Some family members of people being held in Minnesota prisons say the state is moving too slowly in creating a new system to allow incarcerated people to use tablet computers. The tablets are used by incarcerated people to message with family members, access educational content and play media like music.

Brandy Earthman is an advocate for the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and has a son incarcerated at the prison in Rush City. She said the tablets have been a lifeline for people in prison.

“My son could actually read books, he could take courses, he could write messages to us, and most importantly they can hear our voices, they can hear the voices of people who love them,” Earthman said. “That connection keeps them grounded, it gives them purpose and it reminds them that they

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