Commission reviews Cortland County Jail request to allow digital scanning of inmate correspondence

Larry Rowe, a presenter to the Commission of Correction, described a variance request from the Cortland County Jail seeking relief from standard 7004.3 to permit digital scanning of incoming correspondence and electronic delivery to incarcerated individuals’ tablet systems. "Captain Lynch is requesting a new variance, which permits a digital scan correspondence," Rowe said, noting the facility proposed color scanning via a third-party vendor (identified in the filing as "BeaPAD") and submitted a revised correspondence policy aligned with 20 specified conditions. Staff recommended approval through 01/01/2027 to align the term with other approved variances.

Commission members pressed staff on contraband risk and access when tablets are removed. One committee member asked, "What if somebody has the tablet taken?" and Rowe responded that the facility would need to test, review, and otherwise follow local procedures to provide paper copies or photocopies when appropriate. Another commissioner noted some tablet models can disable functions other than mail delivery, and staff said facilities can restrict privileges and supply correspondence by alternative means when tablets are withheld for disciplinary reasons.

The transcript records a motion and second on the item after Q&A, but the excerpt does not include the final recorded vote for this specific variance motion; the presentation record and staff recommendation (approval through 01/01/2027) were entered into the record.