Abstract: Systems and methods provide a resident of a controlled-environment facility with a visitation service that include messaging capabilities, where the message are managed on behalf of the resident based on the visitation sessions in which the resident participates. In one scenario, the resident issues an initial visitation request for a visitation session with a particular non-resident. In response to the non-resident not accepting this initial visitation request, the resident is allowed to record and store a message, such as a voice message or video message, for retrieval and playback by the non-resident. At a later time, the resident issues a second visitation request for a visitation session with the same non-resident. The non-resident accepts the second request and the requested visitation session between the non-resident and the resident is conducted. In response to the visitation session being conducted, the stored message may be marked for deletion.

Abstract: Proactive multiple controlled-environment facility investigative data aggregation and analysis systems and methods may accept setup of alerts, each alert associated with particular data related to electronic communications, and each alert to be directed to at least one person not associated with the controlled-environment facility in which the communication originated, in which a particular resident associated with the electronic communication resides, and/or the like. Captured data related to electronic communications associated with each of a plurality of residents is received and/or retrieved and the at least one person not associated with the controlled-environment facility is alerted when the particular data related to electronic communications is received or retrieved with respect to a particular electronic communication.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide for systems and methods for converting a community device to a personal device. A personalization option is selected on a portable computing device. A device management server is queried to verify that a specific individual has authorization to personalize the portable computing device. If authorization is confirmed, the portable computing device is configured so that only credentials for the specific individual can be used to access the portable computing device. Authorization may include verifying that the specific individual has sufficient funding and/or verifying that a third party has provided funding for the specific individual. Restricted content is automatically downloaded onto the portable computing device as part of or following the personalization process.

Abstract: Controlled-environment facility resident electronic communications for controlled-environment facility resident communications and/or data devices disposed within a controlled-environment facility may employ a controlled-environment facility communications processing system, or the like. The controlled-environment facility communications processing system, may be configured to host controlled-environment facility communications access services and accept a Cross-Origin Request Sharing (CORS) request from a non-resident device. These CORS requests may be for access to the controlled-environment facility communications access services for use by a controlled-environment facility communications Application Program Interface (API) running on the non-resident device to communicate with one of the controlled-environment facility resident devices.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and systems for regulating the use of virtual reality environments provided to residents of controlled-environment facilities. In response to a request for virtual reality programs from an inmate, the privilege status of the inmate is used to determine the available virtual environments in which the inmate may participate. The participation of the inmate within a virtual reality session may be restricted based on the privilege status of the inmate. Any limitations on an inmate's participation within an approved virtual environment may be enforced by restricting the behavior of an avatar representing the inmate within the virtual environment. The privilege status of inmates may be used to enforce restrictions that prohibit contact between certain inmates or certain classifications of inmates. The participation of inmates may be restricted and terminated based on a measured physiological responses to the inmate's participation in a virtual environment.

Abstract: An investigative system uses positioning information, such as global position system information, from a non-resident device used for communication with a correctional facility inmate. Therein, a correctional facility communications application program upon installation on a non-resident communication device, prompts the non-resident to grant a waiver for an investigative data aggregation and analysis system associated with at least one correctional facility to access positioning information provided by the non-resident communication device, and prompts the non-resident to grant location reporting permission on the non-resident communication device, prior to use of the non-resident communication device to communicate with a correctional facility inmate. The investigative data aggregation and analysis system, thereafter, captures position data collected by the non-resident communication device.

Abstract: A private digitized, decentralized, and distributed controlled-environment facility ledger is created using a genesis hash and wallet code assigned to a controlled-environment facility resident upon intake of the resident into the facility. In response to an occurrence of a first controlled-environment facility transaction with respect to the resident, a first new hash containing a cryptographic hash of the genesis hash is built, and the ledger is updated to reflect the first transaction, and to associate the first new hash with the first transaction, both with respect to the resident. Thereafter, subsequent new hashes, each containing a cryptographic hash from each prior hash, are each built in response to each subsequent controlled-environment facility transaction with respect to the resident, and the ledger is updated to reflect each subsequent transaction, and associate each subsequent new hash with the respective subsequent transaction, both with respect to the resident.

Abstract: A controlled-environment facility and/or communications management system interface accepts definition of a digital bulletin board message directed to at least one controlled-environment facility resident, accepts assignment of a priority for displaying the digital bulletin board message on the digital bulletin board and a schedule for display of the digital bulletin board message and accepts assignment of the digital bulletin board message to controlled-environment resident communication and/or media device(s) disposed in the controlled-environment facility. The digital bulletin board message(s) are received by the controlled-environment resident communication and/or media device(s) to which the digital bulletin board message is assigned, and are displayed by the controlled-environment resident communication and/or media device(s) to which the digital bulletin board message(s) are assigned, in accordance with the assigned priority and the schedule for display of the digital bulletin board message(s).

Abstract: A system for contraband device identification and alerting is disclosed. The system comprises a wireless signal detection system configured to identify signals from an unauthorized wireless device, and an alert module configured to generate notifications when an unauthorized wireless device is detected. The unauthorized wireless device is operating within a designated or controlled area. The designated area may overlap a controlled-environment facility and the wireless device is contraband within the controlled-environment facility. The alerting system may include a speaker, wherein the notifications comprise an audible message broadcast via the speaker. The alerting system may include one or more lights, wherein the notifications comprise illuminating the light. The notifications may also comprise one or more of a call, email, audible or visual alert, vibration and text that are sent to a designated individual.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing emergency communications within controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include providing a communication platform. The communication platform may be configured to, in a first mode of operation, enable communications between devices (e.g., telephones, etc.) operated by residents (e.g., inmates, etc.) of a controlled environment facility (e.g., jail, prison, etc.) and devices (e.g., telephones, etc.) operated by non-residents of the controlled environment facility. The method may also include switching the communication platform from the first mode of operation to an emergency mode of operation. In the emergency mode of operation, the communication platform may be configured to enable an emergency communication from a first device operated by a resident of the controlled environment facility to a second device controlled by emergency response personnel (e.g., hostage negotiator, counselor, police officer, etc.).

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating using both radio frequency (RF) communication and light communication (LC) are disclosed. An example device comprises radio frequency communication circuitry, a light communication transmitter; a light communication receiver; a processor for controlling the device according to executable code; and memory for storing data and executable code, wherein the executable code comprises instructions for causing the processor to establish RF communication with an RF access point using the RF communication circuitry; and to establish LC communication with an LC access point using the LC transmitter, the LC receiver, or both.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing privileged communications in a controlled-environment facility are disclosed. A privileged communication is received from a user via an online portal, wherein the user having been previously confirmed as having a privileged relationship with a resident of the controlled-environment facility, transmitting the privileged communication to the resident in a manner that prevents inspection by controlled-environment facility staff, and notifying the user when the privileged communication has been accessed by the resident. The privileged communication may be one or more of a document, an image, a text message, an email, a voicemail, or any other electronic or digital communication.

Abstract: Two factor identification verification of controlled-environment facility residents and associated non-residents systems and methods capture, via a controlled-environment facility associated communications device, by a controlled-environment facility communications processing system, a first type of biometric sample of a user. The controlled-environment facility communications processing system submits the first type of biometric sample of the user to a centralized investigative data aggregation and analysis system, which verifies the user using the first type of biometric sample and determining. When the system(s) determine that a certainty of this resulting verification of the user does not meet a predetermined certainty threshold a second type of biometric sample of the user is captured and submitted for verification of the user.

Abstract: Dynamic controlled-environment facility resident communication allocation based on call volume may be implemented using a controlled-environment facility secure communication platform. The platform monitors controlled-environment facility resident call volume, recognizes an average call volume and detects an increase in call volume above the average call volume or a decrease in call volume below the average call volume. The platform automatically initiates a controlled-environment facility resident calling restriction in response to a detected increase in call volume or automatically initiates an increase in controlled-environment facility resident calling allocation in response to a detected decrease in call volume below the average call volume.

Abstract: In systems and methods that restrict a set of wireless headphones to use with a particular controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device, a controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device disposed within a controlled-environment facility wirelessly communicatively links a set of wireless headphones with the controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device. The controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device dedicates the set of wireless headphones to the controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device by restricting the set of wireless headphones to use with the controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or media device.

Abstract: Activity and aggression detection and monitoring in a controlled-environment facility includes gathering audio, video and/or telemetry input from one or more dedicated and/or ad hoc sensors disposed in portions of the controlled-environment facility. A baseline normal input level from each of the sensors indicative of normal activity in the controlled-environment facility (proximate to a subject sensor) is predetermined. A determination is then made whether the input from each of the sensors rises above or falls below the predetermined normal input level, and when it does, the sensor input of the subject sensor may be recorded. When input from a sensor rises above or falls below the predetermined normal input level, an alert may be issued to controlled-environment facility personnel and/or law enforcement, the input from the subject sensor may be streamed to the personnel, and/or a recording of the sensor input may be offered.

Abstract: Systems and methods for developing, deploying, and/or providing location-based controls for remote visitation in controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include identifying a request to establish a visitation session between a resident and a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the visitation session includes at least one of: a voice or a video call, and wherein the non-resident operates a mobile device; receiving spatial information of the mobile device; and applying a rule to the visitation session based upon the spatial information.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for controlling and incentivizing the use of software-based services that are made available to residents of controlled-environment facilities. Residents are assigned a communication device that is used to connect to a communication system provided to residents by a controlled-environment facility. Via the assigned communication device, the resident is provided with various software modules, such as visitation software, entertainment software and educational software. The provided software modules may designated as either incentivized or restricted. A restricted module, such as a visitation module or gaming module, is disabled until the resident has been authorized to use the module. The communication device is configured to track the resident's use of incentivized modules, such as education modules.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a network configured to support data, voice, and video communications and a docking station coupled to the network and configured to provide data connections to a personal computer wireless device, wherein the personal computer wireless device is configured to communicate with the docking station using light communication. A method for accessing the communication system comprises connecting a personal computer wireless device to a docking station using light communication and identifying a current location of the personal computer wireless device based upon LC with the docking station or an LC access point. One or more selected applications may be enabled or disabled on the personal computer wireless device based upon the current location.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing unauthorized inmate to inmate communications comprises establishing a video conferencing session between a first device and a second device. Video content is extracted from video conferencing session data received from the second device. One or more artifacts are identified in the video content. The artifacts indicate that a third device is a source of at least a portion of the video content. The artifacts comprise at least three layers of objects in the video content, wherein the layers are associated with different rates of variation in linear measurements of the objects. In other embodiments, multiple backgrounds are detected in the video conferencing session data.