How Inmates Use DOC Tablets in Pennsylvania — What Families Should Know

Pennsylvania DOC-approved tablets run a limited set of approved apps. They're not everyday internet tablets. While your loved one is in custody, the device has no Wi‑Fi and no office suite. It can't take photos either. That usually answers the biggest family questions right away: this isn't a web-browsing device, and it's not something they can use as a camera or for typical "computer" tasks like editing documents.

• ✓ Send and receive email with family and friends
• ✓ Listen to more than 3 million available songs
• ✓ Play 45 pre-approved games
• ✓ Read more than 8,500 eBooks

The tablet has to be ordered by the inmate through the DOC commissary system. You can't order it for them. If you want to help, the practical move is making sure your loved one has enough money in their account to place the commissary order themselves.

1. Set up a JPay account - A JPay account is required for family and friends to send money for tablet purchases.
2. Send funds to your loved one - Add money so it lands in their account for them to use.
3. Have them order the tablet through commissary - Once the funds are there, they can purchase the tablet through the DOC commissary process.

Your loved one might mention "link units." One link unit equals one penny, and it works like a small-value credit for tablet activity. Link units can be used to purchase songs, send email messages, play games, and buy other DOC-approved items.

These tablets come with something called a "mortality timer," and it catches a lot of families off guard. The device has to be synced to a kiosk inside the prison every 30 days. Miss that 30-day window and the tablet locks. Even if your loved one is taking great care of it, skipping a sync will shut it down.

1. Treat syncing as a monthly deadline - The tablet must be synced to a kiosk in the prison every 30 days.
2. Build it into their routine - Encourage your loved one to sync well before day 30 so a busy week does not push them past the limit.
3. Know the consequence - If they do not sync the tablet within the 30-day period, it will lock.

After release, the tablet stays with the person. That's a nice perk, but there's one key extra step to make it fully functional on the outside. Once they're home, they need to send the tablet to ViaPath Technologies. ViaPath will remove the mortality timer (so it won't lock) and load the software for Wi‑Fi and camera functions.