Idaho Prison Blog

On February 13, 2019, JPay launched outgoing videogram services for prisoners at the ISCC and other facilities that were not already a part of the beta testing of the program. These 30 second videos may be sent to anyone on the inmates' (email) contact list, but people on the street must download the videogram app to their phone to view the video. If you can send a videogram to an inmate, then you already have the app on your phone. To get the free app on your Apple or Android phone, go to www.jpay.com and follow the instructions. Each video, incoming or outgoing, costs 2 eStamps to send.

While the debate over the death penalty in the United States rages on, few people realize that life without parole (LWOP) is nothing more than a death sentence on the installment plan. These prisoners, competent enough to either stand trial or plead guilty, should be able to make the decision to end their lives when there is no more viable life to live. Without regard as to how much it costs to house a prisoner, it is clearly in the best interest of society - and to prisoners - to allow LWOP inmates to decide that, like terminally ill patients, the quality of life in prison and hopelessness in the knowledge that freedom will never again be theirs is such that death is preferred. To allow prisoners the option to choose to end what is effectively an irreversible and terminal situation is not only humane, but in the public interest. Like most life forms, the primary function of human beings is procreation and protection of offspring. Humans also strive to innovate and create, to explore a...