Eric Johnson – TurnKey Corrections

How inmates are treated within the corrections system significantly impacts their rehabilitation and subsequent reintegration into society. Treating inmates with humanity, respect, and dignity is not only a moral and ethical imperative but also a pragmatic approach to reducing recidivism.

Eric Johnson | TurnKey Corrections | General Counsel

Ultimately, this approach benefits not only the inmates but society as a whole, resulting in safer communities and lower economic costs.

Implementing policies that ensure humane treatment within the corrections system is thus a crucial step towards achieving these goals and creating a more just and equitable society.

TurnKey Corrections specializes in providing services to inmates that enhance communication and daily life inside correctional facilities. These offerings range from basic amenities like food delivery to more complex systems, like secure text and phone communication, video chats, and even education platforms.

Eric Johnson, the company’s general counsel, quickly points out that while people’s perceptions of jail often conjure grim images, “going to jail in 2024 isn’t like it used to be.” Today’s inmates, especially those in county jails that TurnKey serves, have access to advanced communication technologies, video games and even food ordering systems that will account for allergies or dietary restrictions.

Johnson brings a wealth of legal and business experience to the company, driving its mission to deliver sophisticated services to correctional facilities nationwide. While TurnKey’s headquarters are located in a quiet suburb about 30 miles from St. Paul and Minneapolis, their impact stretches nationwide, serving county jails primarily through inmate communication systems, food services, and other support solutions. From video calls with family members to text-based grievance submissions, Johnson’s legal expertise helps TurnKey navigate the complexities of the correctional industry and its delicate balance between business and inmate needs.

A different jail experience

Johnson’s work with TurnKey also involves navigating the legal gray areas of communication controls within jails. The company’s systems allow sheriffs or other facility heads to block specific individuals from communicating with inmates, a feature designed to ensure safety and order within the jail. Additionally, all text messages and phone calls are monitored, with problematic communications flagged for review by the sheriff’s department. As Johnson explains, the system even transcribes conversations in real-time, sending alerts when necessary to help law enforcement maintain control. These advanced features protect both the inmates and the facility, making TurnKey’s offerings invaluable to correctional administrators across the country.

Although Johnson’s role involves mitigating potential legal risks for TurnKey, such as limiting liability should something go wrong with their systems, his overarching goal is to ensure the company continues innovating. He believes the key to TurnKey’s success is making life easier for the people using their platforms—whether it’s jail staff or the inmates themselves.

“Ease of use for the staff is crucial,” he says, mainly because the systems must be operational without requiring frequent visits from TurnKey’s technicians.

Jail staff need to be able to fix minor issues themselves as even minor disruptions can cause issues with inmates, and TurnKey designs their systems with this in mind. Even in cases where a handheld device might malfunction, Johnson emphasizes that the company aims to make everything as self-service as possible.

While many see TurnKey’s services as a positive evolution in the corrections system, Johnson acknowledges that the company has faced criticism in some quarters.

“Some people see us as evil for making money off inmates,” he says, but he pushes back on that narrative, pointing out the real benefits TurnKey provides.

First and foremost, no mandatory service requires payment from any inmate, meaning that the inmates are only paying for optional services that the County agrees to offer through the TurnKey system.  Through this system, inmates can stay in touch with family members as often as they desire, beyond the legally mandated single phone call, order candy bars and chips to supplement the County’s three-square meals, and even take classes to earn their GED or food safety certifications. These services, Johnson explains, aren’t mandatory and are often not paid for by the taxpayers, yet they contribute to an inmate’s ability to survive the rigors of their time in jail.

Protecting the tech

For Johnson, ensuring that TurnKey’s innovations stay legally secure is a key focus of his role. He frequently works with intellectual property counsel to protect the company’s technology and to avoid conflicts with competitors. The inmate services industry, as Johnson notes, is surprisingly competitive, with major players backed by hedge funds pouring resources into developing similar services. Protecting TurnKey’s unique offerings, like its patented phone system, is essential to its continued success. In fact, before Johnson joined the company, TurnKey faced a significant legal challenge from a large telecom company that attempted to block their phone services. But thanks to their patent strategy, they could protect their system and maintain operations without costly litigation.

While TurnKey’s offerings might seem straightforward, the systems themselves are highly sophisticated. For example, inmates can use kiosks to order food, with built-in safety mechanisms preventing someone with a peanut allergy from purchasing a candy bar. Johnson emphasizes that these services are designed to be easy to use—not just for inmates but also for the jail staff. In the corrections industry, where turnover is high, Johnson and his team ensure that new employees can quickly understand how to operate and troubleshoot the systems.

“You might have 20 people in a year interacting with your system, even at a small jail,” he says.

For this reason, the technology needs to be both user-friendly and durable. With inmates using personal devices in some facilities, TurnKey also installs Wi-Fi systems to accommodate streaming movies and other features while ensuring the system is robust enough to handle the volatility that sometimes comes with the environment.

A family career

After earning a degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a JD from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Johnson had options. He says he didn’t always envision himself in the inmate services industry, but being an in-house attorney was something he always aspired to. Coming from a family of lawyers—both of his parents were attorneys—Johnson gravitated toward business law rather than criminal or family law.

“I don’t like dealing with people losing their freedom or children,” he says, reflecting on why he avoided those fields.

Instead, he enjoyed problem-solving, a skill he honed while serving as general counsel for small businesses in private practice. His father, the first in-house lawyer for Toro, the lawn care company, also influenced his decision to focus on corporate law. Johnson’s path eventually led him to TurnKey, where he could combine his business acumen with a drive to improve conditions within the correctional system.

TurnKey’s commitment to innovation and growth means that Johnson’s legal expertise is in constant demand. From negotiating patents to attending sheriff association conferences, he plays an integral role in expanding the company’s footprint and maintaining client relationships.

“We’re usually dealing with people in jail for less than a year,” Johnson says, which means that their services need to be adaptable and responsive to the unique challenges of short-term detention facilities.

Through it all, Johnson remains focused on the company’s long-term vision: to help inmates survive jail while making life easier for the staff who manage them.

TurnKey Corrections may not solve all the problems in the criminal justice system, but under Johnson’s guidance, they’re trying to make the process smoother and more tolerable for everyone involved.