In late January 2023, Barry County Jail transitioned to a new commissary system. It was touted as being better, offering more choices, and being more affordable for inmates.
But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Meet JailATM.com and Tech Friends, INC.
The new commissary vendor at the Barry County Jail is JailATM.com, owned by Tech Friends, Inc out of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Upon visiting their plain Jane website, I found they offer multiple products specifically for the prison industry. On the surface, this seems fairly normal; another vendor option. That is, until you reach their contact page. What immediately caught my eye was a message above the email contact form:
“Contact Tech Friends about Deploying this Entire Technology Suite AT NO COST to your Facility.”
From insider’s accounts, kiosks were moved in as they transitioned from one provider to another. A brief blackout period took place to switch from one to the other. While the kiosk itself isn’t strange, I wondered how they could offer kiosks for free with no costs to a facility.
Companies who offer Commissary Services typically provide kiosks in jail living units. For example, JPay, another major provider in Michigan as well as the United States, provides kiosks for incarcerated individuals to read, write, and print emails. The kiosks are usually included through site agreements and termed contracts; agreeing that the facility will use a particular vendor for a designated amount of time.
I contacted Tech Friends to inquire about their business model and how they are able to offer their products for free. I did not receive a response.
Luckily, I am not the first person to wonder how this was possible.
Who is Tech Friends?
In a 2016 Prison Policy Initiative Report, Tech Friends is identified as one of twelve companies who provide correctional facilities with various services. They are able to provide their services free to the jail through a fee collection system and as I encountered, a strict no refund policy.
A $50 transaction will cost a Barry County inmate’s family $5. Anything that goes unused is non-refundable. Even in transfer situations, that money is gone.
A review of the company’s Better Business Bureau Report reveals similar situations to mine. One beneficial note, is at least the company does respond to complaints. However, the average customer rating is a dismal 1.7 out of 5 stars.
UPDATE, 2024
Other Michigan counties, specifically St. Clair and Genesee, were later found to have been involved in telecom kickback schemes. Sadly, and perhaps a reflection of the widespread corruption and money associated with mass incarceration, the lawsuits were dismissed.
This is another hardship that families of the incarcerated do not deserve. Many are struggling to make ends meet as it is.
