JPay Announces Lantern, a Technology-Driven Inmate Education Program

MIAMI, Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- JPay is proud to officially announce the success of JPay's Lantern, the company's education initiative that is currently deployed in Ohio prisons, enabling mass education of prison inmates through the use of tablets. Developed in conjunction with the Correctional Education Association, Lantern utilizes a Learning Management System to host facility-approved content, which is downloaded and consumed by inmates on their prison-grade tablets.  Mirroring the flipped-classroom model used by numerous colleges and universities, the cross-functional infrastructure lets students and instructors frequently correspond through the use of technology, allowing for more time in the classroom to explore topics in greater detail.  One of the main benefits of Lantern is the ability for inmates to learn at their own pace - on their own time - outside of limited classroom interactions.  Students have a real chance of equipping themselves with the education needed for success upon release.

"Education is the key to reducing recidivism, and a reduction in recidivism is key to reducing our prison population," said Ryan Shapiro, CEO of JPay.  "Today's programs are underfunded and reach too few inmates to have an impact. Lantern gets educational coursework and programing to inmates at any custody level, allowing for far more adoption from students interested in attaining certifications, college credits and eventually diplomas."

Correctional education has never been more important – research shows that inmates who received education while in prison were 43% less likely to become repeat offenders. Lantern is the gateway to that positive, education-driven outcome. Using the JPay's Lantern Learning Management System, instructors upload their semester syllabus, course content, tests and assignments, which are downloaded to the tablet.  The Learning Management System is a key component, an adaptable system that allows instructors to upload coursework and correspond with students through a messaging option. Using the JP5 tablet, inmates can read course content, complete assignments, take quizzes and finish other coursework.

"We know how effective education is for improving inmate behavior and reducing recidivism, however many agencies have budget constraints or lack the resources to implement and manage a comprehensive program. Lantern is free to the inmates and has the scalability to serve an entire prison population," said John Dowdell, Editor of the Journal of Correctional Education and Chair of Professional Development for the Correctional Education Association. "We're seeing inmates who are excited to learn; they're focused and committed to excelling each semester.  That's what it's all about."

Lantern Facts

• Lantern was piloted in six Ohio Correctional Institutions: Chillicothe, Grafton, Richland, Lake Erie, Mansfield Reformatory and Cuyahugo Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility.
• Over 440 Inmates have enrolled in Lantern since the first semester, March 2015.
• To date, over 1,280 college credits have been earned through Lantern.
• Pilot courses include Introduction to Management, Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy from Ashland University.

The 10-inch JP5 tablets, which are facility-owned and given to new students each semester, offer an easy-to-use virtual learning experience complete with relevant software tools like WORD and PowerPoint. Giving inmates educational opportunities boosts confidence and encourages ongoing participation, which leads to increased literacy, certifications, degrees and a far better chance of landing a job once released from prison.

For more information, visit www.JPaysLantern.com.

About JPay
JPay, a Securus Technologies Company, designs, builds and deploys its technology to prisons and jails across the country, establishing correspondence to help educate and rehabilitate offenders.  Serving more than 1.9 million offenders in 34 states, JPay makes the corrections process more convenient for offenders and their loved ones, while modernizing processes and increasing intelligence capabilities for corrections facilities. Products include money transfer services, tablets, email and video communications, education, games, music and more.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151117/288289

SOURCE JPay

Related Links

http://www.JPaysLantern.com