Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office suspends messaging feature on jail tablets The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is suspending the messaging feature on IC Solutions, which is on tablets supplied by the Milwaukee County Jail, the sheriff's office announced on Tuesday.

Video above: Previous coverage of the union calling for the ban



The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is suspending the messaging feature on IC Solutions, which is on tablets supplied by the Milwaukee County Jail, the sheriff's office announced on Tuesday.


 The pause will allow the agency to review and put in place new protocols in response to recent confirmed reports of occupants using the messaging feature to inappropriately contact potential witnesses in their criminal cases,  the sheriff's office said in a news release on Tuesday.

Inmates will continue to have tablets for educational, entertainment and legal purposes, according to the sheriff's office.

 Victims and witnesses must be able to take part in the justice system without fear,  said Sheriff Denita R. Ball.  These tablets were put in place to help occupants stay connected to family, legal resources and support systems that can influence a reduction in recidivism. When even a small number of people misuse that access to threaten others and further break the law, we have a responsibility to act. Pausing messaging gives us the time to review our controls and reduce misuse and abuse of this technology. 



This comes after the union representing Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies called for inmate tablet messaging to be suspended at both county correctional facilities, while warning that officials need a plan to address the potential staffing and safety consequences.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, in an Oct. 9 news release, said he directed the Community Reintegration Center to suspend the messaging feature on tablets after accusations that some inmates used the devices to threaten victims.

Crowley also called on the sheriff's office to take similar action at the Milwaukee County Jail.

Background

There are about 20,000 inmates b
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