BOISE — An issue with a service provided to inmates at five Idaho Department of Correction facilities has been called everything from a "glitch" to a "hack.”
Almost $225,000 in credits made its way across more than 360 inmates’ JPay accounts in Idaho.
JPay is a service inmates use to send emails, download and listen to music and play games. All of those actions come at a cost. For example, sending a one-page email costs about 50 cents.
A JPay spokesperson told KTVB inmates were placing a product, like music or a game, in their cart and removing it in a way that didn't subtract credit, but instead resulted in more credit in their accounts.
JPay said the inmates "weren't stealing money so much as acquiring digital content without paying for it."
IDOC told KTVB that they have the responsibility of holding inmates accountable for their behavior and have charged those who they say improperly credited their accounts with a Class B disciplinary offense. A spokesperson for IDOC said that can result in a temporary loss of institutional privileges and the possible re-classification to a higher level of custody.
In the meantime, concerned inmates have reached out to resources like the ACLU of Idaho for help.
“When those inquiries come in from people who are currently incarcerated what we also like to do is make sure they understand the process of how to file grievances with IDOC themselves,” said Jeremy Woodson, community engagement manager for the ACLU of Idaho. “That's a very important first step…We try to make sure to provide general ‘Know your rights’ information.”
The ACLU said they are monitoring the situation. It's still early and they're looking to see if any civil rights or civil liberties have been violated.