By Matt Ford
Product Manager, Mobility Platforms, GTL
GTL Inspire® inmate tablets are secure communication devices built to meet the rigors of a corrections environment
GTL believes in the philosophy that keeping inmates connected to their friends and family members is vital to reducing recidivism rates. Now more than ever, we are seeing correctional facilities around the country making a shift in their overall approach towards inmates by introducing GTL’s Inspire® inmate tablets. The Inspire inmate tablet is the industry-leading inmate communication device in the corrections market, which inmates use to sustain their vital outside personal connections. Introducing Inspire tablets into a corrections environment is proving to have a positive effect on inmates and friends and family members. Inspire inmate tablets are also delivering increased efficiencies for facilities and their corrections staff. Simultaneously, these inmate tablets are enabling inmates to communicate more frequently with their friends and family. The tablets can also be used as an effective education and entertainment device.
Recent news coverage in Davidson County, Tennessee discusses their experience with the introduction of GTL’s Inspire tablets. In addition to offering services to the inmates that enable them to engage with facility staff, in some cases, our Inspire tablets are operating as an inmate behavioral control mechanism for correctional officers and serving as a powerful incentive inside facilities. Our customers are seeing inmates with access to Inspire tablets improving their behavior in order to have the option and privilege of using the tablet for various purposes such as listening to music, playing games, reading an eBook, or completing coursework offered through our large library of educational content.
This range of options on the Inspire inmate tablet is made possible by the inmates paying for the services they want. Therefore, in almost every instance, these tablets come at no cost to taxpayers. GTL is working with our customers to provide a key public service of rehabilitation that is producing positive results. Facilities providing simple access for inmates to a secure Inspire tablet are showing potential and increasing the likelihood that once released, those inmates will not repeat offend. This is a huge benefit for taxpayers, the surrounding communities overall public safety, and the former inmate and their loved ones. It only makes sense this is where our industry is headed technologically.
However, the corrections environment is a challenging place for any product—and tablets are no different. Every day, there’s a possibility a tablet could be dropped, bumped, or shaken. Therefore, the technology GTL is providing to our customers must be rugged enough to endure the rigors of a corrections environment.
The latest model of GTL’s tablet, Inspire 1.5, was released in January 2017 and meets the “Transit Drop” test requirement specified by MIL-STD-810G 516.6 Section 4.6.5, a set of protocols that the U.S. Department of Defense uses to assess ruggedness. The tablet emerged unscathed from the rigorous drop test, from which it endured being dropped from a height of four feet onto a rigid surface 26 times—a drop on each of the unit’s six faces, eight corners, and 12 edges. Thanks to its rugged exterior casing, the new Inspire device suffered no physical damage and no operational impairment.
As facilities turn towards introducing tablets into their inmate population, Inspire tablets are leading the way as the future of inmate rehabilitation and securely monitored communications.
GTL will continue to invest time and resources into building products suited for the corrections environment. We are proud to have earned this elite drop test certification and will continue working closely with our customers to provide cutting-edge, industry-leading technologies that are both rugged and reliable.
To learn more about GTL Inspire inmate tablets or for a product demonstration, contact GTL today.
About GTL
GTL, an innovation leader in correctional technology and payment services solutions for government, offers visionary solutions that can be configured to support the needs of virtually any agency. Our products and services integrate seamlessly to deliver security, financial value, and ease of operation for our valued customers.