The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Tomes’ SB 285 on inmate correspondence. This bill provides that the DOC shall provide, without charge, an inmate with a reasonable method and opportunity for correspondence, and shall permit an inmate to purchase additional opportunities for correspondence, such as email. Sen. Tomes testified that more correspondence with family is thought to reduce recidivism and that email will be easier to monitor. An employee and former employee of DOC testified against the bill because most inmates’ families do not have email, and this would decrease access to sending mail. The amendment allows inmates to choose a method of communication other than mail. The amended bill passed 9-1.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/285.