Deputy warden outlines tablet program and grievance process; public commenter alleges on‑block distribution and safety concerns

The oversight board heard a staff presentation on the facility’s tablet program and the grievances/request‑for‑information process, followed by public comment that raised security and access concerns.

Deputy Warden Lisa Mastrode explained that tablets are assigned to housing units and work only on the unit to which they are programmed. Staff conduct weekly inventories with ViaPath (the contractor), inspect equipment, and reassign tablets as population moves. The deputy warden said three wall‑charger repairs remain and that the agency hopes to reach a 1:1 tablet ratio as inventory and repairs permit to reduce sharing issues.

Staff presented usage and cost data showing a spike in phone minutes in January attributed to an FCC rate reduction (from 16¢ to 6¢ per minute). Video visitation rates fell (previously 25¢, reduced to 11¢ per minute), and messaging rose to 50¢ per minute under a contract change. A slide tracking per‑unit inventory showed Unit 6 was short by 48 tablets while Unit 7 had an excess of 47; staff said they rebalance distribution each week.

The presenter said ViaPath handles repairs and that the county does not pay for tablet repair. The facility also uses tablets for messaging, video visits, entertainment, education, religious resources and electronic mail delivery; most popular features include entertainment bundles and games.

On grievances and requests for information, staff described a three‑step process: an initial request for information to the responsible department; a step‑1 grievance to a supervisor; and a step‑2 grievance to director or deputy warden level. Case management receives the largest number of requests, followed by mail, food service, commissary, law library, laundry and health services. Tablet‑related submissions are often damage reports or appeals of suspended video visits.

During public participation, Kimberly Brown said the staff presentation was incomplete and alleged a different distribution practice. Brown told the board: "the tablet runner comes off the block, get the tablets, go on the block, and they distribute the tablets amongst certain inmates, and they keep the tablets to the cells to sell. You get $25 between $25 and $50 for the tablet." She also raised concerns about locks, working bathrooms and inmate safety.

Staff did not corroborate the sale allegation during the meeting. The board heard the allegation as part of public comment and did not vote on any action related to it.

Ending — Board members acknowledged the concerns and reiterated the need for continued oversight of tablet access, equipment repairs and housing unit security; staff said they will continue weekly inventories and rebalancing and pursue repairs to move toward one‑to‑one tablet availability.