As a result of the decision by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to allow over 51,000 inmates statewide to use electronic tablets free of charge, Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) has written a letter to Gov. Cuomo and DOCCS demanding that the program be shut down immediately.

“This policy decision to reward and furnish luxury items like these tablets to prisoners is an affront to our law-abiding citizens,” Hawley wrote in the letter.

“We already have people moving to New York State for our lavish Medicaid programs and now criminals will also be moving here and if convicted and sent to a state prison will have access to luxuries not afforded in other out of state correctional facilities,” Hawley continued in the letter.

“I call on you to reconsider this misguided policy and urge JayP Inc. to work with our school system, libraries and veterans organizations to furnish tablets to law abiding citizens…”