Plainfield Tablet Update: Command 5.0 Rollout, What Transfers, GettingOut Accounts, and Pay-As-You-Go Costs

IDOC is rolling out its Command 5.0 tablet upgrade statewide. Indiana State Prison was first, receiving new tablets on December 10, 2024. The remaining facilities - including Plainfield - will be upgraded after the start of 2025. So you may hear about changes at other prisons before Plainfield's turn comes.

Here's what catches many families off guard: messages and photos don't transfer during the switch. Photos and emails in the current system won't move into the new one. The new tablets will archive content going forward, but don't expect old messages or photos to appear in the new platform automatically.

The upgraded tablets use pay-as-you-go pricing - you're charged based on actual usage rather than buying a bundle. IDOC lists example rates of $0.33 per minute for voice calls and $0.50 per message. These numbers help with budgeting. A few minutes here and a few messages there add up fast. Think about how your loved one prefers to communicate - quick check-ins versus longer conversations - and plan accordingly.

Headphones matter more than you'd think - they're essential for everyday tablet use. The first pair comes at no cost. Replacements or extra pairs have to be purchased through commissary. One thing to understand: tablets are assigned to incarcerated individuals, but they remain state property. Your loved one uses the device, but doesn't own it in the traditional sense. It's treated like state equipment.

Action Steps

• ✓ Create your new GettingOut.com account so you’re ready to message and send photos under the upgraded system
• ✓ Double-check that your contact information is accurate in the new account so messages don’t get delayed
• ✓ Plan ahead for the transition: if a photo or message is truly important, be prepared to resend it after the upgrade since old photos/emails won’t transfer

1. Set up your GettingOut.com account - IDOC says you’ll need a new account to send messages and photos once the upgraded tablets are in use.
2. Review pay-as-you-go costs and plan your budget - example rates listed by IDOC include $0.33 per minute for voice and $0.50 per message for messaging.
3. After the upgrade reaches Plainfield, reconnect and resend what matters - since photos and emails from the current system won’t transfer, assume you’ll need to send key photos/messages again in the new system.