegotiated - all content on the old platform may be lost. Photos, messages, and purchased media from the previous provider are not always transferable to the new system.

JPay tablets have been the subject of significant complaints and legal action. The New York Attorney General reached an agreement with JPay after receiving hundreds of complaints from incarcerated New Yorkers that tablets were defective, arrived late, or never arrived. JPay also failed to refund consumers when purchased music and videos did not download. As a result of the agreement, JPay provided 100 digital stamps worth approximately $500,000 to every person at a New York DOCCS facility. JPay was also required to hire at least 11 customer service representatives specifically for New York state prison complaints and to resolve all complaints within 14 days.

A class action lawsuit was filed in Georgia federal court alleging that JPay operated a scheme to sell tablets to inmates and then take them back without reimbursement when contracts changed or the tablet was replaced. Inmates in the lawsuit reported purchasing devices and paying for games and music content only to have tablets confiscated or exchanged without credit for the paid content.

Common tablet problems reported by families include tablets stuck at the startup menu after a software update, syncing failures between the tablet and facility kiosk, malfunction after recommended updates, and customer service taking weeks to respond without resolution. If your loved one is experiencing tablet problems, the family can contact JPay customer service directly and reference the facility name and existing ticket number.

A growing number of state correctional systems have transitioned from JPay tablets to ViaPath Technologies tablets. Idaho completed this transition in May 2025, replacing JPay tablets with free ViaPath Bridge tablets. New Jersey began a similar transition in 2026. When a state switches providers, all content purchased on the old platform including music, games, and movies does not automatically transfer to the new platform.

In Idaho, the DOC communicated that inmates could continue using old JPay tablets until they stopped working. When the device stops functioning, there is a process to send the tablet back, have data pulled to a USB drive, and have the unlocked tablet returned to a home address. Families should save the home address in advance for this purpose.

In New Jersey, a civil rights lawsuit was filed in July 2026 challenging the transition from JPay to ViaPath, with inmates arguing that content purchased on JPay tablets would not remain accessible and that the switch resulted in significant cost increases. If your loved one's facility is undergoing a tablet provider transition, contact the facility directly to ask about the timeline, what happens to previously purchased content, and whether any credit will be provided for lost content.

If your loved one purchased content on a JPay tablet that was never delivered or is inaccessible due to a malfunction, submit a formal support ticket through JPay. Include the specific items purchased, the dates of purchase, the transaction confirmation numbers, and a clear description of what is not working.

If JPay does not respond within 14 days, escalate to your state Department of Corrections. The DOC holds the contract with JPay and has leverage to require resolution. New York established a 14-day resolution requirement as part of its Attorney General agreement.

For families who cannot resolve tablet issues through these channels, filing a complaint with your state attorney general consumer protection office is the most effective escalation option. The New York Attorney General case demonstrates that state AG offices will act on widespread tablet complaints when they receive sufficient documentation.

Document all tablet content purchases with confirmation numbers and screenshots before any announced provider transition date. This documentation is essential for any credit or refund claim when content is lost during a platform change.