Between 1995 and 2015, the Internet expanded, social media platforms appeared, and mobile technologies proliferated. While most people in North America, including the very young and very old, experienced these changes firsthand, there is one notable exception: the millions of Americans serving time. As a result, our nation now faces a unique problem.

Without access to computers, tablets or cell phones, upon release, many people who are incarcerated don’t possess the basic skills needed to search for jobs and complete online application forms. Worse yet, even a job that may appear low-tech to many people on the outside (e.g., delivering groceries for a company like Instacart or Fresh Direct) can present a major challenge to someone who has never or rarely ever used a touch screen.  In addition, as more job training takes place online and takes a certain level of computer literacy for granted, former inmates are also at a notable disadvantage on the training front. This is why a growing number of prison reformers are calling for increased access to computers and mobile devices behind bars, but can this reform happen?

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As Joan Petersilia of the Stanford Law School observes, “Rehabilitation programs reduce recidivism if they incorporate proven principles and are targeted to specific offenders. Research demonstrates that offenders who earn a high school equivalency diploma while behind bars are more likely to get jobs after release. Those who receive vocational skills training are more likely to get jobs and higher wages after release.” Given that prisoners are already banned from pursuing many jobs in growth industry (e.g., education), tech is an obvious growth industry that could be used to help get former prisoners into steady jobs, but this can only happen if access to computers behind bars opens up.