JAYFORCE

The U.S. federal prison population has more than doubled over the last decade. While many see that as bad for society, Miami-based JPay sees it as good for business. The company made a lot of money handling money transfers, e-mail communications, and monitored video visitations for more than 1 million prisoners in about 35 states & now has begun marketing its own line of “prison-proof” MP3 players. Prison facilities generally forbid devices – like music players – that can be turned into weapons (by smashing them for glass shards, for example), concealing contraband, or to be used to communicate freely with the outside world. JPay, leveraging its experience servicing a prison population that it knows LOVES music, seems to have come up with a JP3 player that meets that music demand while satisfying prison officials’ security demands.

The JP3, which family or friends can buy for prisoners online for around $40, is virtually indestructible, Shapiro says. Inmates use it to browse JPay’s library of more than 10 million songs on electronic kiosks the company installs in common areas inside prisons. Downloads run from $1.29 to $1.99 a tune.

JPay charges are more than what iTunes typically charges for downloads, but JPay says it shares revenues with prison systems (giving back, so to speak). Plus they keep the tech coming. Next up: JP4, the first mini tablet designed exclusively for prisons.

– @ojones1

READ: JPAY – THE ‘APPLE’ OF THE U.S. PRISON SYSTEM BUSINESSWEEK STORY