MAY/JUNE 2019 VOL. 28 NO. 3
HONING SECURITY & SAVINGS IN FACILITY OPERATIONS ADVANTAGES OF VIDEO
TACKLING CONTRABAND
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High Tech Front & Center Spring/Summer Conferences
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Honing Safety & Savings In Facility Operations
The Many Advantages Of Video Applications
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JAILS COULD BE A TURNING POINT IN THE OPIOID CRISIS More than a dozen communities will soon be fighting the country’s opioid abuse epidemic on a critical front—county jails— thanks to a grant initiative from Arnold Ventures, according to a post on ArnoldVentures.Org. The philanthropy, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, will spend $720,000 to help 15 communities implement medication-assisted treatment programs in their jails. The selected sites span the country from Lewis and Clark County Detention Center in Helena, Montana, which has 80 beds, to Cook County Jail in
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Chicago, the largest single-site jail in the United States. Among other counties included are Camden, N.J., and Clackamas County, Ore. The grants will pair corrections officials with health-management experts to ensure that people have access to medication while incarcerated. And officials will seek to ensure that their communities will support treatment when people are released—a time when they are highly susceptible to overdoses that often prove fatal. Opioid use disorder, experts say, is particularly dangerous for those involved with the corrections sys-
tem. Most jails let people go cold turkey. But if they leave jail and return to their previous levels of drug use, their tolerance is greatly reduced. They are at great risk of fatal overdose—as much as 129 times the risk that the general population faces, according to one Washington state study. Addiction experts agree that medications such as methadone are overwhelmingly the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder, but corrections officials have long ignored the evidence. They’ve feared that the medication could be diverted from its intended recipients or that they don’t have the ability to reliably
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deliver the highly regulated medications, believing the outdated stigma that medication-assisted treatment is simply replacing one addiction with another. Opinions are starting to change, however. In March, the National Academies of Sciences issued a report concluding that withholding medication for opioid use disorder in jails and prisons is unethical. And in April, top prosecutors and sheriffs released a letter calling for medication to be provided in the corrections system to prevent relapse, reduce recidivism, and curb the criminal activity associated with opioid use. The Arnold Ventures grants will pay for a team of health care ex-
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“When people are talking about reducing overdose rates, if they're not doing something in corrections, then they’re missing a huge part of the problem and the potential solution.” —Julie Williams perts who have experience with substance use disorders and corrections to help design and implement plans for offering treatment medications. They’ll also allow for
corrections and health officials to share ideas through webinars and intensive in-person conferences. Among the obstacles to be overcome, for instance, is how jail officials can become certified to deliver the three drug options, which vary from a daily oral dose to a monthly shot. And most important, experts say, is coordinating with local health officials to ensure that people can continue to access treatment after they’re released. A comprehensive program to offer medication in Rhode Island jails has shown tremendous promise. The $2 million initiative, started in 2016, includes screening for all people who pass through
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jails, offers all three FDA-approved medications to those who need it, and connects people to treatment in the community. Overdose deaths among those released from prison have dropped 61 percent, said Dr. Josiah Rich, a professor at Brown University’s medical school and director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights, who has helped craft and oversee the program. Julie Williams, who helps oversee opioid policy initiatives at Arnold Ventures, said she hopes that officials at the jails chosen for the grant will see success and spread the word to other jails. That could help lead to policy changes to support medication-based treatment, such as TM
SECURE FIT RESTRAINT MITT Renco's Secure Fit Restraint Mitts tightly lock down the fingers and hands of handcuffed inmates, detainees, and patients to help prevent escapes, assaults, suicide, and interception of weapons. Invented by a former federal prison guard and disabled Marine veteran, the mitts combine U.S.-manufactured leather, Kevlar, and Velcro, with secure clips for maximum restraint and safety. • Durable Construction • Tamper Resistant Locking Mechanisms • Restricts Dangerous Hand and Finger Movements • Used for Law Enforcement, Detention,Transport Purposes
To purchase and to learn more about the Secure Fit™ Restraint Mitt or other Renco products, please visit advancedrestraintsystems.com or call us at (800) 257 8284
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federal officials declaring that opioid use disorder should be treated in jails as a disease. And ultimately, policymakers have to recognize that fighting the opioid epidemic means doing more in prisons and jails. “When people are talking about reducing overdose rates, if they're not doing something in corrections, then they’re missing a huge part of the problem and the potential solution,” Williams said. SETTING PRECEDENT, A FEDERAL COURT RULES JAIL MUST GIVE INMATE ADDICTION TREATMENT In early May a federal appeals court addressed the right to treatment for an inmate who suffers from opioid addiction, a move that legal advocates say could have wide repercussions, reported NPR on May 6. The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston ruled that a rural Maine jail must provide Brenda Smith with medication for her opioid use disorder. One of her attorneys, Emma Bond, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Maine, says the new ruling has the potential to create a "big signal" for jails across the country and combat the social barriers preventing incarcerated people from receiving treatment. The ruling closely follows two recent suits in Massachusetts and Washington State which also addressed access to medication-assisted treatment. Yet Brenda Smith's case solicited a decision by the highest court yet to rule on this particular issue. "This decision is a big step forward in fighting that stigma and fighting that discrimination and so it will be a big step forward in fighting the opioid crisis itself,"
says Bond. CENTRAL PARK FIVE SERIES “WHEN THEY SEE US” TO AIR MAY 31 Ava DuVernay’s four-part series “When They See Us,” focuses on the 1989 Central Park Five incident and its legal repercussions, and seeks to humanize offenders that were once criminalized, reported CBS News on May 12. Says DuVernay, who directed and cowrote the series: “My goal is to humanize boys, now men, who were widely defined as criminals and in doing that, to invite the audience to reintegrate everyone that they define as a criminal.” The limited series will premiere on Netflix on May 31.
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BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
High Tech Front and Center At Spring/Summer Correctional Conferences
we move into the nicer weather of the spring and summer seasons, the trade show schedule for the corrections industry begins to ramp up. A number of major equipment procurement shows and conferences are on the docket from May through August. Here we place the spotlight on some of the new products, technologies and healthcare services you’ll find on the show floors at these key events.
As
leaders should evaluate available solutions that will help them reach their mission.”
Identification Systems Endur ID builds customizable identity and tracking solutions for detainees and inmates. The solution includes Secure MAX Identification Wristbands, which are produced in color and are water resistant. They are paired with Secur Loc clasps for wristband security. Completing the solution is the IDMX Identification Management Software, designed to
33rd Annual Texas Jail Association Conference, May 13-17 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, Austin, Texas “Part of the Texas Jail Association’s mission is to provide leadership in the development of professional standards, management practices, programs, and services. This includes bringing the top vendors and products to our conferences,” says Ricky Armstrong, 3rd vice president, Texas Jail Association. “When deciding on what technologies will hold the most value to Texas jails, it’s crucial to look at your facility and its mission. When researching new technologies, first and foremost, corrections 10 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
each compartment and has underside compartment height to keep food from getting on bottom. The trays can be paired with small or large heavy-duty corrections grade carts that fit a surprisingly large number of trays and feature longlasting casters. Users can add a heat box right away or later to convert to a heated cart. 1.800.848.8160, www.joneszylon.com
Oral Care manage and produce identification bands as well the Secure Trak bar coded tracking solution to track and record detainees’ activities within the facility using handheld scanners. 603.758.1488, www.endurid.com
Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice issue tooth gel and toothbrushes are now available directly to TJA members. High quality ADA Accepted/USA-made clear plastic
Meal Delivery System JonesZylon introduced a new corrections meal delivery system. The meal tray is a 5-compartment self-stacking tray that seals off VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
tube (safety) tooth gel and 4-inch flexible 45-tuft security toothbrush (designed for Texas facilities) are available in kit or bulk distribution. Call for distribution and pricing options. 1.888.296.6730, www.orabrite.net
Jail Management System SallyPort is a web-based, enterprise class, fully agency-config-
jumpsuit with no snaps, zippers or hook and loop, meaning facilities don’t have to waste money to replace jumpsuits because of failed closures. The patent-pending SoloSuit design also helps prevent indecent exposure, and it is made from the same high-quality 65/35 polyester/cotton tri-stitch as other uniforms that facilities prefer. 1.800.334.9880, www.bobbarker.com
urable jail management system developed exclusively to meet the management needs of local, city, and county-level jails. Easy to use software makes the process of booking and detention fast and simple. It works seamlessly with records management systems, commissary systems, inmate telephone systems, and other thirdparty applications to promote information sharing and automation of many of the booking and record-keeping tasks of any size detention facility. 205.949.9900, www.blackcreek.com
AJA’s 38th Annual Conference & Jail Expo, May 18-25, Kentucky International Convention Center Louisville, Kentucky AJA’s Annual Conference & Jail Expo focuses exclusively on local jails and detention facilities. This year’s event offers an engaging, educational, ground-breaking conference with networking opportunities, professional development, and access to emerging jail technologies and products.
SoloSuit Jumpsuit The SoloSuit from Bob Barker Company is a hardware-free VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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Cashless Vending System Microtronic US offers a cashless jail vending system that is mostly geared for visitors but can also fully integrate with trust accounts. If your facility is looking for a cashless prison vending
system with no fees and no moving parts, this could be your the solution. Most facilities use existing equipment and their system is purchased by the vending machine operator or state owned. 1.800.879.3586, www.microtronicus.com/
Commissary Meal Options Hispanic food items have always been popular in prison commissaries, and Union Supply Group recently introduced three new Hispanic Comal meals: Asado de Cerdo, Chilorio de Cerdo and Carne de Cerdo al
Pastor. In addition, they have added the all-time favorite Menudo Hispanic soup to round out the product line. For those wanting some all American comfort food, they also offer new Lyndel Dean’s Original Recipe Fried Chicken. 310.604.4626, www.unionsupplygroup.com
Software Services Northpointe Inc. (d/b/a equivant) was formed in 1989 with a 12 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
mission to provide the criminal justice system with consultation and software services to help improve outcomes for those in their care and custody. For the past 30 years, their focus has remained steadfast and focused on that mission. Their team of former practitioners has over 120 years of combined experience in the profession. The company understands the challenges because they’ve been there. They also understand how your days can be frustrating at times. Their software and services are intended to help remove those frustrations and challenges that cause you stress every day. 1.800.406.4333, www.equivant.com
Tactical Vest The Operator Gen II blends the functionality of a tactical vest with a simple carrier construction that’s geared for high performance. Ideal for tactical officers who need load-carrying capabilities with the versatility to adapt
to any operation, the Operator Gen II is said to hold up to the toughest demands while offering superior protection. It offers a strong, durable 500 denier Cordura outershell construction. Carrier interior fabric constructed of Rashel nylon mesh. Outer front and back pockets accommodate hard armor plates. It is available in black, coyote, multi-cam, ranger green, olive drab green, and wolf grey. 1.800.413.5155, www.pointblankenterprises.com
2019 Corrections Technology Association Technology (CTA) Summit, June 2-5, DoubleTree Resort Paradise ValleyScottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona “The CTA is represented by nationally recognized industry professionals providing leadership in corrections technology,” noted Lucas Herring, CTA president and IT director for the Vermont Department of Corrections. “For the past 20 years, our nonprofit organization has provided a forum to promote the exchange of information, experience and knowledge among a network of CIOs, IT directors, and other IT and operation staff from state and provincial departments of correction, as well as from federal, county and local correctional agencies. CTA has actively led development of standards and provided opportunities for its membership to learn of emerging technologies to address the challenges and opportunities for improving corrections operations and public safety.”
Cell Phone, Weapon and Contraband Detector The illegal use of cell phones is a growing and dangerous probVISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
includes real time inmate tracking and personal alarm devices for officers and staff. 1.800.THE.PIPE, www.guard1.com
Electronic Operating System TechCare is NaphCare’s comprehensive electronic operating system. Beyond providing electronic health records (EHR), ONC-certified TechCare is a cor-
lem in correctional institutions worldwide. These devices are a significant threat to prison security and circumvent the monitoring processes in prisons. The CEIA MSD detects all cell phones and other ferrous or magnetized contraband concealed on the person or in body cavities quickly and easily. 1.888.532.CEIA, www.ceia-fmd.com
Tracking Systems The Guard1 Real Time system offers feature-rich task management with rugged mobile devices. Guard1 reads RFID / NFC inmate
wristband tags and ID badges, for well-being checks, meal and medication distribution, and documentation of services or other correctional activities. Supervisors and administrators can confirm that staff has completed required tasks and will be notified if scheduled tasks were missed or incomplete. The Guard1 ecosystem also 14 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
rections-specific operational system that automates, standardizes, and enforces proactive inmate care. It also connects NaphCare, its on-site staff, and its clients in a way that no other system can, providing on-demand, transparent information and communication regarding healthcare services. Designed with users in mind by correctional health clinicians, TechCare is said to be versatile, easy to use and proven. 1.844.849.3211, www.techcareehr.com
Legal Advice Justice equity is the principle that all Americans should be afforded equal access to our judicial system. Westlaw Correctional delivers authoritative legal answers even faster with new WestSearch Plus, leveraging tech-
nology featured in Westlaw Edge. WestSearch Plus applies state-ofthe-art AI technologies built upon more than 100 years of attorney-edited annotations to help users quickly address legal questions for thousands of legal topics—without needing to drill into the results list. 1.800.WESTLAW, www.legal.thomsonreuters.com/
National Sheriffs’ Association 2019 Annual Educational & Technology Expo, June 15-18, Kentucky International Convention Center and Galt House Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky “The National Sheriffs Association Education and Technology Expo provides a platform for lively debate on issues that matter most,” says Patrick Royal, public information officer. “Training and exhibits are second to none and sheriffs from across the country network to develop solutions to common problems. The conference presents the latest in programs and training in crime fighting techniques.”
High Tech Portfolio Securus Technologies reports it is the industry leader in providing innovative products that help law enforcement and corrections officials detect and prevent criminal activity, as well as secure communication tools that keep incarcerated individuals
connected with loved ones. Visit booth #815 to learn more about their innovative products, including intelligence and investigation, emergency response and incident management, monitored phone calls and video visitation, email correspondence and government payment services. sales@securustechnologies.com, 972.277.0300, www.securustechnologies.tech Continues on page 35
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BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Safety & Savings Some innovative techniques that save time and resources, as well as thwart fire, resist tampering and help eliminate outbreaks of disease. Security and cost effectiveness are arguably the biggest concerns of corrections administrators in running their jails and prisons. In appealing to those in the industry we found these insider tips that could prove helpful directly by saving funds or indirectly by cutting manpower and at the same time tightening up hatches and bolstering the security of the facility.
Cold Water Disinfectant “The glaring concerns throughout corrections agencies are operational cost and safety,” asserts Brett Daniels, VP, Aquawing Ozone Systems. Correctional facilities are burdened with more operational cost than most other industries, he adds. Security lighting, for example, is required 24 hrs/day; this means a more efficient product is necessary given usage cannot be reduced. The same holds true for laundry, he says. Prison laundry is a constant. Naturally the quantity of laundry cannot be easily reduced, so the process must be adjusted in order to reduce the operational cost impact. And while safety, for the most part, is obvious, he furthers, safety is not always about securing inmates. “Safety extends to illness and infection, which can be fast spreading and dangerous.” 16 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
To keep inmates safe, efficient laundry equipment is important, but [the cost] is not always in the annual budget, he points out. He suggests that an Aquawing Ozone Laundry System reduces potentially communicable bacteria, viral strands and mold, while cutting utility costs and the overall operational cost burden. “A quick ROI retrofit like Aquawing (which is also oftentimes eligible for energy rebates) will have a dramatic cost-savings impact.” Because the proper application of ozone as a disinfectant works best in cold water, the need for hot water for laundry is drastically reduced (+/-85%) and, in some applications, can be eliminated, Daniels points out, saving considerable energy. Reducing the temperature of wash water also has an “incredible cost-saving impact.” In addition, the shorter wash and dry times reduce operation expense on the laundry equipment, extend linen life, and
Because the proper application of ozone as a disinfectant works best in cold water, the Aquawing laundry system can offer a considerable savings on energy.
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increase loads per hour for production. Finally, and perhaps even more significantly, he notes, “superbugs will not live through the laundry, which is a big savings. The laundry is cleaner and safer for staff and inmates alike.”
Loosen Up Also regarding inmate laundry, correctional facilities frequently launder inmate clothing by using mesh laundry bags, to keep each offender's garments sorted while they are washed and dried. However, according to one company, because the clothing is bunched into a ball inside the mesh bag, it may not get thoroughly cleaned. This method also consumes more energy to dry the clothes, while the bunching results in excessively wrinkled clothes, which are often still damp in the center of the ball of garments. Using the patented Laundry Loop with Sock Snare product cinches the laundry, keeping it sorted, while cleaning and drying as if it were loose, say the inventors and founders of Laundry Loops Inc., Peggy and Mike Durney. “This results in cleaner clothing and therefore improved hygiene. And compared to drying clothes with the "mesh bag" system, clothing on Laundry Loops dry completely in one-half the time. The cost and energy consumption required to dry clothing will be cut by 50%.” And, they further, “the expected life of dryers is doubled.” “More than 300 correctional facilities around the U.S. (local, state, federal) are now among our 7,000+ satisfied institutional customers all over the world currently using Laundry Loops,” the owners note, with positive feedback from correctional "energy conservation" officers happy with the reduction in energy consumption and offenders satisfied with the improved laundry service—cleaner, dryer, less wrinkled clothing.
Garments can be sorted with Laundry Loops fasteners but because they move unrestricted they can launder better.
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Safety Extractors Washer extractors are another way to increase the safety and decrease the high utility costs of your laundry. In addition, some of the laundry safety issues hinge on inmates tampering with equipment as well as the risk of dryer fires, notes Ricky Munch, on-premise laundry sales manager with Pellerin Milnor Corporation. Inefficiency issues such as higher than necessary water and gas consumption also contributes to high utility costs, he says. Milnor laundry equipment addresses the safety issues by offering a “Prison Package” option. This includes a Lexan cover on the E-P Express and E-P Plus line of washer-extractors along with an impactresistant controller glass on the MilTouch line of washer-extractors. All Prison Package washers include tamper-resistant fasteners that can only be removed with a special tool. One of the washer-extractor’s key attributes that address high utility costs is its RinSave water-saving feature. This exclusive software allows for the basket to reach a precise G-force that “slings” the wash liquid (including water, chemistry, and soil) out of the goods after a wash step, details Munch. He reports these washers can save up to .4 gallons of water per pound of goods processed. “That’s up to two rinse steps per load as well as fill/rinse time, resulting in ten minutes saved per load.” The
Milnor washer extractors are designed with a G-force that “slings” the wash liquid out of the garments, saving water with every pound of wash.
high G-force capability also allows the washerextractor to remove more moisture from the linen during extract. More moisture removal means less time in the dryer, which reduces gas consumption, Munch points out. As for drying safety, Milnor dryers offer a Fire Suppression System (F.S.S.) to protect against fire damage caused by spontaneous combustion. This system senses an abnormal rise in temperature and quickly activates a water jet system and turns the basket to extinguish the fire, details Munch.
Warewashing Features Washing dishes and utensils have some of the same issues as laundry—saving water and energy, as well as killing bacteria and viruses are the top concerns. To that end, Insinger manufactures commercial warewashing equipment specifically designed for corrections environments. Its Tray Washer was developed to wash and sanitize compartment trays and is the only NSF-approved tray washing system in the industry, according to Ari B. Cantor, president. “By using a horizontal spray pattern, Insinger tray washers remove debris that standard warewashers leave behind, compartment trays come out clean and sanitized with no food debris left in the corners of the compartments,” he emphasizes. “Add a Tray Dryer and Tray Stacker to the Tray Washer, and it becomes a system that only requires one person to operate.” As far as security, all Insinger dishwashers can be augmented with a specially designed Security 18 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
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Insinger’s Tray Washers were developed specifically to optimally clean and sanitize ware by reaching all corners and crevices with a vertical spray.
Package for high-risk facilities, which replaces standard parts on the dishwasher with theft-proof components. It uses multiple types of protective fasteners, stainless steel perforated boxes
pressure is applied.” They do not require hooks or pins so if the curtain is torn down it can be simply put right back up with no damage done to the fabric. In addition, the mesh tops provide ventilation and clear bottom panels provide additional security. All of Imperial’s tracks and curtains are custom made to fit each facility’s needs, Honczarenko conveys. The curtains are fabricated using a high-quality fabric called Sure Chek. This durable
The red sections in the illustration above depict the areas of a compartment tray that a traditional dishwasher cannot reach.
are used to protect the thermometers and gauges, and all electric wire is mounted in hard conduit, among other provisions.
Shower Power Safety and security in the shower has long been a problem for many facilities. Imperial Fastener Company Inc. has addressed it with the Break-AWay Track and Curtain system that has been used in facilities for over 20 years. It is designed to pull away from the track without any harm to the user or to the shower curtain. According to Darice Honczarenko, director client relations, “This is achieved by using our innovative hook and loop system at the top of our shower curtains, allowing the curtain to break away from the track when VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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Clean up the Shower
Imperial’s track and shower curtain system guards against the inmate harming him or herself.
water resistant fabric is flame resistant, stain resistant, antistatic, odor resistant and antimicrobial. They require minimal maintenance, as they can be laundered or cleaned in place. “The Break-A-Way track is a one-time purchase, she points out. “Once it is mounted with tamperproof screws; customers will only have to replace the Safety Tabs and shower curtains as needed.”
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“Shower time often proves inefficient for facilities, notes Erin Howell, product management lead with Bob Barker Company. Soap and shampoo bottles pile up in the trash or litter the shower area. And those that use gallon pump-style soap and shampoo require small cups for distribution, creating waste that may need to be picked up by staff members. In response, Bob Barker Company launched RapidPak™ to help eliminate wasted packaging, product, time and money. RapidPak is a 3-in-1 dissolvable pack that contains an individual portion of shower, shampoo and shave formula. The outer layer of a single-use pack dissolves in water, leaving no waste behind, Howell notes, plus the packs make distribution quick and efficient. Each RapidPak bag is recyclable and contains 50 packs. Jail
and prison staff members no longer need to worry about bottles being used to hide contraband, needing to pick up trash in the shower area, spending time distributing cups of soap or shampoo, or wasting product left in the bottom of bottles or gallon-sized containers. It delivers the proper amount of shower, shampoo and shave formula in every pack, so facilities don’t have to pay for purchasing or disposing of countless bottles or serving cups, she notes. And, also importantly, RapidPak helps remove the threat of shampoo bottles being used to hide hooch or other contraband.
Quick Inspection Contraband is another perennial issue prison authorities deal with. For more than 16 years Swintec clear typewriters have been provided to prisons and Continues on page 36
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BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
AV in Corrections Video visits connect in ways not imaginable in the past and offer
Video Visitation, such as this Securus system, enables experiences that would otherwise be impossible or provides a more affordable option for families to engage with their loved ones when costs of travel are taken into account.
Audio-visual technology use has been in use in some capacity in correctional facilities for decades. It offers numerous advantages. It brings families in. It keeps contraband out. It saves time and money when it comes to transporting inmates to court appearances and medical appointments. It makes medical appointments possible for those with little or no access to specialists or sub-specialists. In theory, video visitation offers an opportunity to help incarcerated people and their loved ones to stay in touch and to complement in-person visits. 24 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
A 2016 paper by the VERA Institute of Justice, a New Yorkbased organization whose mission is “To drive change. To urgently build and improve justice systems that ensure fairness, promote safety, and strengthen communities” notes that research has found visitation from friends and families plays a significant role in the success of inmates. It reduces recidivism, assists in reentry into the community, and keeps the nuclear family in touch. Inmates, though, are often incarcerated far from home in areas difficult to reach via public
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transportation, which causes problems with face-toface visitation. Departments of Correction have been investigating the use of video visitation in various capacities and trying to determine the facility’s options. Jade Trombetta, senior manager, Brand Marketing and Social Media at Securus says, “Our customers are always looking for new technology that will increase efficiency and speedy access to critical information and platforms that offer an intuitive user experience.” Video visitation has also come with its share of controversy. Among those that have arisen has been the reduction of choice. In some cases, facilities have been eliminating in-person visits all together. This has caused issues both from a financial standpoint since in many cases video visitation is entrepreneurial and in the observation that video visitation is not the same as face-to-face visits. Family members might not feel they are seeing their loved one’s body language or any physical changes he or she may have undergone. In July 2018, Benton County, Arkansas, announced that it would implement a video visitation system that would cost 50 cents a minute for 15-minute increments. The facility initially planned to cease all in-person visits, which was the only free way for any non-attorneys to visit inmates. (Shortly after that, the jail began to offer free on-site video visitation.) In March 2019, Allen County, Indiana, also adopted video-only visitation. The options include both on-site and remote video visitation. The implementation is anticipated to save the facility 5,000 officer hours a year.
A New Launch Trombetta notes that Securus has recently launched NextGen SCP™, which is a multi-product communication management platform that fully consolidates calls and video visitation services so users can manage, research, monitor, investigate and explore vast amounts of data. “SCP was widely recognized as one of the industry’s best call systems, and now NextGen SCP™ has evolved into a completely reimagined and redesigned communications platform that is not only powerful, but effective, accessible, and easy to use. Users still have a centralized system that helps collect, report and investigate information; however, now the information is front and center—right at the users’ fingertips.” Facilities use systems in different ways. Trombetta notes that agencies primarily use their products as a supplement to traditional in-person visitation. “Securus Video Visitation (SVV) allows many families to more frequently communicate with their loved ones. It enables experiences that would otherwise be impossible, such as seeing a child’s first step, helping with homework or watching a best friend blow out birthday candles. VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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Telemedicine is an area that has seen continuous growth since its inception. —Ike Newton, Black Creek
Additionally, for some families, video visitation provides a more affordable option for them to engage with their loved ones when costs of travel, lodging, and other expenses are taken into account for traditional visitation. And for convenience, family and friends can host an SVV on their cell phones through the Securus app, or using a laptop or computer.” She furthers that, excluding video sessions with legal counsel, all calls are monitored for security. Video visitation can be conducted in numerous ways including booths, handheld devices, tablets, etc. Securus Technologies, she says, has recently launched the Make Mine feature for the SecureView Tablets for jails that offer a Community Tablet rental model. This means that rather than having staff distribute dedicated tablets to each offender, incarcerated individuals can use any of the SecureView Tablets available in their living unit and upgrade that tablet to a personal tablet, thus allowing them to access their eMessages as well as purchased media and entertainment. Friends and family—as well as the incarcerated individual— can purchase a monthly subscription, which automatically converts the Community SecureView Tablet into a Personal Tablet when 26 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
the incarcerated individual subscribes through the exclusive Make Mine feature. This solution helps reduce staff involvement and increases efficiency. “Additionally, Securus Technologies offers the JP5 tablets for an ownership model, which is most prevalent in prisons. Depending on the Department of Corrections, the devices are given to inmates for free, or the tablets are purchased by family and friends or the individual themselves. “All of the media downloaded during incarceration is owned by the incarcerated individual, and once released, they can mail the tablets to be unlocked and use as a general use tablet device. Every JP5 is credentialed and has security features preventing access to the Internet, social media or using the device for suspicious activity. The tablets are also used to encourage good behavior, keeping idol minds busy to help reduce infractions.” Ike Newton, CEO of Black Creek, an Irondale, Alabama, provider of physical security and jail management systems, points out that in the past the technology involved has been a target of concern and that quality has not always been top notch. Complaints have followed what he referred to as a facility adopting a system as a result of “a sales pitch.” Addressing that quality is the angle they aimed to take when developing their web-based systems. Among the products Black Creek offers is IP VISITOR® for Cisco® Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), which connects inmates to those who need to communicate with them. It is a complete video conferencing solution for correctional facilities that allows facilities to “leverage their existing CUCM infrastructure to make prescheduled inmate video conferencing available to users.” In addition to providing both on-site and web-based visitation, the system provides users with a convenient and secure method to schedule and conduct video con-
ferencing with incarcerated individuals using hardened inmate stations to IP phones and web, mobile and desktop users. Beneficiaries of such as system include those working in law enforcement, telemedicine, mental health service providers, probation, parole, judges, and public defenders. The system offers reliability, staff efficiency, and onestop support. An Internet-accessed scheduler is integrated into a facility’s management system, which assures inmates will be where they are supposed to be at the correct time. It supports all categories of multi-party inmate video conferencing needs including for court proceedings, attorney consultation, probation and parole assessments, telemedicine appointments, video interpretation, and visitation both on-site or through the Internet. Highly automated scheduling, visit connection, and management features minimize the required amount of staff involvement in the process. Among the problems with visiting someone who is incarcerated is that often correctional facilities are remote, and the visit brings with it the cost of travel expenses. The IP Web Visitor© is an extension of IP Visitor Correctional Video Visitation System and is used by facilities interested in promoting remote visitation via the Internet. It allows family, friends, and professionals to visit inmates without having to leave their homes or offices. It is easy to use and requires no special computer skills. Voice and video streams in a visitation session are fully digitized, synchronized, encrypted, and configured for transmission over conventional data networks and over the Internet using TCP/IP transmission standards. Remote visitors use IP Web Visitor to schedule and connect to Internet visits through desktop computers or properly equipped laptops, tablets, or mobile phones to stations inside the correctional facility. All visits (except for professional ones) may be monitored
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by the agency in real-time and recorded for future use or for evidentiary purposes.
Telemedicine Poised to Grow Some areas of video visitation have remained static, says Newton, yet others seem primed for growth. Telemedicine is an area that has seen continuous growth since its inception. Black Creek has spent “a great deal of time” developing a telemedicine system set to be released later this year. There is, says Newton, a significant need in corrections for telemedicine. It allows a way to leverage providers’ time. It allows providers to fill in for others who are unavailable. It reduces staffing requirements. A primary strength, he notes, is in cost cutting. A 2018 paper written by members of the medical community at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) discussed the benefits of telemedicine for correctional facilities. The VCU Office of
Telemedicine has provided telemedicine visits to nearly 50,000 patients over 20 years that have involved more than a dozen subspecialties at 30 Virginia correctional facilities. The authors pointed out that incarcerated patients are members of a population that can particularly benefit from receiving care via telemedicine because of a lack of access to subspecialty care as well as the security risks and significant costs associated with transporting an inmate to an off-site facility. In order for an inmate to attend a brief medical visit, it requires hours of administrative support and coordination, scheduling, transportation arrangement, and
Securus Technologies Terminals provide a range of services.
other related expenses. When breaking down the costs of leaving the facility for inmate treatment, the authors tallied officers’ salary, gas, van rental, and fees for an onsite visit. In total, when multiplied by the 2,805 telemedicine visits by VA DOC inmates in 2016, the savings came to $2,244,000. %
Safety & Security Solutions for Correctional Facilities 3D Drone Detection System to Detect at 300m, to Assess, Track and Mitigate a threat by locating the person flying the drone. Key Features include: Over the fence detection of 900m for vehicle and 500m for people approaching the facility. Low RF Power Level for non-interference with other communication systems. PTZ Day Night Camera & RF Directional Antenna to Locate Operator 24Hr iPad/iPhone interfaces to existing Command/Control station. Contact ECSI International, Inc for further Information: 790 Bloomfield Ave. Bldg C1 Clifton, NJ 07012 E-Mail : a_birch@ecsiinternational.com Phone : 973-574-8555 VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019 27
BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
CONTRABAND DETECTION Inmates’ possession of illegal paraphernalia continues to be one of the thorniest issues corrections management has to deal with. Here are some of the newest strategies agencies are using to fight back.
IN APRIL of this year employees at the Dallas County, Alabama, county jail got a rude awakening after a shakedown uncovered loads of contraband. The items were the usual suspects: knives, sharpened broomsticks, narcotics, marijuana, headphones, cell phones and chargers. The surprise was the amount, which Sheriff Mike Granthum described as “astronomical.” There was even a food tray bent and ripped in a manner to render it weaponized. Trax and Allie, the sheriff’s recently reinstated K-9 unit, played leading roles in the shakedown. Investigators went on to download the cell phone data to determine if other crimes were being attempted from within the facility. More charges are expected for those involved. Contraband in jails and prisons is certainly nothing new, but the threats change, the detection methods evolve, and the danger seems to be increasing with the rise of hyper-potent drugs and 28 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
technology such as cell phones and drones. In an environment filled with ingenious people with high tolerance for risks and nothing but time on their hands in an era of continuous technological and synthetic drug development, the days of hiding a file in a cake are long gone. Now the threat is often invisible. Michael Burrows, marketing manager at Smiths Detection, notes among the more recent threats is synthetic fentanyl, which is often used to lace heroin to increase potency and to increase volume. Fentanyl poses a danger to anyone in proximity. It is also unlike any other drug first responders have encountered. “If an officer breathes it in, they could die.” According to the CDC, synthetic fentanyl is about 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than methadone. In August 2018, 29 employees in Pennsylvania correctional facilities became ill in 13 separate incidents of being exposed to tainted synthetic
drugs. That figure does not even include the inmates who were affected. As a result, the state ordered a complete lockdown of all of its prisons. The institutions were shut down to visitors, and mail service was frozen. At the Varner Unit in Arkansas, five deaths were reported in four days. Four of them were in the facility’s Supermax section. Another dozen were treated for suspected drug-related illnesses. In Arkansas’s case, the suspected drug was K2. According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the Department of Corrections logged 468 incidents related to K2 in the first seven months of the year. The next month at Ross Correctional Institution in Ohio, nearly 30 people, most of them COs, were sickened when they were exposed to a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Burrows furthers that an inmate or other smuggler will ingest the drug in baggies or balloons, which not only introduces it to the facility, but if the baggie breaks, it will almost certainly kill
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Highly sensitive detectors like this one from Smiths can detect tiny traces of drugs, such as fentanyl.
the carrier. A white paper penned by Smiths Detection points out that the best way to keep officers safe is a layered screening approach including x-rays and trace detection. Among the products Smiths Detection offers is the B-Scan, which can detect such smuggling attempts. It uses transmission x-ray technology that requires very low dose rates to screen people. This allows it to be used for general use yet remain compliant with American National Standards Institute and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements guidelines. The B-Scan, which is often used at intake, produces a high-resolution head-to-toe body image that offers the same image as a medical x-ray. The device, says Burrows, is non-intrusive and can detect objects concealed in body cavities, beneath clothing, and in false limbs by producing a high resolution scan that allows the operator to conduct an accurate evaluation of the image. This can greatly reduce the number of body cavity searches, which is 30 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
ideal for all involved, but he furthers that such physical searches will not, and probably cannot, be eliminated. If a human eye notices something suspicious, it must be investigated. Contraband often arrives in the mail. Hundreds of letters and small packages come into correctional mailrooms each day, and each requires inspection. It can quickly become life-threatening for personnel if something like fentanyl has been slipped inside or has even been in contact with the envelope. The IONSCAN 600 is a highly sensitive detector that can find trace amounts of narcotics, including fentanyl, in a lightweight, portable, desktop configuration. If an inmate has touched a narcotic, it can be detected down to the nanogram (a billionth of a gram). Such products can be used in mailrooms to detect narcotics being smuggled into the facility, which occurs in more and more ingenious ways such as being turned into paste and painted in coloring books. Drugs have been placed on stamps and ironed
inside the two sides of a postcard. The device is portable and handheld, so it can be transported within the facility and shared with the sheriff’s department. It can be relocated while fully operational, thus enabling it to be used in a broad range of environments. It features a non-radioactive ion mobility spectrometry source. This means that licensing from national nuclear regulatory agencies is unnecessary. As a result, the detector can be used without time-consuming radiation testing and administration, and it enables easy license-free transport from location to location. The IONSCAN 600 works with single-use swabs that are suitable for both manual and wand sampling. The unit is designed for efficient trace-particle pick-up. The swabs reduce contamination risk and offer a hygienic method for sampling a person’s hands. Another product offered by Smiths is the ACE ID, which can be used to identify larger amounts of suspicious products. It is a laser device that can be
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aimed at an unidentified powder, and it will tell the user what the powder is. It quickly screens potentially dangerous unidentified substances such as narcotics, but it can also detect explosives and toxic chemicals. ACE-ID uses Raman spectroscopy, which is used in chemistry to provide a structural fingerprint by which molecules can be identified within seconds without having to touch it. Materials can be identified through clear and semi-clear containers such as plastic and glass. The analysis is also supported by a software kit for remote operation. The device is compact and can be operated with one hand. It is easy to use and requires little training, which makes it usable to personnel with different skill sets.
Smiths’ IONSCAN 600
ing the drone who is usually outside the facility. The Artsys 360 system uses a micro-radar sensor and offers an advantage to facilities; it is able to be integrated into the facility’s existing system in a new network rather than as a separate system. It can detect drones from 300 meters.
Changing Landscape The concern is not just with the products getting into prison. How they get in is also constantly evolving. Among the newer methods is using drones, which comes with its own assortment of issues, and the use of drones is only going to increase as implementation for using them for conventional delivery nears. When it comes to delivering contraband to correctional facilities, the time has already arrived. Arthur Birch is the CEO of ECSI International, a New Jersey-based company that offers services that include site survey and risk assessment, systems manufacturing and integration, and many others. Birch points out that one concern with drones is that there are laws against bringing them down without permission since, especially in congested urban areas, someone could get hurt. There are also other legal considerations when it comes to counter drone technology, such as being required to be licensed to operate radio transmitters and other FCC regulations. ECSI offers a solution that can detect, assess and track drones. It can triangulate on the person fly-
Contraband Cell Phone Bill Introduced Naturally, among the most serious threats to inmates, correctional personnel, and the public are cell phones. Contraband cell phones have been used to run gangs, orchestrate hits, threaten witnesses, organize riots, plot escapes, and myriad other illegal activities. The wireless industry can easily disable s if they are lost or stolen, but the industry has also said it needs a court order before it can shut down devices at the request of the government. As with drones, there are numerous legal considerations. While many see jamming as the ultimate solution, it is illegal because by law all phones must be able to call 9-1-1. According to the FCC, Inmate Call Capture is a technology with “enormous potential” to stop illicit use yet still assure public safety communications. It allows all 9-1-1 and other authorized calls but rejects unauthorized calls, including those placed by or made to inmates. At its first trial in a correctional facility in Mississippi, the technology stopped 216,000
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illegal calls made to and by inmates in a single month. In March 2019, a new bill was introduced in South Carolina to combat contraband cell phones by shutting them down. The Contraband Cellphone Act would allow facilities to identify illegal cellphones in inmates’ hands, get a court order, and send the order to the cell phone company to shut the cell phone off. It would be the first such law in the nation. Still, preventing phones from getting into facilities in the first place would be ideal. Once inside, steps can be made to stop them, detect them, limit them, and locate them. Radio Frequency Detectors work well, but the phone needs to be on. Another successful detection method is ferromagnetic detection, which picks up the electromagnetic field generated by cell phones and other electronic devices. Devices such as the CEIA MSD was designed to quickly and easily detect cell phones and other ferrous or magnetized contraband concealed on the person or even in body cavities. The device offers constant sensitivity across the detection area in pass-through operations. Multi-zone targeting indication identifies the location of contraband on the body. It is fully weatherproof for outdoor use and offers 26 hours of continuous operation. It is also simple to use. There is no assembly required, and it can be set up in fewer than 10 seconds. As long as there are prisons, there will be contraband. As long as there is contraband, there will be detection, and the cat and mouse game will go on and on. One trend that has been arising with synthetic drugs is that the threat is now airborne, and one thing facilities have been asking for is for the ability to detect airborne substances such as fentanyl and vaping products. For the time being, though, says Burrows, that technology is unavailable. % CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019 31
BY G.F. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Kiosks: At Your Service
magine a time when robots will serve you, taking over mundane tasks and leaving you to use your intellect to its full potential like in the sci-fi movies. Well, that day is almost here—if you consider all the options a kiosk offers, including all the functions it has taken on in corrections. “The purpose of our kiosks is to help incarcerated individuals stay connected with loved ones, have access to the services they need and help facilities operate safely and efficiently,� says Jade Trombetta, senior manager, Brand Marketing and Social Media JPay, a Securus
I
32 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
Technologies Company. She describes the kiosks JPay offers as inmate kiosks, lobby kiosks and booking kiosks. There are more than 7,000 JPay kiosks installed across the country, she notes. With the Inmate Kiosk, offenders can access numerous services, she says, including eMail where they can view and compose, as well as include photo, eCard and VideoGram functionality. Along with video visitation, offenders can also submit and monitor grievances, check trust account balances, complete commissary ordering, and purchase and download media for entertainment like music, games, eBooks and movies. Inmates can down-
This design rendering shows GTL’s new ITK-3.0 intake kiosk which comes equipped with optical and magnetic scanners to easily input offender data. A built-in camera matches the image of the users with the record of the transaction.
load and watch free educational videos, as well as access JPay’s Lantern education courses to earn a college degree. “JPay’s Lantern is the largest technology-driven education program in corrections,� she reports. “Lantern uses a customized Learning Management System (LMS), which is used to deploy education to the JPay kiosks and incarcerated individuals then
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download their coursework onto their JPay tablets. Once the coursework is completed, they sync their tablets to the kiosk and submit for review and grading,” Trombetta explains. JPay works with each state on their specific curriculum, but the largest education partner is Ashland University in Ohio. Professors upload their coursework onto the Lantern LMS, and they can also communicate with incarcerated students through a convenience messaging feature. “To date, we have more than 85,000 students enrolled and over 33,000 Ashland University college credits earned.” Meanwhile at the Lobby Kiosk, family and friends can make trust account deposits or payments in person at the facility. It accepts credit/debit cards as well as cash, provides printed receipts while being fully automated to reduce staff workload. Trombetta adds that it can be customized to handle electronic check-in as well as payments in parole and probation offices. “One of the benefits in parole and probation offices,” she notes, “is that an offender can check-in using the kiosk when he/she arrives, which alerts the probation officer and/or parole officer.” Once the visit ends, the officer marks that the offender was onsite for the appointment. When it comes to the Booking Kiosk she explains it is designed for placement in intake areas and allows newly-booked inmates to deposit cash or coins into an inmate account. It sports dual bill acceptors and accepts debit/credit cards, automatically rejects foreign and counterfeit currency, and no-cost email alerts to family are available. She adds that JPay is working on a POE (Power over Ethernet) kiosk which will help them deploy kiosks much faster and save money with installations. “It won’t need AC power, but can simply just run a network cable to the kiosk. This reduces costs, and allows faster deployment.”
New Generation of Tech As a technology company, GTL’s offerings encompass a wide range of areas including its comprehensive payment services in which kiosks lend support. According to Lisa Steffel, director of Payment Services, GTL’s ConnectNetwork online payment portal, automated phone system, mobile app, and new Walk-In Retail pay-in-cash system, are complemented by GTL’s premisebased payment processing kiosks which offer “another way to help facilities save time, reduce costs, and eliminate cash handling.” After the introduction of the first lobby kiosk in 2004, GTL developed an intake kiosk and countertop terminal, both specifically designed with the kinds of functionality needed in corrections, she relates. “All the devices
Sentinel Offender Services offers a supervisory kiosk, the Centurion, which features biometric check-in verification while communicating with agencies in real-time data.
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JPay’s Booking Kiosk allows newlybooked inmates to deposit into inmate accounts and even send a no-cost email alert of their incarceration.
are constructed to be extremely rugged and secure, adhere to the strictest data management requirements established by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, and payments are processed according to the requirements of Money Transmitter regulations.” As this article goes to publication, the newest upgrade of GTL’s intake kiosk is rolling off the production line; a new lobby kiosk is in development; and a new countertop terminal called the CPT2.0 was introduced six months ago, she updates. “The new ITK3.0 intake kiosk is sleeker, quieter, even easier to use, and has a slightly smaller footprint than its predecessor. Unlike the lobby kiosk and the countertop terminal, which provide services in multiple settings for multiple operators, the ITK-3.0 is designed specifically for use by facility staff during the booking process.” It accepts and processes U.S. currency and coins in bulk and provides CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019 33
JPay’s Lobby Kiosk is fully automated to reduce staff workload.
a consistent accounting of the funds deposited, she says. As a representative of the manufacturer, Daniel Olea, an account executive from Olea Kiosks, explains, “The new GTL ITK-3.0 was redesigned from the ground up to be safer, quieter, and easier to place than the previous model. During the redesign process we removed sharp corners and edges and added sounddampening material to reduce the noise of coins being deposited. The new ITK-3.0 is also completely front-serviceable, making placement much easier. What we have now is a machine that’s much better suited for the environment it will live in.â€? Steffel relates that the first of this line of intake kiosks was developed by TouchPay Holdings prior to becoming a subsidiary of 34 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
GTL. “It was installed for Solano County Jail in 2009. A testament to the durability and serviceability of the device, that machine is still in operation but is scheduled to be replaced by the newest version later this year.� Currently, almost 200 TP/GTL intake kiosks are in use in municipal, county, and state jails and prisons across the country. “They operate on their own network, are monitored 24/7, and can be serviced remotely.� She notes that GTL’s Tech Support can be reached any time and if required local service technicians can be dispatched immediately. The intake software is compatible with any jail management system, she says, inmate data can be entered manually on the device’s touch screen or by scanning a barcode or magnetic stripe, and the device can be programmed to provide multiple receipts. “It even has an option called Voice Alert Messaging that enables the offender to send automated messages to up to three phone numbers to notify friends and family members of the arrest for a nominal fee. This can accelerate processing a possible release before trial and reduce the facility’s housing costs.�
Reporting and Collection Options As kiosks morph into a supervisory role over the last few years, Joe Carroll, director of marketing, Sentinel Offender Services, says the Centurion Kiosk was developed to serve a number of administrative functions for correctional agencies and provide innovative offender reporting and collection options. “Capable of serving a host of different correctional agencies, the kiosk can be stationed at Sentinel offices, courthouses, jails or any government agency building, making it easy for users to access and quickly complete their transactions.� The versatility of the kiosk means it can perform monthly or variably scheduled
probationer check-ins, he says, collect-court ordered fines, fees or restitution, and accept commissary account deposits for incarcerated offenders.
“Using a simple touch screen interface, the user can perform these functions remotely at any kiosk location.� In addition, the kiosk is equipped with a built-in speaker to assist the user through transactions. On-screen prompts walk the user through the transaction process and are available in multiple languages. “The kiosk uses a secure interface to exchange data with an agency in real-time,� he says. “The interface is developed in conjunction with the agency to ensure all appropriate safeguards and securities are in place.� The Centurion Kiosk offers agencies features and benefits Carroll lists including processing inmate jail deposits from multiple locations and the ability to process fines, fees, and restitution payments via cash or credit card transactions. The kiosk uses biometric finger identification to conduct secure participant checkin verification and the kiosk automates processes to reduce the amount of transaction paperwork. “It also features a built-in camera for security purposes and communicates with agency systems through an on-line webbased application,� he relates. We can see from these offerings, the sci-fi alert has been turned on: Kiosks communicate, count cash and educate, in addition to fulfilling a host of other functions as part of their everyday duties. Kiosks are at your service. %
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Continued from page14
Pharmacy Services With over 30 years of correctional experience, Diamond Pharmacy Services is the nation’s largest correctional pharmacy services provider, serving over
640,000 inmates in 1,500 correctional facilities, 120 juvenile detention centers, and nine state Departments of Corrections across 44 states. The Diamond Advantage offers a complete product line and specialized dispensing system: pharmaceuticals, OTC, IVs, vaccines, medical supplies and commissary. 1.800.882.6337, www.diamondpharmacy.com
Correctional Health Services Corizon Health, a member of the Valitas Health Services corporate family, offers quality health
care services to states and municipalities across the country offering the only comprehensive solution for physical care, behavioral care and pharmaceutical services. With its corporate headquarters in Brentwood, Tenn., Corizon Health is a leading provider of correctional healthcare services in the United States. The company will be exhibiting their latest programs for the corrections market. 1.800.729.0069, www.corizonhealth.com
Body Scanner The Smiths Detection B-SCAN full body X-ray scanner screens inmates both at intake and randomly inside a correctional facility. The B-SCAN allows correctional staff to see beneath an
tion officers, court clerks, trial judges, and prosecutors, Tyler Alliance seamlessly connects powerful Tyler solutions across departments, agencies, and jurisdictions to help increase safety, automate processes, save time, and reduce errors. cjsales@tylertech.com, 1.800.431.5776, www.tylertech.com
Experience and Innovation inmate’s clothing and inside their digestive system and body cavities without performing an invasive search. B-SCAN significantly reduces the need to dry cell inmates for several days to search for ingested contraband. 1.800.297.0955, www.smithsdetection.com
ACA’s 149th Congress of Correction, August 1-6, to be held at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston “The ACA’s 149th Congress of Correction promises to be a onestop shopping experience for all attendees. The exhibit hall offers a unique opportunity to meet a variety of exhibitors in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. From security fences and monitoring devices to commissary, health services and more; come see the latest products and services made just for your facility,” says the organization.
Multi-agency, Distributed Platform Tyler Alliance is a multiagency, distributed platform that connects public safety and criminal justice systems to improve information sharing and enhance decision making. From dispatch operators, police on patrol, fire departments, and emergency services to corrections staff, proba-
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With just under three decades of industry experience, Wexford Health offers economic, clinically
sound programs to manage correctional health care costs while maintaining quality of care. Contact them to learn how Wexford Health’s comprehensive clinical expertise, state-of-the-art technological solutions, and innovative strategies can help improve a facility’s bottom line. 1.888.MED.MGMT (633.6468), www.wexfordhealth.com
Healthcare Services Centurion, LLC is a leading provider of healthcare services to state correctional agencies and serves seven state correctional systems (Florida, Minnesota,
Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Vermont). Founded by two of the oldest and most respected companies in correctional healthcare and managed Medicaid—MHM Services, Inc. and Centene Corporation—Centurion brings a level of innovative care coordination services never before available to large correctional systems. 703.749.4600, www.centurionmanagedcare.com CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019 35
Walk-Through Metal Detector The PD 6500i is designed for maximum patron throughput
and features 33 distinct zones to precisely identify multiple target locations. Easy to assemble, the PD 6500i offers dual detection performance by uniformly scanning from both sides. Remote monitoring and data analysis options are also available. 1.800.234.6151, www.garrett.com
Tamper-Evident Syringe Bags
syringe closure shortages. Complementing its line of tamper-evident products, EPS has developed 4 styles of tamper-evident syringe bags to help pharmacists and nurses provide protection for both IV and oral syringes. Available in either 2 x 8- or 3 x 12-inch sizes, the EPS Syringe Bag accommodates virtually all sizes of syringes. 1.800.523.8966, www.medidose.com
Medi-Dose, Inc. / EPS, Inc. announces Tamper-Evident Syringe Bags. Dispensing medications in syringes requires stringent controls. Medications must be rigidly accounted for and protected throughout the hospital dispensing system, particularly during this trying time of SVP and
Continued from page 22 inmates all over the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, to eliminate a hiding place for all sorts of illegal inmate “possessions.” These clear devices have simplified the duties of COs, whose duty it is to maintain security within the inmate populations, says Ed Michael, sales manager. “Whether they are in the cells, libraries, education departments or administrative offices where inmates use typewriters, by making these clear typewriters available, it is no longer necessary to disassemble the typewriters to perform a full inspection, saving valuable man hours and damage to equipment. A complete inspection of the device is now a matter of seconds instead of hours.”
Property Storage Made Simple
With a Swintec clear case typewriter, a complete inspection of all the devices in the room can be inspected in a matter of minutes, instead of hours. 36 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
Handling offenders’ personal items can be a job in itself. Storing it when they are booked, retrieving it when they are released, and moving it with them when they move can be labor intensive for staff. Pacline Inmate Property Storage Conveyors can help. They utilize the unused ceiling and floor space to provide a cost-effective automated solution compared to stationary storage shelves and racks. The track curves on the PAC-LINE™ system have extremely tight radius allowing for efficient use of space, notes David Seto, sales manager. “The track VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
provides full integration with property storage management software. SRS carries a range of property storage bags that are made from solid vinyl coated fabric with a mesh fabric panel which help control odor as well as provide ventilation. Overall, the system delivers fast retrieval with only one person required to operate it. It provides maximum space utilization and a reduction in property claims. The conveyor is offered with an optional enclosed or open track design. %
The Pacline conveyor for inmate property storage takes advantage of unused ceiling and floor space, and its enclosed track offers added safety to users’ hands and fingers.
components are modular and bolt together. This means that installation is simple and quick as no welding is required.” By automating inmate storage management it helps reduce operator retrieval time and only a single operator is required to store and/or retrieve an average of 300 property bags per day. This results in better time efficiency, which is especially important in larger correctional facilities, adds Seto. Rather than being constructed of an open trolley/sprocket, where anything near the conveyor’s yokes, wheels and chains can be sucked into its path, the PAC-LINE chain is enclosed in a round tubular track, preventing contact with fingers and hands of the operators. It also is not susceptible to the danger of a runaway chain, as are the open-style conveyers, and it’s able to contain chain mishaps to a small area, reduce accidents, and limit damage. Seto furthers that Pacline recently installed 12 inmate property storage conveyors for the new 250,000 square-foot Harris County Joint Processing Center in Houston with the capacity to carry a total of 12,000 hanging garment bags with inmate personal property. “This system allows operators
the efficiency of retrieving multiple indexed bags, which otherwise would be impossible with stationary shelves and racking. This is an important feature of the system as it is estimated that the Harris County Center will be processing up to 900 inmates per day.”
Storage Conveyor SRS Conveyors’ Inmate Property Storage Conveyor S-100 also simplifies inmate property handling. Its design benefits include eliminating pipe racks and bulk storage and reducing the number of attendants and lost items. Engineered to meet the long-term needs of any correctional facility, the S-100 system is equipped with features such as electronic soft start/stop, low voltage controllers, heavy duty and durable low maintenance conveyor components. Operation is as easy as the attendant assigning a location on the conveyor for the new inmate based on availability. Features of the Automated S-100 conveyor controller are: shortest path taken, stacked multiple requests, prioritizing the queue and forward and reverse manual control. For larger facilities, it accommodates multiple tier conveyors and a network of multiple conveyors via daisy chain. It also
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For further information: Aquawing brett@AquawingOzone.com www.aquawingozone.com Laundry Loops Inc. www.laundryloops.com info@laundryloops.com 1.888.246.5667 Pellerin Milnor Corporation 504.712.7656 www.milnor.com Insinger Machine Company Harry Jang, Inside Sales Manager hjang@insingermachine.com 215.624.4800 www.insingermachine.com Imperial Fastener Company info@imperialfastener.com 954.782.7130 www.imperialfastener.com Swintec Corporation 1.800.225.0867 www.swintec.com Bob Barker Company 1.800.334.9880 www.bobbarker.com David Seto, Sales Manager Pacline Overhead Conveyors 1.800.955.8860 sales@pacline.com www.pacline.com SRS Conveyors 1.800.267.9355 www.srsconveyors.com CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019 37
AD INDEX
Page No.
AUTOCLEAR/Control Screening ....................8 Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp. ...........23 Bob Barker....................39 Centurion .......................2 Corizon Health ...............7 Correctional Cable TV....................29 ECSI International, Inc ......27 Endur ID Incorporated .............19 Insinger Machine Co. ...18 Institutional Eye Care ....................38 Jpay, Inc. .......................11 Keefe Group .................40 Medi-Dose Company.............4,9,27 Milnor ...........................22 NaphCare .....................17 Point Blank Industries ....5 Renco..............................8 The Rose Report .............6 StunCuff Enterprises, Inc. ..........4 Swintec Corporation ....20 TechCare.......................25 Trinity Services Group, Inc..............................13 Wexford Health Sources ......................15 This advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers only. The publisher does not assume liability for errors or omissions. 38 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2019
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