Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating family communications in a controlled-environment facility. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving a request for an electronic communication between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, identifying that the non-resident is the resident's child or parent and, in response to the identification, enabling a family counseling provider to access the electronic communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods for proactively establishing a third-party payment account for services rendered to a resident of a controlled-environment facility (“CEF”). A campaign-triggering event is detected, which triggers contact of prospective third-party (“3rd-party”) payers for a resident of a CEF in order to encourage such prospective 3rd-party payers to establish 3rd-party payment accounts for the resident. In this manner, the prospective 3rd-party payers are proactively contacted prior to an expected future demand for service by the resident. A method thus comprises identifying at least one prospective third-party payer for a resident of a controlled-environment facility, and proactively contacting the identified at least one prospective third-party payer prior to demand for service by the resident to encourage the identified at least one prospective third-party payer to establish a third-party payment account for payment for future service expected for the resident.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described relating to detection of audio of voice communications from different reference points containing an identical conversation or portion of a conversation. A method can use an analytics module operating on at least one processor. Call signatures of a plurality of audio of voice communications are received. An index loaded with the call signatures is created, where segments of the call signatures are associated with buckets of the index. A first subset of one or more of the buckets associated with a number of the segments that exceeds a threshold is identified. An identical conversation portion in two or more of the plurality of audio of voice communications is identified based on a second subset of one or more of the buckets, where the first subset of one or more of the buckets is disregarded.

Abstract: A multi-party conversation analyzer and logger uses a variety of techniques including spectrographic voice analysis, absolute loudness measurements, directional microphones, and telephonic directional separation to determine the number of parties who take part in a conversation, and segment the conversation by speaking party. In one aspect, the invention monitors telephone conversations in real time to detect conditions of interest (for instance, calls to non-allowed parties or calls of a prohibited nature from prison inmates). In another aspect, automated prosody measurement algorithms are used in conjunction with speaker segmentation to extract emotional content of the speech of participants within a particular conversation, and speaker interactions and emotions are displayed in graphical form.

Abstract: A controlled environment facility resident may initiate submission of data to a controlled-environment facility management system using a resident media device, and some time thereafter, access to the resident media device may be restricted by the controlled-environment facility management system to submission of data, until the resident completes submission of all data required for the submission. A controlled-environment facility management system may present a controlled-environment facility resident a data collection task to be completed by the resident and may restrict access to the resident media device in an escalating manner, until the resident completes the data collection task. The controlled-environment facility management system may also request further data from the resident, in response to the resident submitting initial data and may again restrict access to the resident media device in an escalating manner, unßtil the resident completes submission of further data.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention facilitates the investigation of networks of criminals, by gathering associations between phone numbers, the names of persons reached at those phone numbers, and voice print data. In another aspect the invention automatically detects phone calls from a prison where the voiceprint of the person called matches the voiceprint of a past inmate. In another aspect the invention detects identity scams in prisons, by monitoring for known voice characteristics of likely imposters on phone calls made by prisoners. In another aspect, the invention automatically does speech-to-text conversion of phone numbers spoken within a predetermined time of detecting data indicative of a three-way call event while monitoring a phone call from a prison inmate. In another aspect, the invention automatically thwarts attempts of prison inmates to use re-dialing services.

Abstract: An inbound call connection request may be received from a non-resident, directed to a controlled-environment facility resident and/or the resident's device. A determination may be made that a calling account of the resident does not have sufficient funds to pay for the inbound call, whereupon a message may be provided to the non-resident offering billing options, including at least a wireless carrier billing option, to complete the call connection. The call may be connected with the resident device in response to a determination a calling account of the inmate has sufficient funds to pay for the call or acceptance of one of the payment methods by the non-resident, along with authentication that the non-resident is associated with an address identifier (AID) of the resident device, and verification that the resident operating the device is associated with the AID of the device.

Abstract: In systems and methods for inbound phone or video calling to intelligent controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices utilizing inbound calling subscriptions, each inbound calling account associates a non-resident with an address identifier of a controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications device. An authenticating server, or the like validates, and re-validates identification of the non-resident associated with each inbound calling account at a predetermined time interval for each inbound calling account.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices may receive, via the device, data associated with the resident operating the device. Authentication of the resident operating the device may be verified as associated with an address identifier of the device and it may be confirmed that an inbound calling non-resident is associated with the address identifier. A notification of the inbound call may then be sent to the device, and the same or other data associated with the resident operating the device may be received, via the device. Authentication of the resident operating the device as a resident as associated with an address identifier may be re-verified using the same or other data and the call connected as a result of the verification, confirmation and/or re-verification.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated network devices utilizing low-power technologies are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving, over one or more pairs of low-voltage wires (e.g., telephone wires, intercom wires, security system wiring, etc.), an electrical current sufficient to power an electronic device disposed within a controlled-environment facility (e.g., a jail, prison, etc.). The method may also include performing an electronic operation within the facility and transmitting, to a communication system serving the facility over the low-voltage wire(s), information related to the operation. In some implementations, the electronic device may be a mobile phone detection apparatus, a wireless access point, and/or a surveillance device. The method may also include, during a first time interval, using the electrical current to store a charge in a battery, and, during a second time interval, using the current in addition to the charge stored in the battery to perform the operation.

Abstract: An infrared image and/or a video of one or more residents of a controlled-environment facility is captured using an imaging device of a controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device disposed within the controlled-environment facility when the device is not being used in a communication session. The imaging device of the controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device is capable of operation with an infrared light source. The infrared image or video may be stored and/or presented to an entity associated with the controlled-environment facility, such as personnel of the facility, a facility administration system, etc. Capturing the image may include turning on at least one infrared light source on the device and/or turning off any indication that the capturing is taking place. The device may be located in a resident sleeping area and a bed check may be performed by the entity or device, using the infrared image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creation of a device identity (ID) for mobile communications devices may capture equipment identification information and subscriber identification information for mobile communications devices and combine them to create a device identity for each pairing of equipment identification information and subscriber identification information captured. Such mobile communications devices, may be operating in association with a controlled-environment facility and the equipment identification information and subscriber identification information are captured by a controlled-environment facility mobile communications managed access system (central access point) and/or by a controlled-environment facility contraband mobile communications device assessment system (access point(s)).

Abstract: An automated system is disclosed for detecting situations in which identical segments of conversation appear within two different recordings. The system automatically detects where within each of two audio recordings an identical conversation segment begins and ends, thus enabling detection of conversations where multiple prison inmates participated in a conference call.

Abstract: A controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device enables a controlled-environment facility resident to carry-out one task on the device, and provides a visual indication, to the resident, that an overt image and/or video is being captured during this task. Conversely, a covert image and/or video of a user is captured while the controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device is in use for another task, without providing the user the same or other visual indication that the covert image is being captured.

Abstract: Embodiments receive an indication of initiation of communication from a controlled-environment facility resident, using a communications device, with another controlled-environment facility resident. A determination is made whether the residents are allowed to communicate and the communication is established between the communications device and another communications device in use by the other resident. The residents may be residents of different or the same controlled-environment facility(ies). The communication may be monitored and/or a database of residents that communicate with one another may be compiled. The communication between the controlled-environment facility residents may proceed, even despite a determination or predetermination that the residents are not allowed to communicate with one another, so the communication may be monitored.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide availability of information on a network wide basis, with the network or information technology (IT) fabric spanning a wide range of institutions and other sources of information, including correctional facilities, without regard to which jurisdiction the source of information belongs, e.g. police, courts, federal investigation agencies, public databases etcetera. Embodiments provide an electronic based capability to identify useful information and for locating, collecting, compiling, aggregating, distilling, and/or reporting robust data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are shown which provide processor-based self-service systems for use with respect to controlled environment facilities. Embodiments provide processor-based self-service systems having robust input/output capabilities in order to support a wide range of functionality. Processor-based self-service systems of embodiments are adapted to be deployed within a controlled environment facility, such as within a lobby area, a holding area, and/or a restricted area of a controlled environment facility. According to embodiments, processor-based self-service systems are used with respect to a plurality of functions and a plurality of users, thereby processing a variety of information associated with a controlled environment facility. Embodiments operate to aggregate, compile, correlate, and link information to provide data heretofore unavailable from separate or manual systems used with respect to controlled environment facilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling communications using temperature and/or Radio Frequency (RF) signals are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include determining whether a user operating a communications device has at least temporarily transferred at least partial control of the communications device to another user based, at least in part, upon a change in at least one of: a temperature or an RF signal sensed at the communications device. The method may also include controlling an aspect of a communication conducted via the communications device based, at least in part, upon the determination.

Abstract: Providing video visitation with cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individuals may call for limiting functionality of a personal cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individual communication and/or media device, such as by an operating system of the personal device. The personal device may play audio and video, accept video communications in response to touching of a screen of the personal device, and establish a video communication in response to such touching of the screen. Providing the video visitation may also include receiving a request to initiate a video communication over the personal device with a cognitive and/or dexterity impaired individual, such as may be requested via a visitor communication and/or media device. Whereupon, an audible message may be played by the personal device, indicating the request, and the video communication between the personal device and the visitor device may be established in response to touching of the screen of the personal device.

Abstract: A controlled-environment facility communications management system, and/or the like, receives an indication of an electronic communication request with a telephone number initiated by, or to, a resident of a controlled environment facility. The controlled-environment facility communications management system, and/or the like, accesses a line information database and determines, based on the contents of the line information database, whether the telephone number is an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone number. The controlled-environment facility communications management system, and/or the like, takes action with respect to the electronic communication in response to identification of the telephone number as an IP telephone number.