Penmate Inmate Support Guides

What Families Should Know About Inmate Use of Computers & Tablets in Pennsylvania Prisons

Pennsylvania DOC allows supervised use of department-supplied or authorized technology, but it's a privilege with clear limits and real consequences for misuse.

• 3 min read Verified from official sources

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections policy allows inmates and reentrants to use department-supplied or authorized information technology under staff supervision. This includes hardware, software, and sometimes internet access. The catch: it's only for specific, approved purposes like work assignments, legal access, education, treatment, career development, and reentry planning. Technology use is a privilege, not a right, and the DOC can revoke it at any time.

Supervised technology access is meant to support constructive activities. That includes completing work assignment tasks, accessing the legal system for legal matters, and communicating with authorized people. Education and career development qualify too, along with reentry-focused activities like job searches. Your loved one might mention using a kiosk, tablet, or other approved device for these purposes. Library activities and resume writing are also specifically listed as allowed. The key point for families: all use is purpose-based and supervised. If your loved one asks for help related to computer or tablet access, it helps to understand which approved category their use falls under.

Warning: Unauthorized, modified, hacked, or otherwise altered devices are prohibited and treated as contraband. If possession or use violates the law, it can also lead to prosecution.

When an inmate violates technology rules, staff can remove or restrict their access immediately. Serious violations can lead to permanent loss of technology privileges. Remember: access is a privilege, not a guaranteed service. Tech violations can ripple into other areas of daily life inside. The policy allows for disciplinary action, including removal from employment or educational assignments. If your loved one suddenly loses a class spot or job after a tech issue, this could be why.

Note: Some violations can also result in criminal prosecution, separate from prison discipline.

The DOC can hold inmates and reentrants financially responsible for losses, costs, or damages to technology systems caused by intentional or negligent actions. Put simply: if someone breaks equipment or harms the system through misuse or carelessness, the Department can seek compensation from them.

S6

  • ✓ Is your loved one currently approved for supervised access to department-supplied or authorized technology?
  • ✓ What type of device or system are they allowed to use (for example, a kiosk, tablet, or another authorized setup)?
  • ✓ What specific activities are they using it for (work assignment tasks, legal access, approved communications, treatment, education, career development, reentry planning, job searches, library activities, resume writing)?
  • ✓ Who supervises the access, and what does “supervised” look like in practice at that unit?
  • ✓ Has their access been restricted or revoked, and if so, was it immediate or permanent?
  • ✓ Are there related consequences already in place, such as discipline or removal from a job or education assignment?
  • ✓ What behaviors count as prohibited, especially anything that could be seen as using an unauthorized or altered device?

Tip: If access has been restricted, ask what consequences were issued and what process exists to request review or clarification through the facility’s normal channels.

If something doesn't add up (for example, someone claims they have unsupervised access or describes using unofficial devices), follow up with facility staff who handle security and unit operations. These rules apply DOC-wide across Pennsylvania state prisons, but scheduling and supervision can vary by setting and status. Verification is worth the effort.

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How to Contact an Inmate at Facility

Before helping your loved one use any in-facility communication technology, there's one documented policy to be aware of: inmates and reentrants can be held financially responsible for losses, costs, or damages they cause to Department information technology systems if the damage is intentional or negligent. This policy can apply broadly to technology used inside the facility, including devices or systems for messaging, video communication, or other IT-based services. That's the only facility-specific communication detail covered by the evidence provided here. Phone numbers, vendor names, messaging rules, visiting or video schedules, fee amounts, and how charges are calculated aren't included. You'll need to confirm those details directly with the facility.