Everything is broken, including this app and carceral system – GettingOut Review

Fifty minutes in, I still don’t have a working, verified account. It errored multiple times on the account creation page (Safari is better for this). When that finally worked, it skipped the “verify account” page, and sent me directly to login. On recreating an account, it finally tells me I need to look for an account verification email. Okay, that’s normal enough … but it only works if it’s sent. Finally shows up after 15 minutes of constant refreshing. Then to have to verify my phone number. Yes, send me a text … I’m still waiting to get that text. I’m sure it’ll arrive sometime before iPhone 19S is released… (EDIT: The “call me” option hung up on me.) The verification page eventually leads to an old, broken version of the site. Nothing about this app inspires confidence that it will work for its intended purpose. That’s okay, though, because the Terms of Use indemnifies the company in all circumstances (with no refunds!), including prison riots, global pandemic, kleptocracy, and zombie apocalypse. Even if it’s their fault. (Then it goes to arbitration.) NO WHERE is there a price list. Searched for an hour on their site before account creation. Searched through the app while waiting to get my number verified. Nope. That is not inspiring. Some of the prices listed in other reviews seem practically unconscionable, but that’s the reality of a for-profit prison system. One might think some of the money might be used to fix bugs. Base on my experience thus far, that does not appear to be the case. Good contacts with the “outside” improve mental health, improve post-incarceration outcomes like employment, and reduce recidivism. These things are NOT AT ALL enabled by this app, which attempts to profit off the backs of those in our society in need of compassion. If zero stars were an option for the app, and another zero-star rating for the carceral system that not only tolerates but enables it, it would still not be low enough.
Review by alttag on GettingOut.