Unlocking Potential: Internet and Prisons

“For us to expect inmates will possess the skills necessary to survive in the free world, we'll have to come to the realization they'll have to use these things." -- Douglas Smith III, Chief Information Officer, Florida Department of Corrections

Allowing prisoners secure and limited Internet access can provide a real opportunity for rehabilitation, potentially reducing recidivism.

Researchers and policymakers have largely forgotten prisoners when considering universal Internet access and the Digital Divide. These inmates are, by default, digitally excluded during their incarcerations, denying them access to a potentially potent tool for improving rehabilitation and decreasing recidivism.