MAY/JUNE 2021 VOL. 30 NO 3
LOCKING UP TIGHTER SECURITY PERSONAL PROTECTION GEAR BODY CAM HIGHLIGHTS
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Texas Jail Association & American Correctional Association Show Highlights Overcome Mattress Danger
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BY WENDY SAWYER AND PETER WAGNER PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE
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Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie an it really be true that most people in jail are being held before trial? And how much of mass incarceration is a result of the war on drugs? These questions are harder to answer than one might think, because our country’s systems of confinement are so fragmented. The various government agencies involved in the justice system collect a lot of critical data, but it is not designed to help policymakers or the public understand what’s going on. As public support for criminal justice reform continues to build, however, it’s more important than ever that we get the facts straight and understand the big picture. The Prison Policy Initiative report offers some much-needed clarity by piecing together this country’s disparate systems of confinement. The American criminal justice system holds almost 2.3 million people in 1,833 state pris-
C
ons, 110 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,134 local jails, 218 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, civil commitment centers,
AS PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM CONTINUES TO BUILD, IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT AND UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE. state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in the U.S. territories. While this pie chart provides a comprehensive snapshot of our correctional system, the graphic does not capture the enormous
churn in and out of our correctional facilities, nor the far larger universe of people whose lives are affected by the criminal justice system. Every year, over 600,000 people enter prison gates, but people go to jail 10.6 million times each year. Jail churn is particularly high because most people in jails have not been convicted. Some have just been arrested and will make bail within hours or days, while many others are too poor to make bail and remain behind bars until their trial. Only a small number (about 160,000 on any given day) have been convicted and are generally serving misdemeanors sentences under a year. At least 1 in 4 people who go to jail will be arrested again within the same year—often those dealing with poverty, mental illness, and substance use disorders, whose problems only worsen with incarceration.
Jails are key This big-picture view allows us to focus on the most important drivers of mass incarceration and identify important, but often ignored, systems of confinement. The detailed views bring these overlooked systems to light, from immigration detention to civil commitment and youth confinement. In particular, local jails often receive short shrift in larger discussions about criminal justice, but they play a critical role as “incarceration’s front door” and have a far greater impact than the daily population suggests. To read the full report visit www.prison-policy.org/reports/ pie2020.html 4 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
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NEW YORK MUST OFFER VACCINE TO ALL PRISONERS IMMEDIATELY, JUDGE RULES New York must immediately begin to offer Covid vaccines to all incarcerated people in the state’s prisons and jails, a judge ruled March 29, making the state one of few in the nation to provide doses to such a broad population behind bars, reported The New York Times. The order, the first involving any of the country’s largest correctional systems, came as the virus continues to roar through facilities in New York. At least 1,100 people living behind prison walls have tested positive for the virus since the start of [February], and five have died.
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Justice Alison Y. Tuitt of State Supreme Court in the Bronx wrote in her ruling that people in prisons and jails had been arbitrarily left out of the rollout and that doing so was “unfair and unjust” and an “abuse of discretion.” Epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists widely agreed, even in the earliest stages of vaccination efforts, that the roughly 50,000 people in correctional facilities across the state should be made eligible because of their uniquely high risk for contracting and spreading the virus. A dispropor-
tionate number of them are also Black and Latino, groups that have been hit hard by the pandemic. But vaccinating incarcerated people has proved politically fraught across the country as states grappling with the same ethical, logistical and legal questions have drawn up drastically different timelines for offering doses. In New York, most of those behind bars had been left out, though other high-risk groups like restaurant workers, public-facing government employees and essential building service workers recently became eligible. In April, Florida had not yet made people in state prisons eligible, while Texas and Arkansas an-
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nounced that they would start providing doses to some of those behind bars. Some other states, including New Jersey, began inoculating incarcerated people late last year, just as the first vaccine doses were being made available. And in Massachusetts, the roughly 6,400 people in prison have all already been offered a vaccine. In a similar suit last month in Oregon, a federal court judge ordered the state prison system, which has a population of around 12,000, to offer doses to all incarcerated people. It was the first successful legal battle of its kind nationwide. Efforts to place incarcerated people ahead of the general public in the rollout have drawn pushback from some lawmakers in other states. The State Senate in Kansas, where the majority of members are Republicans, passed a nonbinding resolution demanding that the governor revise a vaccination plan that prioritized those in prisons. Colorado backtracked on a plan to give prisoners early access to vaccines. TWO OUT OF THREE CALIF. PRISON INMATES SAID YES TO VACCINE As of May 14, when vaccines were becoming widely available to anyone 12 and up, many prisoners were getting vaccinated, HealthDay news service reported. Sixty-seven percent of inmates in California prisons who were offered a Covid19 vaccine have accepted at least one dose, a Stanford University study found. "This is one of the largest state prison systems in the country, and if it can achieve high vaccination coverage among its incarcerated population, then the federal and other state prisons systems can and should do the same for the more 8 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
than 2 million people that they currently incarcerate," said study co-author Jeremy Goldhaber-Fiebert, an associate professor of medicine. The researchers also found that nearly 50% of those who initially turned down a Covid-19 vaccine accepted when it was offered again. Lead study author Elizabeth Chin noted that prisons and jails are high-risk settings for the virus, and case and death rates far surpass those in the general population. Achieving and maintaining sufficient immunity to avoid large outbreaks will be challenging in these settings, she said in a Stanford news release. "High and equitable uptake of vaccination is crucial," said Chin, a doctoral candidate in biomedical data science." Attaining it may depend on successful efforts to build trust and vaccine confidence, and regular re-offers to decliners." The researchers said two-thirds of nearly 98,000 prisoners were offered vaccines and 67% accepted at least one dose. Acceptance was highest among Hispanic (73%) and white (72%) inmates and a little lower among those who were American Indian or Alaska Native and Asian or Pacific Islanders (68%). Acceptance was significantly lower among Black inmates (55%). It was also revealed that younger, healthier prisoners were less likely to get vaccinated than those who were older and medically vulnerable. "The disparities in acceptance, particularly along racial lines, are cause for concern," said senior author David Studdert, a professor of medicine and law. "But there is encouraging news here, too. Nearly 80% of the most vulnerable residents accepted, which is close to what we have seen in nursing homes."
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BY G.F. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Two Conferences Deliver the Goods The Texas Jail Association and American Correctional Association conferences supply training, connections, and products and services to simplify supervisor’s jobs.
t’s all about the numbers, and the numbers (virus percentages, that is) are good for trade show goers to proceed. Two conferences sport numbers themselves, as one is the 35th annual and the other is the 151st meeting in the corrections field, the first just finishing as we go to press and the other about to begin, both featuring products and services ready for sheriffs, wardens and other professionals to review. The 35th Annual Texas Jail Association (TJA) Conference ran May 10–14 in Austin, Texas, and the American Correctional Association’s (ACA) 151st Congress of Correction is set for Aug. 12-17 in Nashville, Tennessee, barring any change in infection numbers. The TJA Conference was hosted at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in the Arboretum. Participants were offered training through a variety of general and breakout sessions and were able to receive the appropriate TCOLE credit for each training session attended. Conference topics varied from staff concerns like Officer Wellness, Psychology in Leadership, Listening to
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Employees, a Supervisor's Guide to Hiring and Firing, and Destination Retirement, to themes of overall concern like Jail Sustainability, Understanding Transgender, Special Populations in the Jail Setting, Legal Trends in Corrections, De-escalation, the Gulf Cartel, Drug Recognition and Human Trafficking, to name a few. The ACA Conference plans to also feature educational sessions, committee meetings, and a keynote address by Chris Christie. The in-person gathering will offer networking opportunities as well as a new interactive scavenger hunt with ACA’s app that takes participants around the conference to win prizes. Attendees can work towards professional certification and, during each conference, the Commission on Accreditation holds panel hearings and awards accreditation to various correctional facilities. The conference also features an exhibit hall where attendees can interact with companies in the correctional industry. Some of those same companies connected with the TJA and ACA conferences are featured here for readers to review their products and services.
Product & Services Review From Food Products to Technology Services Keefe Group and its affiliates, Keefe Commissary Network Access Securepak, Access Corrections, ICSolutions and Advanced Technologies Group, are leading suppliers of food products, personal care products, electronics, clothing, technology, telecommunications and software solutions to the correctional market. Since 1975, Keefe has serviced the correctional market
exclusively and pioneered the evolution of products, packaging and technology services to fit the needs of facilities nationwide. 800.325.8998, customerfirst@keefegroup.com, keefegroup.com
Serving the Correctional Commissary Space Vistar, a division of Performance Food Group, Inc., offers a vast assortment of products to serve the unique and
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Weapon/Phone Detector Added for Visitors
demanding needs of the correctional commissary space, including snacks, grocery, beverages, health, beauty, fresh and frozen foods, hot and cold food/beverage items, better-for-you snacks and nutritional products, foodservice goods and Vistar’s own line of proprietary items including food and non-food products. All are available at the national network of Operating Centers throughout the United States. 877.662.9462, Patrick.Blake@pfgc.com, www.Vistar.com
As a combined ferromagnetic and active metal detector, the CEIA SMD600 Plus WTMD is already a complete and efficient solution for the high-sensitivity detection of any metal weapon and any cellphone/smartphone in correctional facilities where inmates are metal free or almost metal-free. The new SMD600 Plus–MI2 allows, in addition, the high-throughput inspection of visitors to correctional facilities
aging correctional health care programs for three decades. Clients can depend on Wexford to maintain quality of care, generate positive patient outcomes, avoid lawsuits and negative publicity, and stay within budget. 412.937.8590, info@wexfordhealth.com, www.wexfordhealth.com
Innovative Food Service Solutions Trinity focuses solely on the corrections industry, using more than 30 years of experience to present innovative solutions, operating efficiencies and technology-forward services. Trinity continuously refines resources, skills and expertise to exceed the
Reduce Self Harm The Lifeline Crossback Safety Smock for resident safety utilizes a patent-pending closure design to open if enough force is applied, significantly reducing the chance of using a ligature point for self harm. The Crossback Safety Smock has no hook and loop, meaning you don’t need to secure the smock before laundering. Designed as a one-size-fitsmost smock, the straps easily adjust to various body sizes to simplify inventory and eliminate the need for junior smocks. The Crossback Safety Smock is made from heavy-duty 650-denier polyester fabric quilted to polyester batting and is stain-resistant, fire-resistant, and tear-resistant. 800-334-9880, , customerservice@bobbarker.com, www.bobbarker.com 12 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
food service needs of large and small correctional facilities. Understanding mealtime plays a role in the overall stability of a facility, Trinity ensures all food is properly prepared and presented, and is committed to providing food service programs that achieve these objectives three times a day, seven days a week. Also available are services such as Trinity Sourcing Solutions, Trinity Take Out and Work Feed Succeed to support inmate feeding programs. 855.705.5538, TrinityServicesGroup.com or, people in general in street clothes in a standard checkpoint divestiture situation where detection of assembled/disassembled firearms and standard and miniaturized cellphones/smartphones is required with low nuisance alarm rate. 440.561.7615 or 440.514.9121, ferromagnetic@ceia-usa.com, www.ceia-fmd.com
30 Years Providing Health Care Services Wexford Health has been implementing, staffing, and man-
Locally-Based Health Care Centurion Health works with state and local governments to provide health care services for correctional facilities, state hospitals, community clinics and more. Providing patient care in more than 300 facilities across 15 states, Centurion is dedicated to ensuring locally-based quality care for individuals in the communities served. 703.749.4600, bmay@teamcenturion.com, www.teamcenturion.com
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Real-Time Location System Black Creek’s TSI Prism RTLS deploys technology where the subjects or objects to track are equipped with body-worn or device-attached RFID tags. The tags transmit a signal at configurable intervals, which consist of packets of data that provide information. Examples include
provider, the Union Supply Direct division provides creative family package programs as well as award-winning offender work, training, and post-release employment programs. As an option, the Union Supply Commissary Solutions division can also run your commissary. 877.865.0910, ddrewry@unionsupplygroup.com, www.unionsupplygroup.com
Fitted Trays to Carts
the tag’s unique I.D., the condition of its battery, whether the tag is moving, and the heart rate of an inmate. The TSI PRISM coordinate-based location engine calculates the location of the tag in the facility in horizontal and vertical axes with accuracies that range typically from one to two meters with available sub-meter accuracy if required. On receipt of tag information from the positioning engine, software stores the location of the tag in a Microsoft SQL Server database for display and later analysis. 205.949.9900, sales@blackcreekisc.com, www.blackcreekisc.com/rtls.html
Full-Service Commissary Provider For 29 years, Union Supply Group has supplied the correctional industry with commissary goods and services. Union Supply Group divisions (Food Express USA, Union Supply Company)
provide food and personal care products, apparel, footwear and electronics to correctional commissaries. As a full-service 14 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
In the SmartServe line, corrections-grade meal trays fit perfectly inside a durable cart. SmartTrays are solid molded-construction meal trays specifically designed to accommodate most menus, protect food, last longer and stack with stability to provide superior
meal delivery. The trays stack in any orientation and height and are sized to fit SmartCarts precisely. The bottom of one tray is the lid for next with lids available for top of stack. SmartCarts can be configured as either heated or ambient with the ability to easily switch back and forth by snapping in a heat box or replacing it with an insulated panel. 800.848.8160, joneszylon.com
Medical and Mental Health Services Wellpath provides comprehensive medical and mental healthcare services in jails, prisons, inpatient and residential treatment facilities, and community care centers to more than 300,000 adult and juvenile patients.
than 35 years of experience working with local, state, federal and community partners, the partnerships focus on patient care, clinical innovations, transparent operations and staff wellness. 800.592.2974, wellpathcare.com
Streamline Operations and Connect Justice Partners Tyler Corrections is a comprehensive jail management software that delivers features to optimize operations from intake to release. Tyler Corrections eliminates redundancies, reduces errors and costs, and ensures a safer operation for jail facilities of all sizes. Automated business
processes drive efficiencies and a mobile application enables officers to log observations, track activities, and add more tasks in the system while walking the facility. Seamless integration and secure data sharing provide courts, public safety, and supervision partners access to critical inmate information, creating a chain of efficiencies, including automatically flowing information from one agency to the next. 1.800.431.5776, cjsales@tylertech.com, www.tylertech.com/products/tyler-corrections
Infection Control/PPE At OraLine, PPE and infection control products are designed to limit airborne exposure, improve hand hygiene and offer several options for barrier protection. Oraline offers face/body coverings, waterless hand soap, PPE devices such as room sterilizers, disinfection dispensers and temperature scanners, non-contact temperature sensors with face recognition, sterilizing bags and alcohol hand sanitizer, among other products. 1.888.296.6730, oraline.net
Wellpath employs nearly 16,000 healthcare professionals in 33 states and Australia. With more VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
CONTENT SUPPLIED BY CHESTNUT RIDGE FOAM, INC. Shown is the ASTM “roll test.”
Mattress Dangers
Insufficient federal safety regulations for mattresses in confinement facilities pose serious safety hazards, liability, even injury and death. Detention-specific fire tests can help you rest easier. The selection of mattresses used within confinement facilities doesn’t typically top the list of safety concerns. An uninformed choice, however, can lead to a dangerous situation that can erupt at any given moment. Seemingly innocent items utilized within cell walls are viewed with caution as countless products may be repurposed by inmates, causing harm to themselves, fellow prisoners, or correctional officers, and a mattress should not be exempt from this scrutiny. Every year, numerous incidents of fires occur within correctional facilities and many are fueled by a detention mattress. Corrections administrators have two basic options for mattress choices: fiber-type mattresses (boric acid-treated cotton, cottonfiber blends, and fire-retardant densified polyester) and fulldepth, fire-resistant foam cushioning mattresses. The choice of mattress is entirely at the discretion of the facility or the govern16 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
ing agency. At present, all detention facilities must minimally follow the federal regulations for mattress flammability issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for all commercial mattresses sold in the United States. These test methods are intended to assess the ignition potential of a mattress from a burning cigarette (16 CFR 1632) or from an open flame (16 CFR 1633). The regulation intention is that mattresses that meet both flammability tests are less likely to ignite and, if they do ignite, are expected to cause less severe fires than those that fail the tests. However, the tests were designed and intended for commercial residences, not the correctional environment. A common occurrence in virtually all confinement facilities is vandalism, arson, or both.
Consider the events in Hartville, Missouri, at the Wright County Jail. Between January and August 2017, the jail experienced five inmate-set fires, most involving mattresses. In one case, reports indicate that thick, black smoke filled the facility, causing damage to the property, while resulting in the need for emergency evacuations. During the evacuation one inmate was able to escape while officers were escorting others to safety. The area was then deemed unfit for occupancy because walls and ceiling were covered in material that may have been hazardous to inhale. Eventually, three of the evacuated inmates were charged with first-degree arson.
Imperfect Standard One way in which mattresses are designed to meet the 16 CFR Part 1633 fire test is by using protective fabric barriers that encapsulate the interior cushioning products, which are often very Continues on page 41
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BY M.J. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Thwarting Surprise Attacks and De-escalating Riots Personal protection gear and other officer safety tools.
The chest, shoulder, and back hard-shell panels on the DFX2 Full Body Protection Kit from Damascus Gear have a modular flex design that fits all shapes and sizes without sacrificing mobility.
Corrections officers never know when an attack might occur or unrest may foment within an institution. They work in hostile environments that experience the highest rates of non-fatal workrelated injuries in the United States. In one case that took place in Lincoln County, Arkansas, a correctional sergeant within the maximum-security unit barely 18 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
escaped with her life after being attacked by an inmate wielding a 12-inch shank improvised from a sink faucet. According to the Arkansas Department of Corrections, the sergeant “did everything right, she kept her cool, used her training and was wearing a vest.” It’s clear that the right equipment goes a long way in protecting corrections officers, but the
buck doesn’t stop there. Here, leading experts in the personal protection industry share their suggestions and insights with Corrections Forum on how not only equipment but situational awareness can keep them safe. Bill Geraghty, owner of Body Armour Canada, which services its customers in the USA through BAC Tactical, states that although personal protection equipment is
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and homemade invaluable, an officer’s weapons. safety also comes down to personal preparedness. Damascus Gear man“Personal safety in the ufactures the DFX2 Full type of environment Body Protection Kit, where officers work canwhich is specially not be guaranteed,” he designed to provide underscores. “An officer substantial protection should continually pracfrom blunt force trauma tice situational awareness without sacrificing fit or so that they can read a comfort. The company room to get a sense of also offers vests, as well any tension between as a wide variety of fullinmates as well as body protective gear. towards the officer. Donaldson adds that Officers should strive to “safety is improved be as physically and menevery year as new materiThe G.L.O.V.E. from Compliant Technologies uses a tally fit as possible as well als are made available for fraction of the electrical current used by most CEWs as have the determination protective gear including (conducted electrical weapons) on the market. to continually work in a fire-resistant fabrics, cuthostile environment.” and puncture-proof gloves and modular designs Nonetheless, in addition to mental and physical that allow for strike force and cut-resistant upper preparedness, having the right equipment plays an body plates.” important role. Geraghty point out that “should an The chest, shoulder, and back hard-shell panels officer be attacked using an improvised weapon, on the DFX2 Full Body Protection Kit have a modusuch as glass, shanks, or blunt force objects like lar flex design that fits all shapes and sizes without chair legs or cans in a sock, having the right protecsacrificing mobility. The chest portion of the suit tive equipment can often mean whether they surfeatures an aluminum stab plate insert for additionvive an attack or not.” al protection. The backplate is designed with a For equipment to be effective it must shield an officer’s main internal organs (heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys) as well as the main arteries, such as the axillary artery (located in the armpit) and the femoral artery (located in the groin). The company’s stab, needle, and blunt force trauma-resistant vests and their slash-resistant clothing defend these vulnerable areas. Their vests can be worn both covertly and overtly. Made from 5mm molded polycarbonate panels that incorporate impact foam, their vests effectively shield the spine, ribs, and vital organs while weighing in at only at 1.9 kg or about 4.19 lbs. BAC Tactical’s cut- and slash-resistant clothing offers protection from sharp edges, averting lacerations of skin, arteries and veins. Currently, the company offers clothing that is tested to cut-resistance level A4 (ASTM F2992 – TDM 100). They will soon introduce products at the A5 level and some products at the A6 level that will also be fire-resistant.
Harmful Uprisings “Prison riots are a destructive threat to corrections officers and their ability to maintain control over their facilities,” says Jason Donaldson, marketing manager with Damascus Gear. During uprisings, some of the more harmful injuries corrections officers sustain are from blunt force trauma caused by heavy objects, as well as stab wounds from knives VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
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raised portion at its center to protect the spine from blunt force injury. The safety of the corrections team while maneuvering a hostile environment is a top priority, believes Donaldson, and firms such as his are working to make products that offer the ultimate protection while still allowing COs to effectively do their jobs.
New Spike Protection “Corrections officers, whether in prison, jail or transport positions, understand that their lives can change in a moment’s notice,” says Scotty Wylie, CEO, Onyx Armor. The Onyx Armor design team recently submitted new Spike 1, 2, and 3 solutions to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for certification to the NIJ 0101.06 standard, which is the most comprehensive and rigorous body armor compliance standard to date. These new products are scheduled to be introduced in late summer 2021; they will offer protection for any environment. Onyx Armor offers a broad range of personal protection products for officers, and they currently hold several NIJ certifications to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Since 2017 the firm has manufactured over 130,000 vests and has subcontracted work for the U.S. military and the federal government. It is ironic that “One of the greatest risks in crowd control is the impact to areas people instinctually use to protect themselves, including the arms and shoulders,” indicates R.J. LeMarbe, the lead tactical designer for Point Blank Enterprises. Point Blank Body Armor has designed its Advanced Crowd Control Suit (A.C.C.S.) with modular panels that stay correctly oriented in any position—even when officers instinctively go to shield themselves from harm. The connection points on the suit are not hard connection 20 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
Point Blank’s Advanced Crowd Control Suit (A.C.C.S.) is designed with modular panels that stay correctly oriented in any position.
points, which allow the plates to expand and contract on the body whether the officer is standing, kneeling, or moving, he explains, thus eliminating the unintended exposure of sensitive areas. LeMarbe adds that “Additional equipment can become a hindrance in situations where mobility and close-quarter situations are concerned.” Point Blank’s A.C.C.S. has elastic joints that allow unrestricted motion. A foam insert can be added as part of ballistic or stab packages.
Less-than-lethal CEW Are there new technologies that will allow officers to more confidently engage individuals up close? Does this technology offer a more effective hands-on ability regardless of defensive tac-
tics skills, size, age, gender, or strength? asks Jeff Niklaus, the founder of Compliant Technologies. The questions he is posing regard whether less-thanlethal devices categorized as conducted electrical weapons improve officer safety. Compliant Technologies produces conducted electrical weapons, or CEWs, that de-escalate potential conflicts with LTL force. Their flagship product is the G.L.O.V.E., which stands for generated low output voltage emitter. “We call it the ‘Force Multiplier’ because in many ways it evens the playing field for an officer,” Niklaus states. The G.L.O.V.E uses a fraction of the electrical current used by most CEWs on the market. It doesn’t leave behind any marks or scars, and it doesn’t cause any soft tissue damage, the company states. It works by incapacitating a person by overstimulating the Peripheral Nervous System in a process called Neuro Peripheral Interference. No current enters the body; it remains on the exterior of the body at the point of contact. The device cannot stimulate through clothing, metal, or hair and is only activated against human skin. The G.L.O.V.E can be discharged within one second, is seamless in weapons transitioning, and has a high weapons retention rate.
Heading Off Disaster Vandalism is always an issue in correctional facilities. To improve safety, Justin Head, facility furnishings sales manager with Chestnut Ridge Foam, urges facility administrators “to pursue detention mattresses that specify detailed physical and fire-performance criteria and utilize mattress fire test procedures reflective of the detention environment.” One of the greatest risks to officer and facility safety are arson attacks. Correctional facility fires are often fueled by deten-
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BAC Tactical carries a line of cut- and slash-resistant clothing made with their lightweight and breathable Cut-Tuff material.
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tion mattresses. Even mattresses that contain a synthetic fiber insert, such as F.R polyester (the minimum federal regulations requirement for mattress flammability), are extremely flammable. The ASTM F1870 “roll test” takes into consideration the correctional facility environment and the added risks of vandalism and arson. During this test, synthetic fiber-type mattresses burn rapidly and profusely, resulting in flaming pools of molten plastic material and the emission of plumes of thick toxic smoke. To minimize this type of threat, Chestnut Ridge Foam has created the CR Safeguard, which contains fire-resistant foam cushioning. The mattress comprises latex compound cushioning, which doesn’t melt, drip, or ignite under the rigors of the roll test. CR Safeguard fire-resistant mattresses form a stable char when exposed to flame, thus eliminating their potential as a fuel source within the cell. There will always be room for safety improvement within facilities, whether it’s improved situational awareness, self-defense training, or the latest in personal protection gear and CEWs. Leading companies continue to drive their product development to greater levels of effectiveness, just as the officers and facilities that utilize them will continue to strive for personal preparedness and safer conditions. %
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BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Locking In On Security How technology—from keys and cylinders to asset tracking systems—can help COs get a lock on security.
S ECURITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT aspect of keeping a jail, prison or detention center well managed and safe, and one of the most vital components of a facility’s security—aside from its staff—is its locking systems. Well-run jails and prisons need to secure the outer perimeter with a first line of defense of electronics, fencing and sallyports, and as you move inward, with detention and gate locks. Drilling down further, padlocks control access to lockers, kitchen equipment and other specialized security needs. Supervisors not only 22 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
need to keep precise track of keys but they need to account for equipment such as Tasers, radios, OC spray and fleets. A lost key or misplaced weapon is cause for alarm. A misplaced key, a failed lock or even a non lethal weapon is considered an immediate life safety issue, says Pat Hannan, detention hardware expert, and Dan Donohue, director of sales, both with Craftmaster Hardware LLC. When a key ring goes missing, it’s not only a perilous and stressful event for the entire facility staff but it can be costly. “The
facility needs to be locked down and a top to bottom search needs to be conducted. If the keys can’t be located, the keys would be considered ‘compromised’ and all locks and keys associated would need to be taken out of service,” they say. “This is huge expense in new keys, cores and labor, but necessary to keep the facility secure.” The best way to secure anywhere inside a facility is always going to be with live guards, concurs Steve Robinson, vice president of sales, KeyTrak. But this cannot be achieved 100 percent
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of the time, of course. “They have rounds to make, there are gaps in shifts, they have to respond to an emergency situation. That’s why facilities have all kinds of security technology and locking gates and doors—to close those gaps.” And the one innocuous item that ensures those security measures, details Robinson, “is lowtech, but incredibly important: keys.” Therefore, a well-run facility is going to know exactly where its keys are, who has them, and when they were taken. The last thing you want is a key to a cell floating around the general population. But it happens, and often without officers realizing it, he points out. “It’s also important to secure and keep up with equipment like CO radios, kitchen knives, and visiting officers’ firearms,” Robinson continues. In a worstcase scenario these can be used against COs. But even if they are simply misplaced, “repeatedly losing gear drives up operating costs. Just like keys, all the mission-critical equipment and gear inside a facility needs to be secured when it’s not needed and accounted for when it is.” Another perilous situation, if a lock fails, “a ‘door down’ situation occurs,” says Hannon. “A guard may need to be posted at the door 24/7 until it’s put back in service or the inmate needs to move to another cell,” again, costly to the operation.
Who To Call? Procuring a locking system for a facility should never be taken lightly. “Looking for a locking system falls in the same category as any other major purchase. Owners want to use a time-tested product that's installed by a qualified contractor,” advises Ryan Conroy, VP of Sales, George A. Keene, Inc. It's important to first determine the end user's wants and needs, he points out. Some facilities want their locks controlled by touch screens or con24 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
The KeyTrak Guardian is a key and asset management system that acts as a sort of ATM for keys and assets, restricting access 24/7/365 with an accurate and verifiable audit trail. The Guardian can be customized for virtually any size correctional facility.
trol panels, while others simply want mechanical locks and keys. Generally, facilities use a hybrid of these two systems. Having a detention equipment contractor (DEC) assist in the design process of a new facility, expansion, or renovation can help in designing the best possible safety situation, Conroy states. Calling in an experienced DEC during the construction phase can early on identify security flaws by discussing the layout of the facility and day-to-day operations and offer solutions that best fit your particular facility. He notes his firm has that experience with over 70 years in the business. He adds that staff training remains an important factor in any safe design. Many things can go wrong, and it’s important not only to keep track of items but to do regular maintenance and to have a supplier on call that can respond immediately, Conroy asserts. If keys go missing, the locks associated with those keys need to be rekeyed and new keys are issued. Further, hardware failure can result from a lack of routine maintenance, electrical issues,
mechanical defects, or normal wear and tear. Typically, a field technician is sent to assess the hardware and make adjustments or repairs. If necessary, new hardware is installed. Conroy notes, “It's recommended to keep spares of all security hardware being used and to familiarize the maintenance staff with the removal and reinstallation of the hardware.” Western Detention Products, Inc. has been in business since 1999 and note they have focused on solving one of the most aggravating problems detention facilities face: Lead time! The company tells us that in a narrow niche business such as the detention industry manufacturers often are unable to perform production runs of certain locks or lock parts until sufficient quantities have been ordered, in order to be profitable. This is why factory orders usually have a 12to 16-week lead time for orders from the factory. In new construction, this is manageable, the company contends. However, in the aftermarket sales and service side of the industry, those lead times are
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This class provided by Western Detention in San Diego works on locks specific to their facility.
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CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021 25
on training, which is a weeklong detention lock repair/diagnostics training school tailored specifically for the students’ needs. They work on the exact lock models they have in their facilities and earn factory certification with their proficiency. Another top supplier, Craftmaster Hardware is a distributor of Southern Folger locks and parts in the U.S. Electronic, mechanical, gate, and food pass locking solutions can all be found here to support a facility’s security. “We have locksmith staff to cut the keys and re-pin cylinders quickly in the event of a door down or compromised key system situation,” explains Hannon. “The locks are made of heavyweight galvanized steel plate and An item sold only to corrections is the original 5-Disc Tumbler Paracentric Southern Folger 3-3500 Key Blank available from Craftmaster.
completely unworkable. If a facility owner has a lock failure on a high priority door, being told they will have to wait 16 weeks for a replacement, “is completely unacceptable,” says a company spokesperson. At the outset, to overcome this issue, Western Detention spent several years building an inventory of detention locks and parts to the tune of $2 million, according to the firm. “Having done this for the detention industry, long lead times are no longer a factor for our customers.” In addition to the extensive detention inventory, Western Detention offers tech support, inhouse lock cylinder keying, key cutting, lock repair and other detention services. Essentially, it is the maintenance warehouse backing up the facility lock-shop, giving them the support of a readily available warehouse of locks and parts, exactly when they need it. Three times a year, the firm offers facility locksmiths hands26 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
issuing keys and key rings to COs. With the understaffing issues facing most facilities around the country, officers responsible for keys or other equipment are stretched thin. Their other duties suffer when they’re expected to issue keys, radios, or weapons throughout the day. This slows down operations, pushes back routine rounds, and leaves opportunities for inmates to cause problems. The keys that operate locking systems need accountability that identifies who, when, why and what key is taken and returned, say the Craftmaster spokesmen. The duty belt and key control accessories worn by our correctional professionals secure keys with tactical key ring holders.
“The most dangerous situation is, of course, when inmates get access to keys.” — Steve Robinson, KeyTrak keys made from investment cast bronze for longevity and reliability to perform well in the demanding detention environment.”
Location Tracking Keeping precise control of all keys and assets is obviously a vital part of the daily role of corrections professionals. “The most dangerous situation is, of course, when inmates get access to keys,” says Robinson of KeyTrak. Yet there are many situations where inmates can get keys. “A key left on a counter can be snatched when nobody is looking, or keys can be taken from a CO directly either by brute-force attack or a more stealthy approach.” However, issues with keys aren’t always just a matter of keeping them secure, according to Kerystic. Many facilities have a key custodian or key master who’s responsible for manually
Those rings are also secured and attached to systems like Key Systems, Morse Watchmans and KEYper Systems, which provide electronic accountability and access control for keys, radios, tasers, transport vehicles and even gun lockers.” Key and equipment tracking systems allow a key control officer to have instant access to every keyring in the facility. They can determine who is in possession of that ring at any time as well as track the last time it was checked in or out of the key box. That limits exposure and can quickly eliminate a compromised keyring situation.
Asset Management The KeyTrak Guardian is a key and asset management system that combats common correctional facility problems by ensuring that keys and equipment are
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ZAK Tool ZT55-C Double Belt Key Holder with Connector Clip from Craftmaster fits 2-1/4 inch wide duty belts. A 30- inch Corrections Chain is an option.
28 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
secure when they’re not needed and accounted for when they’re out of the system. The Guardian limits access to authorized users who log in using either an individually assigned password or the built-in fingerprint reader. Keys are locked down inside a steel panel and are only unlocked when a CO or other user with the appropriate access levels requests the key via the touchscreen. The system automatically logs every access point, giving administrators an audit trail for every key and eliminating the need for tedious manual logs. The system is also modular and can be equipped with several locker panels for securing and tracking assets like weapons, pepper spray, and radios. Just as with keys, the CO must log in and request the individual item. If they’re approved to access the item, the locker will unlock and open. Access to the lockers is also automatically logged, ensuring such assets are well accounted for and ultimately returned to where they belong. KeyTrak lets you know who checked out a key or asset, what they took, why they took it, and when they took it. In some ways, the Guardian is an ATM for keys and assets, restricting access 24/7/365 with a 100 percent accurate and verifiable audit trail. The Guardian helps prevent unavoidable human error by automatically logging every transaction. The audit trail ensures administrators or senior officers can quickly find out that a rookie CO didn’t return a key at the end of their shift and track it down. The system’s automatic nature also frees the key master to focus on other tasks rather than staying at a desk all day and night signing out keys on a paper log. When COs know their key activity is being logged or that a supervisor will be alerted when they don’t return a radio at the right time, they’re more likely to make sure those items are back in the system as soon as they’re done with them, says Robinson. “We realize how important it is to have effective control of keys, especially in our jails,” states Miami County (OH) Sheriff Dave Duchak. “Guardian has changed our facilities for the better.” Even with the best of systems, it’s inevitable that things do go wrong sometimes, and it is important to have a solid and experienced company to offer back up. Craftmaster details a scenario in which they had a prison call (they didn’t do the install) in which the facility experienced a power outage. “The locks that went into the prison were fail safe which means the doors opened when power was lost. Imagine their surprise! The contractor chose the wrong lock, which worked fine as long as there was no power outage. We had to provide 50 fail secure locks immediately. We were able to secure that facility right away,” notes Hannan. % VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Seeing is Believing
BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Body-worn camera footage is increasingly taking on an important role in uncovering the truth.
WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF
COVID,
FEW TOPICS HAVE DRAWN MORE
MEDIA ATTENTION THIS PAST YEAR THAN BODY-WORN CAMERAS
(BWCS) AND THE EVENTS THAT THEY CAPTURED. FOOTAGE FROM MINNEAPOLIS, BROOKLYN CENTER, COLUMBUS, CHICAGO, AND ELIZABETH CITY HAS BEEN AWASH ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS. T H E FOOTAGE SEEMS TO BE COMING IN DAILY, AND WHAT EVERYONE ON ALL SIDES WANTS FROM IT IS SIMPLE: THE TRUTH. Studies have shown that BWCs in law enforcement can increase accountability and decrease complaints against law enforcement. Body cams have also been gaining traction in correctional facilities. In 2016, the Atlanta Department of Corrections became the first detention center to use BWCs when they adopted the use of Utility BodyWorn TM cameras in order to maintain transparent operations. In March 2021, after reviewing dozens of complaints submitted by inmates and disability rights lawyers representing inmates, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ordered 30 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
surveillance cameras to be installed at five California prisons ruling that “body cameras are likely to improve investigations of misconduct by staff and to reduce the incidence of violations of disabled inmates’ rights.” While the intention of using BWCs can be the same for correctional officers and police officers (transparency, documentation, lowering complaints, protecting officers and citizens), there are differences to consider. Correctional work is restricted to a private rather than a public arena and is less likely to be recorded on smart phones the
way events involving police are. BWCs can provide evidence that can be used for prosecution, intelligence gathering, and as a deterrent of negative behavior by staff and inmates. They can also protect correctional officers from inmate complaints before they escalate to lawsuits. There are also concerns such as privacy. When on patrol, police officers are recording in public areas in which privacy is not expected. Prisons, though, are an inmate’s home, and despite that courts have ruled certain elements of privacy are not to be expected, officers patrol showers and bathrooms, are involved in strip searches, and discuss delicate matters such as sexual assault. Furthermore, the footage captured of the workings of a facility could be obtained and used for escape or other nefarious uses. A segment by Minnesota Public Radio pointed out that the Washington County Sheriff's
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Body Cameras by Retired COPS Model Name: Weight: Battery life: Field of vision: Recording length: Image quality: GPS feature: Infrared capability: Tamper proof: DER/MS*: Evidence software compatibility: WiFi: Bluetooth: Cloud based: Other: Contact info: Email: Phone: Website:
The Shield Model HD Camera by Body Cameras by Retired COPS 127 Grams 12.5 Hours on Record at 1080P 30FPS 140 Degree wide angle view Approximately 8 straight hours Variable 1080P is preferred Yes Yes Interior tamperproof 32 GB Chip Waterproof IP66 Yes No No No External Hard Drive Video Retention Bill Martin wmartin885@yahoo.com 805.795.1548 www.bodycamerasupply.org
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard
Office is a rare system that equips both deputies and jail staff with body cameras, but the video they record is subject to different laws. The current law specifies how footage from “peace officers” is regulated, but not specifically footage captured by corrections officers. If a correctional facility is to use BWCs, PowerDMS, an
Orlando-based policy management solution, offers best practices for body BWC policy in corrections that begins with comprehensive policies and training, and officers need to be absolutely clear about how and when to use them. Policies should balance the interests of both officers and inmates. They further that facilities should consult with experts
Equature Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 Equature Nomad Enabled Weight: 235g (8.3 oz) Battery life: 3240mAh battery At least 14 hours with a normal amount of recording Field of vision: 140 degrees Recording length: Unlimited. System automatically uploads to the cloud Image quality: 1080p GPS feature: Yes, real-time and Retroactive Infrared capability: No
Tamper proof:
Model Name:
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DER/MS*: Evidence software compatibility: WiFi: Bluetooth: Cloud based: Other: Contact info: Email: Phone: Website:
to help develop the policy and have legal consultants and SMEs assist in creating policies that protect both officers and inmates. They should also develop a comprehensive training program that covers every aspect of use from how to operate the devices to tagging and storing footage. Those policies should be continuously improved upon as technology, laws, and facilities evolve. Adopting the use of BWCs can be a costly undertaking and not something to be taken lightly. In December 2019, the Ramsey County (Minnesota) Board approved roughly $1.4 million to fund the cameras, equipment, storage and personnel for the Ramsey County jail. Following are some options of BWCs available to correctional systems. % Yes, encrypted by 256-bit encryption in transit and at rest IP68/Mil 810G
Yes, Equature Viewpoint Yes Yes Yes In-house storage capable as well. Scott Schram sschram@equature.com 248.359.8240 www.equature.com
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021 31
Motorola Solutions Model Name: Weight: Battery life:
Motorola Solutions V300 6.8 oz (192.8 g) Varies depending on features enabled Typical 12 hours Field of vision: 130° horizontal, 73° vertical (adjustable + 15° and - 20°) Recording length: 23 hours @ 1080p, 46 hours @ 720p, 114 hours @ 480p Image quality: Configurable, 1080p, 720p or 480p GPS feature: Yes (configurable) Infrared capability: No Tamper proof: Yes. DER/MS*: Yes: MIL-STD 810G, IP67 ingress protection Evidence software compatibility: Evidence Library on-premises/cloud, or CommandCentral Evidence WiFi: Yes Bluetooth: Yes Cloud based: Yes (on-premises optional) Other: Field-swappable battery. Companion smartphone app available. Integrated with in-car video systems and APX two-way radios Contact info: www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/contactus.html Phone: 888.325.9336 Website: www.motorolasolutions.com *Durable-environmental rating/Military standard
i-PRO Model Name: Weight: Battery life:
BWC4000 6.0 oz 12-hour Field-Swappable
Field of vision:
[16:9 Mode] Horizontal: 137 ° Vertical: 79 ° (Diagonal: 157°) [4:3 Mode] Horizontal: 115 ° Vertical: 87 ° (Diagonal: 143°) Recording length: Up to 60 hours of video recording using 128GB internal storage Image quality:
[16:9] 1080P / 720P / 360P, [4:3] 1200P / 960P / 480P
GPS feature:
GPS Location Tagging and Time Sync
Infrared capability: Tamper proof:
No, Low Light Sensitivity 0.08lx Color Media Password Protection / 256AES
32 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
DER/MS*:
Rugged IP67 and MIL-STD810H Architecture
Evidence software compatibility: WiFi: Bluetooth: Cloud based:
Contact info: Email: Phone: Website:
Full Chain of Custody Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Embedded Bluetooth LE V4.1 Cloud storage available through our CloUDE powered by Genetec solution Lisa Cayce i-PROPublicSafety@us. panasonic.com 224.230.1073 i-pro.com/bwc4000
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard
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Sentinel Camera Systems Model Name: Weight: Battery life: Field of vision: Recording length:
Image quality:
GPS feature: Infrared capability: Tamper proof: DER/MS*: Evidence software compatibility:
Protector II Camera 160g (5.64 oz.) 9 hours Wide angle 140 degrees Continuous: 9 hours with fully charged battery, IR closed, resolution ratio 1920 x 1080 Video Resolution2560 x 1440 30p / 1920 x 1080 30p / 1280 x 720 30p / Live Streaming Resolution1280 x 720 x 30p Yes Yes Yes Waterproof IP67
WiFi: Bluetooth: Cloud based:
Sentinel Data Management (SDM) cloud-based storage solutions and management services are available. SDM’s proprietary scalable software may be modified to fit certain individual end user’s requirements. Yes No Yes
Contact info: Email: Phone: Website:
David Wasserstrom info@sentinelcamerasystems.com 215.635.3770 www.sentinelcamerasystems.com
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard
Visual Labs, Inc. Model Name: Android Smartphone Weight: 7 ounces +/Battery life: 12-14 hours average Field of vision: 120 to 135 degrees Recording length: > 24 hours Image quality: Configurable Generally 720p or 1080p GPS feature: Yes Infrared capability: Optional Tamper proof: Yes DER/MS*: IP68 and MIL-STD-810G Evidence software compatibility: Yes WiFi: Yes Bluetooth: Yes VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Cloud based: Other: Solution
Yes Smartphone Body Camera
Contact info: Email: Phone: Website:
Alexander Popof alp@visuallabsinc.com 818.919.9802 www.visuallabsinc.com
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard
CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021 33
Utility, Inc.
PRO-VISION Video Systems
Model Name: BodyWorn Weight: 10.8 oz Battery life: 10-15 hours w/ prerecord Field of vision: 90, 120, 140 degree options Recording length: Image quality: 720P or 1080P GPS feature: Yes Infrared capability: Tamper proof: Yes DER/MS*: -10c to 55c/ dust/water ingress IP52/drop test MIL-STD 810,516 Evidence software compatibility: WiFi: Yes Bluetooth: Yes Cloud based: Yes
Model Name: Battery life: Field of vision: Recording length:
Contact info: Email: Phone: Website:
Jaime Bristol Jbristol@utility.com 800.597.4707 www.bodyworn.com
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard
Bodycam 4 14+ Hours Continuous 140 degrees Dependent on recording settings. Internal storage is 64 GB. Image quality: Up to 1440p HD GPS feature: Integrated GPS coordinates stamped on video files & metadata Infrared capability: No Tamper proof: Yes, non-removable storage & AES-256 Encryption DER/MS*: IP68 waterproof rating/ MIL-STD-801G rated Evidence software compatibility: Yes, with SecuraMax Evidence Management Software WiFi: No Bluetooth: No Cloud based: Camera: No; SecuraMax Evidence Management Software: Yes Contact info: Email: Phone: Website:
Sentinel PRESTIGE Model Name: Weight: Battery life: Field of vision: Recording length: Image quality:
GPS feature: Infrared capability: Tamper proof: DER/MS*:
Prestige II 4.6 oz./130 grams Continuous video recording for up to 13 hours 140 degree wide angle 12 hours at 1080P @30fps; 13 hours at 720P @30fps 34M (7808x4392); 23M (6400x3600); Image Resolution18M (5632x3168) 13M (4800x2700); 9M (4032x2268); 6M (3200X1800); 4M (2688X1512 Yes Infrared LED Up to 15 Meters Working Range Yes IP66
34 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
Pro-Vision Law Enforcement Division marketing@ provisionusa.com 800.576.1126 www.provisionusa.com
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard
Evidence software compatibility:
WiFi: Bluetooth: Cloud based: Contact info: Email: Phone: Website: tems.com
Sentinel Data Management (SDM) cloud-based storage solutions and management services are available. SDM’s proprietary scalable software may be modified to fit certain individual end user’s requirements. Yes No Yes David Wasserstrom info@sentinel camerasystems.com 215.635.3770 www.sentinelcamerasys-
*Durable-environmental rating/Military standard VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
BY DONNA ROGERS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Law & Order How software and hi-tech peripherals streamline the commissary process. Card is placed on reader from Microtronic US Cashless Solutions to vend items, ensuring inmates have no cash, thus eliminating machine jams and contraband.
he prison commissary is no longer a “brown bag” operation. With sales estimated in the neighborhood of $2 billon, it is big business. More frequently, those inside are expected to buy more to offset the cost of their prison stay, so in addition to buying snack foods and drinks, they are buying clothing, personal hygiene items, over-the-counter meds, electronics, educational courses and even games and electronic messaging services. In 2016 the Prison Policy Initiative estimated that an average incarcerated person spent nearly $1,000 per year in the commissary.
T
36 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
In addition, during the past year the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the inmate purchasing system. While visitors could not come in person to add money to inmate’s accounts, vendors also experienced supply chain holdups, causing backlogs. Because manufacturers were closed, suppliers couldn’t obtain the products they needed, leading to shortages. To meet the growing and increasingly complicated—and remote—ordering and funding process, companies have developed or enhanced software and automation to streamline the commissary operation. Using banking software and kiosk hard-
ware eases the process and leaves the corrections officer and upper management out of the equation, saving manpower and ensuring accuracy for the accounting personnel and auditing process. CF spoke with some vendors to discover how they met the challenge. The first solution is from Stellar Services, LLC. Founded 20 years ago by Ed and Patty Bierer, the firm provides a full service commissary, including its Lockdown Banking Software. At its core is a Microsoft SQL server for file management, which provides powerful reporting power, says Ed Bierer, owner and president. The program offers not only the software, but a reverse
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ATM for family and friends in the lobby and a Money Manager kiosk in the booking area, so that COs don’t need to deal with collecting cash. Importantly the software is programmed in plain language so anyone can understand it, yet it also stores data in a way that makes it easy for accountants and auditors to
inmate phone vendors, thus also eliminating the need for staff to sell and handle paper phone cards. “Our Commissary Phone Ordering interface also allowed the inmates to hear their balance, their debt and any past transactions which further eased the burden on the jail staff,” Bierer says. Besides introducing
The Money Manager from Stellar Services, LLC, is a kiosk placed in the booking area, so that COs don’t need to deal with collecting cash.
extract the information they need, he details. The system is a night and day improvement from the days of the old paper forms and ten keying in orders or scanning in bubble sheets. In exchange for allowing incarcerated people to make a free call to the prison phone servers, Stellar designed a system that allowed inmates to purchase phone debit time from 38 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
the phone ordering system, “We also have worked at providing pod kiosk systems where inmates can order their commissary products, review their accounts, place inquiries, place grievances, view jail handbooks or place a PREA complaint and review PREA standards. “It is our belief that commissary should never become an issue that upper management has to deal
with,” Bierer asserts. “Putting a candy bar into a bag or handling an inmate’s money should not ever become an issue. These are processes that need to happen daily, without creating a headache for your staff or the facility.” To ensure this never happens, Bierer furthers, a commissary company must have the support and knowledge to see that issues are handled completely and in compliance with all jail policies and procedures. In fact, Stellar Services offers a training program in which its applications staff interacts with corrections staff to learn firsthand their needs. He says his staff learns the processes and procedures within the facility and can build the support to match the customer’s operations. Another solution, a contactless RFID reader system that works with virtually any MDB vending machine—offering both offline and online systems—is offered by Microtronic US Cashless Solutions, Inc. MDB, or multi drop bus, refers to a connection technology for peripheral devices (coin validators, banknote readers, etc.), which is the international standard electrical interface. Contactless vending payment systems enable those with outdated or “end-of-life” systems to seamlessly migrate to Microtronic’s state-of-the-art payment system, details Terri StarnesBryant, president. “Using RFID MIFARE microchip technology with our MDB reader allows offline or online transaction systems within an existing vending bank with complete security. Offline systems are more prevalent in corrections institutions, she adds. Visitor vending is more widely used at this time to keep all forms of cash out of the offender population as contraband, details Starnes-Bryant. Visitors come into a facility and purchase a re-loadable card; they then load value using our Cash Loading Station (credit and debit is available where approved), up to a set amount agreed upon by the vend-
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ing operator and facility management, she says. Once they go into visitation, our card is the only item allowed through security. Our readers are the only payment system on each machine. The technology used is called MIFARE, she explains, and it utilizes a Read/Write between the card and the reader. Once a selection has been made, the reader deducts the amount from the card and the vend is processed. Of further assistance, she reports, “If the vending machine has ‘Sure Vend’ technology and the product does not drop, our Antenna will begin flashing to indicate that the user should place their card back and receive an instant refund.” As for security, it provides AES and DES/Triple-DES encryption standards, as well as an older proprietary encryption algorithm, Crypto-1. In order to communicate with commissary software, she says, “We offer a Software Development Kit for independent systems to integrate with ours. We are currently integrated with A-T-G and open to integration with others.” A kiosk is often used within a Trust Accounting System, she furthers, to allow offenders to transfer funds from their accounts to their card and then back again, if desired, utilizing a “self-service” operation to allow elimination of staff interaction. Some locations also allow offenders to purchase other commissary items that are then delivered to them at a later date. In regards to visitation, the Loading Station could be considered a kiosk to allow only cash note loading, thus also simplifying and minimizing staff interaction in visitation. Change machines are eliminated and counting by staff is also eliminated. If a facility is using a different, obsolete card system, she notes that they have a Transfer Station that allows the balance from other system cards to be transferred seamlessly to their card, again eliminating the need
for staff interaction. Finally, she points out, sales at the facilities are typically higher due to preloaded cards and removal of coin and bill jams.
Meeting Challenges During the Pandemic “Covid and our pandemic created a nightmare for keeping supply chains full,” says Bierer. “Stellar Services has had to expand the number of suppliers by threefold in order to keep most of our product available for sale. Many offices have been shut down and as of today over 30% of the vending customers are still either working from home or had their businesses shut down.
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“Although we have had some shortages we are supplying over 95% of products every day to our customer base, but our labor to procure those products has increased dramatically,” he points out. To overcome some of these challenges, Stellar Services “pushed more of our facilities to sign up for our web ordering, and many have. This has allowed more family and friends to purchase products for their incarcerated loved ones without visiting the facility.” He furthers: The best way to streamline your commissary process is having your commissary company do the delivery to the inmates. Stellar Services offers
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The Stellar Teller saves hundreds of hours per year by allowing family members to make instant deposits to an inmate’s trust fund account. A Lobby ATM kiosk is available that is fully integrated with the firm’s Lockdown software.
this service to many of its customers and in this process the inmate orders through a phone or kiosk, the orders are processed by Stellar Services and the firm’s staff comes and delivers to the inmate, handling any issues without staff involvement. Alternately, in other customer facilities inmates place their orders, and Stellar processes and packages individual orders and ships them to the facility. “Stellar Services has invested heavily into a warehouse packaging system that keeps our packing error rate at under 0.3 percent, Bierer outlines, “which is far below the industry standard of 2 percent.”
Choosing Banking Software On a final note, says Bierer, the software that you decide to put into your facility is a big decision. “Making sure that your officers and jail staff receive the training they need to operate the system without creating issues is a large undertaking.” Family and friends need to be able to come to the facility and make deposits easily without bothering staff and must be able to go to the web and do the same thing. It’s also important to have the money coming into the facility in a real-time environment and not wait hours for a batch process to run. “Live time software is also important when doing items like paying for a bond. Moving the inmate in and out of the facility as fast as possible is important to the both the inmate and the staff. Live time interfaces with Lockdown make this possible.” % For further information: Terri Starnes-Bryant, president of Microtronic US, 1.800.879.3586, tsbryant@microtronicus.com, www.MicrotronicUS.com Ed Bierer, owner and president of Stellar Services, LLC, 1.866.320.4200, ebierer@stellar-services.net, www.stellar-services.net
40 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
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AD INDEX Page No.
AUTOCLEAR/Control Screening ....................8 Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp. ...........15 Bob Barker....................43 Centurion .......................2 Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc...................40 Compliant Technologies .............21 Correctional Cable TV ..17 Damascus Protective Gear.............................8 Drugloo ..........................9 Institutional Eye Care ...42 Jones-Zylon Co. ............27 Keefe Group .................44 Keytrak, Inc................6,23 Medi-Dose Company...........6,11,28 Microtronic US .............39 Pellerin Milnor..............25 Sentinel Camera Systems .....................42 ShawnTech .....................5 StunCuff Enterprises, Inc. ........19 TrinityServices Group, Inc. ................13 Union Supply Group ....35 Vistar Corporate ...........29 Western Union .............37 Wexford Health Sources ........................7 This advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers only. The publisher does not assume liability for errors or omissions.
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Continued from page 16 flammable. If such a mattress is subject to vandalism, it can easily allow flammable material to be exposed. Since it can be anticipated that vandalism of mattresses is a certainty within cell walls, sole reliance on 16 CFR 1633 is a serious fire safety hazard to all inmates and personnel, as well as to the building itself. In another tragedy, two incarcerated people at a Western Alaska jail died when they could not escape the building during a fire. The responsibility to avoid such tragedy by specifying a satisfactory level of fire-performance typically falls upon corrections personnel. Many unknowingly, however, defer to minimum mattress requirements under federal law and building codes, or do not specify any details, which in turn defaults to the minimum standard. The use of detention-specific fire-performance testing is the only way to properly evaluate the actual fire-resistance of mattresses and mattress cushioning. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1870, titled Selection of Fire Test Methods for the Assessment of Upholstered Furnishings in Detention and Correctional Facilities provides a standard guide containing fire test methods for confinement facilities. A particular useful tool within this ASTM guide is the “roll test” which involves a complete mattress or mattress insert, rolled and secured to create a “chimney” effect. Eight double sheets of crumpled newspaper are then inserted into the “chimney” and ignited from the top with a match or lighter. Further, two standards, The National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) and the International Fire Code (IFC), contain widely used safety requirements, including the fire performance of confinement mattresses. Both organizations utilize ASTM F1870 and
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the roll test procedure as options for testing mattresses intended for correction facilities. Fiber-type mattresses that easily comply with the 16 CFR Part 1633 federal regulation typically perform poorly when assessed by the roll test. Synthetic fiber mattresses often burn profusely, emitting thick, black smoke and melt into a mass of molten plastic material, that, once cooled, could also be utilized as a weapon. Fire-retardant cotton or compressed recycled cotton and denim fiber blends often burn and smolder for an extended period of time while emitting volumes of thick, black smoke. To the contrary, various fireresistant foam mattresses, when subjected to the roll test, perform in stark contrast to the fiber cushioning tests. Comprising polychloroprene compound (Neoprene) cushioning, this type of foam cushioning has often been utilized in side-by-side testing comparisons with alternative products to showcase vast differences in fire performance. Indeed, in the detention-specific roll test, highly fire-resistant foam cushioning does not melt, drip or ignite, and selfextinguishes once the fuel source (newspaper) has burned away. In sum, mattresses are generally the largest fuel source within a cell. Choosing the appropriate level of fire safety for occupants is usually the responsibility of facility administration. Demanding detention-specific tests such as those available within ASTM F1870, in conjunction with proper fire-performance criteria, will best ensure protection from mattress fires that are disruptive, an extreme liability and pose serious risk to inmates and staff. Content provided by Alicia Dixon, senior marketing coordinator with Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc. For further information email: adixon@chestnutridgefoam.com or visit www.crfoam.com. CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021 41
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42 CORRECTIONS FORUM • MAY/JUNE 2021
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