Inmates at Butler County Prison will read their mail on an electronic tablet in the near future, which eliminates the potential for illegal and dangerous substances to be sent into the facility via the postal service.

Warden Joe DeMore told county commissioners at their Wednesday meeting that Securus, the jail's telephone contractor, will provide 100 tablets to be used by inmates and officials.

Regular mail sent to the prison will be opened by Securus at a secure facility in Dallas, Texas, and loaded onto the tablets for perusal by the inmates.

The measure was taken to avoid another sickening of guards at the jail by unknown substances. In early August, six county jail employees were taken to the hospital after coming into contact with an unknown substance. DeMore has said officials suspect the substance responsible is synthetic marijuana, also known as K2.

The inmates will not be able to access the Internet on the devices, and officials will determine in the near future what content and applications the prison population can get on the tablets.

The time the inmates can use the tablets will be limited, and they will not be permitted in cells overnight.

The inmates will pay a $5 rental fee to use the tablets and will pay for any special “apps” they purchase. The county will collect 10 percent of that revenue, DeMore said.

He said more than 50,000 books and a plethora of educational apps will be available on the tablets, as will the ability for the inmates to stream music.

“Music keeps them occupied and out of trouble,” DeMore said.

He said 12 tablets will be available to indigent inmates who are unable to pay the $5 rental fee.

The inmates also can make telephone calls on the tablets, although under strict guidelines that include the recording of the calls.

Prison officials will have a tablet with a “kill switch” that can immediately shut down any activity or phone call on the tablets, DeMore said.

The mail regarding legal issues that comes to the jail will now be opened in front of the inmates while a prison official records the opening with a hand-held camera.

Demore said once the program begins, which he hopes will happen by Jan. 1, the mail arriving at the jail should be reduced from hundreds of pieces to five to 10 pieces per day.

Because the county is extending its contract with Securus by three years to implement the tablet program, there will be no cost to the county other than the contract extension.

Other measures being taken in response to the August incident include hazardous-materials training for 25 prison employees and the purchase of four portable contraband sensor machines for $48,000.