新奇事件簿 纽约所有囚犯都可获得免费平板电脑

All prisoners in the U.S. state of New York are to be given free tablet computers. The freebies are part of a deal struck between a private communications service called JPay and New York's prison service. The lucrative¹ but controversial agreement involves the contractor² providing 54,700 convicts with a free tablet. The tablets will not be Internet enabled, but prisoners will be able to get limited, but monitored, online access by plugging their device into approved kiosks at specific times. Inmates³ will be allowed to email an approved list of family and friends; order certain music, books and videos; and file grievances⁴ and reports of abuse. All of this activity will be heavily monitored by prison staff.

美国纽约所有监狱囚犯都将免费获得一台平板电脑。该免费赠品是私人通信服务JPay和纽约监狱署签订条约的一部分。这项协议很合算但颇具争议，协议中规定承包方为54,700名罪犯提供免费平板电脑。平板电脑不能上网，但在规定时间段内，囚犯们能够在监管之下将设备接入批准售货亭中来获取有限的联机访问。犯人们能够给审核名单中的家人和朋友发送邮件；订阅音乐、书籍和视频；还能进行投诉以及报告受虐。所有这些活动将受监狱工作人员的严格监控。

Prisoner support services welcomed the free tablet initiative. They called it a "game-changer" and a "huge step forward". A New York State official said the tablets would help prisoners remain closer to their families, and reduce tensions between prisoners and prison guards. However, law enforcement agencies are questioning the wisdom of giving tablets to convicts. Some law enforcement officers described it as a good example of how crime does pay. Top police officer Ed Mullins questioned why prisoners were getting free tablets when other people in society are struggling. He said: "Little is done for the homeless, mentally ill, and hard-working people who can't afford tablets in New York State."

囚犯后勤处欢迎免费平板电脑的倡议。他们将之称为一次“改变传统规则的创新”以及一次“巨大的进步”。纽约州一名官员表示平板电脑将帮助囚犯们和家人更加亲近，还能帮助减缓犯人与监狱看守之间的紧张。然而，执法机构则质疑为罪犯提供平板电脑这一做法是否明智。一些执法人员将其描述为犯人们获得报酬的好例子。最高警官Ed Mullins质疑为什么当社会中其他人还在为生活挣扎的时候，犯人们却能得到免费平板电脑。他说道：“纽约州为无家可归的人、患精神疾病的人以及努力工作却买不起平板电脑的人所做的太少了。”

1 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

2 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

3 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》