New Mexico, Wisconsin Jails Launch, Consider Digital Inmate Mail Systems

Several jail facilities are moving to digitize inmate mail systems to combat the smuggling of contraband like drugs and improve safety. Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center in New Mexico has implemented a system where inmate mail is scanned off-site and delivered as digital copies accessible via tablets, while legal mail and approved materials remain physical. Similarly, Dane County, Wisconsin, is considering a proposal to replace physical mail with digital copies after processing mail off-site, aiming to reduce illegal substances entering the jail and increase efficiency. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett emphasizes safety as the highest priority, noting past incidents where inmates tested positive for drugs despite inspections, and plans to vote on the proposal in July. The transition has raised privacy and emotional concerns among the public, particularly regarding personal cards, but officials maintain that life safety outweighs these issues. Both locations have increased tablet access to inmates to facilitate this new system and are partnering with third-party vendors to manage mail scanning and delivery.