Every day, hundreds of individuals are released from U.S. federal prisons and reenter a society that has undergone a massive technological transformation. From mobile banking and rideshare apps to online job searches and telehealth, daily life in 2025 is powered by digital literacy. Yet many of these returning citizens are emerging from decades-long incarcerations without even the most basic knowledge of how to navigate a smartphone, let alone a computer.
This lack of digital fluency isn’t a mere inconvenience—it’s a systemic failure that undermines public safety, economic opportunity, and the very mission of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The Bureau has consistently resisted integrating meaningful technology education into its rehabilitation programs. It neither offers basic classes on smartphone or computer use nor provides access to standard software like Microsoft Office. Meanwhile, society assumes digital competency as a prerequisite for employment, housing, and healthcare access.
A System Frozen in Time
The BOP continues to operate in a mindset that is decades out of date. While the federal prison system is now heavily populated by low-level drug offenders—many of whom will return to society within a few years—the Bureau’s policies remain rooted in Cold War-era fears of criminal ingenuity. The notion that giving inmates computer access might facilitate scams has been used to justify a wholesale ban on tools that are standard in most U.S. households and nearly all state prison systems.
Ironically, these concerns are not borne out by data. The BOP recovers tens of thousands of contraband cell phones each year, according to internal audits and public reporting. If inmates truly wanted to orchestrate sophisticated criminal schemes, they already have the means. Yet incidents involving digital crime from within prisons remain statistically rare. The data suggests that access to supervised, secure educational technology poses minimal risk—and enormous potential benefit.
The Model That Works
California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has demonstrated what's possible through its innovative “The Last Mile” and "Code.7370" programs—initiatives that train inmates in full-stack software development. The result? Graduates of these programs have boasted a zero percent recidivism rate. Participants don’t just find jobs; they build careers. They exit prison with a purpose and skill set that reintegrates them into the economy. This is rehabilitation in the truest sense.
By contrast, federal inmates are still using typewriters—machines so outdated that their parts are increasingly unavailable. Bizarrely, these typewriters are kept in use despite safety concerns; internal components like steel bars have been converted into weapons in the past. The logic is twisted: inmates are denied modern word processors because they might more effectively litigate their cases, even though nearly all state systems allow such access without issue.
Digital Illiteracy is a Barrier to Reintegration
Why aren't federal inmates learning how to set up a Gmail account, build a résumé, apply for jobs on Indeed, or use navigation apps to reach an interview? These are not luxuries; they are necessities for anyone seeking to reintegrate into today’s workforce and society. Yet the BOP offers virtually no structured programming to teach these skills.
Instead, the technology inmates are given is essentially a digital vending machine. The BOP’s contractor-issued tablets—managed by the Keefe Group—offer censored music, PG-13 movies, and low-grade games developed by subcontractors. Unlike the GTL tablets used in many state prisons, these devices are not vehicles for education. They are profit centers. Promised features like access to Khan Academy, educational video content, or GED prep material have never materialized. The tablets are simply another revenue stream dressed up as rehabilitation.
Idle Hands, Missed Opportunities
The consequences of this technological neglect are profound. Studies show that inmate idleness contributes significantly to behavioral problems, violence, and mental health decline. Meanwhile, access to meaningful educational and vocational programming is consistently correlated with lower recidivism. The BOP’s refusal to provide digital tools isn't just outdated—it’s dangerous and counterproductive to its own mission.
It’s time for the Bureau of Prisons to stop using outlier incidents as an excuse to avoid change. Most state systems already provide supervised access to computers and educational content with minimal negative consequences. The data is clear: withholding digital education from incarcerated individuals only increases the likelihood they will reoffend, struggle, or fail upon release.
Solutions: How the BOP Can Embrace Evidence-Based Reform
- Implement Basic Digital Literacy Programs: Offer instruction in smartphone setup, email use, app navigation, and online job search tools.
- Provide Access to Office Software: Allow supervised use of Microsoft Office or Google Workspace for résumé building, legal filings, and self-improvement.
- Adopt Proven Models Like California’s "Code.7370": Partner with tech educators to provide real-world software training programs inside prisons.
- Upgrade Tablets with Educational Content: Mandate that contractor tablets include platforms like Khan Academy, GED prep, coding tutorials, and vocational training videos.
- Replace Typewriters with Word Processors: Secure word processing stations with printer access, just as many state prisons do safely and effectively.
- Monitor and Evaluate: Use data and audits to track inmate progress, recidivism rates, and institutional behavior before and after implementing tech access.
- Engage Stakeholders: Include educators, technologists, former inmates, and community organizations in designing modern, rehabilitative programming.
The federal prison system has the tools, data, and models available to drastically improve outcomes. What’s missing is the will. If the BOP is serious about reducing recidivism and improving civil society, it must step out of the past—and plug in to the present.