Market Trends

While it’s true that corrections officials may be more open to the idea of allowing educational programs to use technology now than they once were, the highly regulated nature of the corrections ecosystem presents unique constraints that tech vendors must navigate, including facilities’ security and privacy priorities. Technology providers that pursue work in this market will be more likely to succeed if they develop deep knowledge of the landscape, make intentional efforts to forge strong partnerships, and adopt patient long-term investment strategies. They will also have the opportunity to engage and co-create with people who are incarcerated and have technological expertise.

For example, the Inside Out Network, a coalition of organizations that support people returning to the community following incarceration, has essentially paired a dynamic resource directory with direct messaging functionality to create a database that enables people who were once incarcerated to connect and communicate with service providers. We anticipate that edtech providers will continue to improve efficiency in programs for people who are or were incarcerated with tech-enabled innovations that make previously static resources (such as library materials and databases) more accessible and functional.

Because educational programs for people who are incarcerated have had limited access to technology, many providers currently working in this market have been directing their efforts toward stakeholders—corrections leaders or employment or job-training programs—that have already shown that they’re open to adopting new technologies. This approach requires less effort than trying to persuade skeptics. Several vendors told us that they believe this approach will put them in a favorable position to engage with previously hesitant organizations that decide to follow the early adopters.

Developing systems for programs that serve people who are incarcerated creates many unique ethical considerations for vendors. For example, they must keep in mind how a product or service could be misused, intentionally or unintentionally, either by people who are incarcerated or by staff (corrections officials withholding devices or denying internet access as disciplinary measures, or people who are incarcerated using computers to access paid services or contact crime victims, for example). While vendors will never have complete control over how their products and services are used in prisons and jails, exemplary providers in this market take these possibilities very seriously.