Having a loved one be taken into custody impacts the family dynamics in ways unimaginable. Aside from being unable to spend time with family physically, it’s also difficult to have any form of communication behind bars. A company from Dallas Texas, Aventiv Technologies, hopes to build the bridge between incarcerated people and the world outside of prison. Serving over 1.1 million incarcerated individuals across North America, the company provides the technology and tools needed so the prisoners can learn and rehabilitate in preparation for eventually integrating themselves into society once again.
Aventive Technologies bands together with those who are impacted by this issue to provide incarcerated persons a means to connect to the outside world with Justice Sandbox. They bridge payment transactions through AllPaid for government transactions and JPay to enable loved ones to send money support to correctional facilities. Securus Technologies provides tablets and other digital tools such as reading materials. This will help incarcerated individuals with their education and provide virtual communication with their families and friends.
Collaborating with justice-impacted tech entrepreneurs
According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 62% of prisoners released across 34 states in 2012 were arrested within three years. Although the percentage of prisoners released and arrested within five years has declined from 77% of 2005 releases to 71% of 2012 releases, finding employment after serving time in prison can be daunting and frustrating. On top of the scarcity of opportunities, the stigma in society regarding incarcerated people can also be a hindrance. Of the 73,500 persons released from federal prison in 2010, 33% were not able to find employment for the next four years. With that, Aventiv Technologies is hoping to aid this struggle by partnering with justice-impacted tech entrepreneurs in launching Justice Sandbox.
Andre Norman, Aventiv Board Member and co-founder of the Hope Media App shared that “people in prison want to see themselves in the future, and Justice Sandbox gives them the motivation and access they need to complete their sentences and plan for a better tomorrow”. The app contains content directly from people who have lived through the incarceration process. It could provide other inmates hope and knowledge post-incarceration. The environment would enable justice-impacted tech entrepreneurs’ content to reach up to 650,000 Securus tablets. Inspirational podcasts, “Second Acts” and “Day 1”, were also created by previously incarcerated individuals.
YouTube: Developing Skills and Talents (Aventiv)
Photo credit: The images shown are owned by Aventiv and were made available as part of a press release.
Sources: PR Newswire / Bureau of Justice Statistics / Bureau of Justice Statistics / Aventiv Technologies
