10/13/2026
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PLEASE SHARE TO HELP END TOM TIFFANY'S MISINFORMATION: Republican candidate for governor, Tom Tiffany's attack ads against David Crowley don't mention that the Wisconsin prison-tablet system was passed when the Wisconsin government was fully under Republican control and while Tiffany himself was in the state legislature.
In 2014-15, Republicans passed statutes that allowed the Dept. of Corrections to adopt electronic communication systems and vendor‑managed technology being used throughout the state today, in jails and prisons, including in red counties in Wisconsin.
Tablet use has become commonplace in both jails and prisons; they're being used in 48 state prison systems, the Federal prison system and in County jails nationwide. Tiffany's ads also don't mention the devices are not iPads but a “generic tablet” and are not connected to the public internet.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons described the agency’s tablet program as reducing administrative burdens and allowing staff to focus more on institutional safety. Correctional officials have credited tablets with reducing violence and disturbances inside correctional facilities. Some jurisdictions have reported declines of up to 40%.
Tablets in jails and prisons don’t have web browsers or free internet access. They connect to a closed, secure internal network run by the tablet vendor. That network allows controlled communication tools like secure messaging, monitored email‑style systems, video calls, photo sharing, and digital mail. Families can send messages through the vendor’s app, and incarcerated people can read and reply on the tablet — all without accessing the public internet. Tablets also provide educational content, law library access, mental‑health resources, and programming through the same closed system.
Of the tens of thousands of tablets in use throughout the Wisconsin prison system,there have been a few cases where inmates misused jail tablets to harass or intimidate people outside the facility. They're the reason why Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has temporarily suspended messaging features and ordered stronger safeguards to prevent future misuse.
“I am concerned when the needs of incarcerated people and their children become talking points in a political campaign. These decisions affect real families. They should be guided by evidence, safety, and what will help people return home successfully," said Roy Rogers, a minister, board member of the Wisconsin Justice Initiative, and leader of the Onesimus Group of Milwaukee.
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