By C1 Staff
BOISE, Idaho — A new system meant to allow Ada County inmates to communicate with the outside world also has a few other upsides to its use.
As KBOI2 reports, the new system allows for video chat, email, photo messages and voice mail for a price. Emails can be sent out for 35 cents each. But it also allows inmates access to the internet, which costs 10 cents a minute.
The list of available websites for inmates is limited, but includes CNN, ESPN, and Hulu.
Opinions are mixed — inmates are grateful for the advantages the technology offers them, but those not incarcerated aren’t happy.
“Internet and Hulu? What’s next Netflix and pizza delivery? Stop messing with my taxes,” James Woods wrote on KBOI’s Facebook page.
Telmate, the company which installed the service, pays for the equipment, installation and maintenance of the system.
With this technology, the jail is guaranteed at least $12,000 in revenue a year. All money goes directly to the Ada County general fund.