A Chicago startup that has created a tablet-based education platform for prison and jail inmates has just launched a pilot in a Philadelphia prison.
Jail Education Solutions is rolling out its product to the 8,500 bed Philadelphia correctional facility and should be fully in place over the next few months, according to Forbes. Co-founder Brian Hill said the platform is set to be installed in several other correctional facilities early next year.
Jail Education Solutions, which took home first place at this year's Techweek launch competition, aims to lower recidivism rates among the jail population by giving inmates more resources to succeed after leaving incarceration. 12 million Americans are cycled through jails each year, and more than half of those incarcerated return to jail after they are released. JES has developed a self-driven learning platform that included content such as GED prep, documentaries, and career training information.
The tablets can be rented to inmates for a low cost, or they can be funded through facility resources. Inmates can rent the tablets for a day or by the month. They are further incentivized to use JES' platform because the career training content is rewarded with music, games and other entertainment options.
JES believes that by lowering recidivism through educational and vocational content, it will save taxpayers money and provide a much needed service for inmates.
What is Jail Education Solutions? from Jail Education Solutions (JES) on Vimeo.
Screengrab via Jail Education Solution
