As a result of the decision by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to allow more than 51,000 inmates statewide to use electronic tablets free of charge, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has written a letter to Gov. Cuomo and DOCCS demanding that the program be shut down immediately.
Today, Feb. 1, Hawley wrote:
Dear Governor Cuomo:
I am distraught and dismayed relative to the news accounts that tablets will be made available to 51,000 incarcerated individuals within our state correctional facilities.
This policy decision to reward and furnish luxury items like these tablets to prisoners is an affront to our law abiding citizens. Our citizens, veterans, school districts and libraries all across our state, struggle to provide for their families, students and patrons. What message does this send to them!
We already have people moving to New York State for our lavish Medicaid programs and now criminals will also be moving here and if convicted and sent to a state prison will have access to luxuries not afforded in other out of state correctional facilities.
I call on you to reconsider this misguided policy and urge JayP Inc. to work with our school system, libraries and veterans organizations to furnish tablets to law abiding citizens instead of those who are currently incarcerated.
Sincerely,
Steve Hawley
Member of Assembly
139th AD
lmao .....when I first heard
lmao .....when I first heard this story I said to myself, only in America, with some more thought I said, only in New York.... Why stop with tablets? how about paying the inmates for their time. minimum wage X 40 hour / week. The longer they serve the more they make.. after all, they will be paying taxes and social security.. come on now, it's a win-win, it's a shot in the arm, it's a no-brainer, if we can save one life, ......
Right On Dave!! Don`t forget,
Right On Dave!! Don`t forget, time and a half for overtime!!
I always figured Hawley to be
I always figured Hawley to be a 'business first/no regulations' kinda guy. Maybe I was wrong lol
“We already have people
“We already have people moving to New York State for our lavish Medicaid programs and now criminals will also be moving here…”
Dog whistle politics. “Criminals” will move to NYS in order to be incarcerated here just to get a tablet. Sure.
Yeah, being poor, sick and/or incarcerated and dehumanized sure sounds like a “lavish” lifestyle.
It's too bad this program
It's too bad this program didn't happen sooner, these tablets would have been a nice addition to the Obama Cellphones.