What Families Need to Do Before Wabash Valley's Tablet Upgrade (GettingOut, Headphones, and Messaging)

The Command 5.0 tablets come with some noticeable hardware changes: two headphone jacks and magnetic charging. The tablets are still state property - assigned to incarcerated individuals at each facility, not owned personally. Rollout timing varies by location, so your loved one may not get theirs the same day as someone at a different facility.

Want to keep sending pictures and messages after the transition? You'll need a GettingOut.com account. This is the platform families will use for digital correspondence going forward. Setting it up now is the single most useful thing you can do.

You can create your GettingOut account right now - no need to wait. Here's the catch: you won't be able to add your loved one as a contact until they actually receive their new Command 5.0 tablet.

1. Go to GettingOut.com in a web browser - Use a standard browser like Chrome or Firefox.
2. Click “Create Account” - This starts the sign-up flow.
3. Enter your date of birth and confirm your age - Type your DOB as shown, then use the confirm-age option.
4. Click “Create Account” again - The site prompts you to confirm before moving on.
5. Fill out the required fields - Complete the form with the information requested.
6. Submit the form - After you submit, you should be returned to the login page.

Headphones matter more than you might expect with this upgrade. Each incarcerated individual gets one free pair, but replacements or additional pairs have to be purchased through commissary. Since the Command 5.0 tablets have two headphone jacks, headphones are essential for using many services on the device.

Also keep in mind that the tablet and its accessories aren’t treated like personal property. If a tablet or accessory is intentionally lost or damaged, the incarcerated individual can be held responsible for it.

The Command 5.0 tablets are built for controlled communication and services - not open web access. They run on a separate intranet, so there's no connection to Facebook, Twitter, or other websites. Messaging has limits too: incarcerated individuals can't message each other, and messaging is a privilege restricted to approved recipients. Even though your loved one uses the device daily, the tablet itself remains state property assigned at the facility level.

Timing Tips

• ✓ Create your GettingOut account now so you’re not scrambling later
• ✓ Save your login/account confirmation details somewhere you can find them again
• ✓ Be ready to add your loved one as a contact after they receive their new Command 5.0 tablet

Even with a statewide transition, tablets are assigned at each facility, and timing varies. If you've already set up your GettingOut account, you'll be ready to reconnect quickly once your loved one receives the new device at Wabash Valley.