Oregon Department of Corrections Plans Tablet Rollout for Adults in Custody

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) says it is working toward a 1:1 tablet program that would eventually give every adult in custody in its system access to a state-issued tablet. According to the agency’s public project page, the rollout is expected to happen in phases, with a very tentative start date of September 2026.

The department says the goal is to improve access to communication, education, information, and programming while supporting personal growth and reentry planning. Tablets may eventually include approved communication tools, entertainment options, and other services depending on final agreements with the vendor.

DOC says each adult in custody would receive a tablet during intake or when the program reaches their facility. State officials also say the rollout order has not yet been established and that each facility will receive information before any changes take place.

While the project is being described as a statewide Oregon Department of Corrections initiative, that does not necessarily mean it includes the Douglas County Jail in Roseburg. Oregon DOC says it houses about 12,000 adults in custody across 12 state prisons, while the Douglas County Jail is a separate county-operated facility in Roseburg.

That distinction may be important for local readers, because the tablet deployment page appears to focus on people housed within Oregon’s state prison system, not county jail populations. The DOC project page repeatedly refers to adults in custody in DOC facilities and says tablets will roll out by facility.

According to the department, the tablets would be provided by a vendor at no cost to DOC or to adults in custody. In responses posted on the project page, DOC says no state funds would be used for the tablets themselves, with vendor revenue tied to communication and entertainment services.

The agency also says some features may carry fees, depending on the final contract. At the same time, officials say the project is intended to expand access to tools that help adults in custody stay connected with family, complete programs, and receive information in a safe and timely way.

The project page also indicates that physical mail handling could eventually change. In a public response on the site, DOC said physical photographs would no longer be allowed to enter facilities and would instead be scanned and delivered digitally through the tablet system. The agency has also said a determination on whether adults in custody would be able to print that mail has not yet been made.

DOC says adults in custody will be responsible for the care of the devices. According to the agency, intentional damage could lead to disciplinary consequences, loss of access to a personal device, and possible efforts by the vendor to seek compensation outside DOC administrative processes.

The tablet deployment project is currently listed in the procurement and contract negotiation stage. Future steps listed by the department include physical plant and IT infrastructure preparation before tablets are deployed by facility.

The official release can be found here.