REMOTE WEB-BASED VISITATION SYSTEM FOR PRISONS

摘要

A web-based video conferencing system and method for providing remote visitation with inmates incarnated in a prison. All visitations are initiated by the inmates and no endpoint control by prison personnel is required. “Jail-hardened” terminals in the prison communicate via Internet with visitor Internet-enabled devices. Payment for services is paid by visitors using an on-line payment service relieving prison personnel of any handling of money. All calls (excluding clergy, lawyers, etc.) are typically recorded and no routine monitoring is required by prison personnel. Inmates use the “jail-hardened” terminals to initiate video conference using only a 12-key telephone style keypad. A fee-per-minute is charged. Time is tracked for each call and the call duration and remaining time for a call based upon the maximum allowed call length and an inmate's available minutes are displayed for both the visitor and the inmate.

主权项

1. A web-based audio/video visitation system for prisons, comprising:
a) at least one terminal for inmate visitation disposed in an incarceration facility and operatively connected to and communicative with the Internet, said at least one terminal for inmate visitation comprising: i) a video monitor, a processor, a video camera, and a keypad all operatively connected one to another, said processor being operatively connected to a network interface that is in turn, operatively connected to the Internet; ii) a handset operatively connected to said processor; and iii) computer software comprising instructions stored within and executed by said processor for managing an audio/video visit; b) an Internet-connected visitor station operatively connected to and communicative with the Internet, said Internet-connected visitor station comprising a video display, a processor, a video camera, a microphone; a speaker, and a network interface all operatively connected to said processor and software comprising computer instructions for managing an audio/video visit; c) a web-based administrative facility operatively connected to and communicative with the Internet for managing an audio/video interconnection of said inmate visitation terminal and said Internet-connected visitor terminal, said web-based administrative facility comprising: i) means for receiving funds from an Internet based payment service operatively connected to said web-based administrative facility; ii) means for storing in a database information related to both an inmate using said inmate communications terminal and a visitor using said Internet-connected visitor station; iii) means for creating an interconnection between said inmate visitation terminal and said Internet-connected visitor station depending upon said information related to said inmate and said visitor, said interconnection forming a visit; and iv) means for timing said visit based on at least one of: an allowable maximum time for a visit, and a dollar amount of funds available to support said visit.