Abstract: The invention includes delivering and monitoring digital content distributed to correctional facility inmates, giving supervisory authorities the ability to screen the incoming digital content. Digital content can include email, and stored and steamed video content, and can be scanned for keywords by supervisory authorities before delivery to an inmate. A computer kiosk can be used by inmates to view and record digital video content. A portable player is provided to inmates which can be used to play, and in some embodiments record, digital content. The player is issued to a particular inmate, and can only be used with respect to that particular inmate's digital content. The kiosk, and in some embodiments, the player, can be used to shop for items available at a store, for example a commissary.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an automated cutting tool that is configured to cut open nonuniform enclosures, such as cases containing electronic components. An example system comprises a multi-speed motor that is coupled to a cradle. The multi-speed motor rotates the cradle at a selected speed, and the cradle adapted to hold a case. A cutting head is positioned adjacent to the cradle and is configured to maintain contact with the case during rotation of the multi-speed motor. The multi-speed motor is configured to operate at a first speed when first segments of the case are in contact with the cutting head and to operate at a second speed when second segments of the case are in contact with the cutting head.

Abstract: Video communications of residents of a controlled-environment facility are monitored to detect instances of inappropriate behavior within the video, such as nudity. Residents may participate in live video visitation sessions with non-residents. Video recordings are generated for each video feed of the live video visitation. During the live video visitation, indications of inappropriate behavior displayed in the live video are detected. If indications of inappropriate behavior are detected in the live video, the recorded video is annotated to specify the locations of the detected indications in the recording. Upon completion of the video visitation session, post-processing of the recorded video detects additional indications of inappropriate behavior. The additional indications may be detected at proximal locations to the annotations and may be detected based on sampling frames of the recording to detect changes in the occurrence of pixels having a skin tone color.

Abstract: Controlled-environment facility contraband wireless communication device detection uses one or more controlled-environment facility communication and/or media devices that each include a radio frequency detection mechanism configured to detect presence of electromagnetic energy emissions in one or more frequency bands reserved for wireless communication by wireless communication devices. Each controlled-environment facility communication and/or media device reports detection of the presence of electromagnetic energy emissions in one or more frequency bands reserved for wireless communication by wireless communication devices to an investigative data aggregation and analysis system. The location of the reporting device(s) and/or signal strength of the emission(s) may be used by the investigative data aggregation and analysis system to determine a location, within the controlled-environment facility, of a contraband wireless communication device emitting the electromagnetic energy emissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to one or more media devices that may be shared among multiple users, such as multiple residents in a controlled-environment facility, are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes operating at least one computer system. Operating the at least one computer system includes checking out a media device. Checking out the media device comprises enabling the media device for use for a first duration of a first timer. Operating the at least one computer system further includes, upon expiration of the first duration of the first timer, disabling use of the media device, and checking in the media device. The media device is prohibited from being checked out for a second duration of a second timer.

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: 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: 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.