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: 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 which determines the likelihood that a calling (or in some cases the called) user will pay for a particular auxiliary service are described. A system of an embodiment considers the user's credit risk and his/her propensity to pay, when deciding if the user is eligible for a particular auxiliary service. A methodology used for determining propensity to pay for an auxiliary service according to embodiments is independent from a determination of propensity to pay for a basic calling service. Thus, the criteria used, and the weight given to each criteria, for determining eligibility for auxiliary services can be different from the criteria and criteria weight used for basic communication connections.

Abstract: Dissemination of information from a controlled environment facility employs facility information management functionality managing resident information and facility information, and call manager functionality selectively providing at least a portion of the resident information and/or the facility information to an outside party and/or professionals associated with the facility in an automated manner. The invention may employ outgoing IVR functionality to provide select portions of the resident information to appropriate professionals at the time of intake of a new resident. The invention may conduct a reverse auction among professionals offering a particular good or service, manage information related to providers of services or goods for residents of a facility, provide an outside party this information including results of a reverse auction, and notify a selected provider of selection of that provider by the outside party to provide goods or services for a resident.

Abstract: Systems and methods which determines the likelihood that a calling (or in some cases the called) user will pay for a particular auxiliary service are described. A system of an embodiment considers the user's credit risk and his/her propensity to pay, when deciding if the user is eligible for a particular auxiliary service. A methodology used for determining propensity to pay for an auxiliary service according to embodiments is independent from a determination of propensity to pay for a basic calling service. Thus, the criteria used, and the weight given to each criteria, for determining eligibility for auxiliary services can be different from the criteria and criteria weight used for basic communication connections.

Abstract: Systems and methods in which call intelligence, such as may be deployed in communication with signaling systems utilized in controlling calls and telecommunication databases, is used to analyze information about a call in order to make a determination as to the likelihood or risk that call redirecting, such as call forwarding or remote call forwarding, will be invoked with respect to a call are shown. The call intelligence, upon a determination that an unacceptable risk that call redirecting will be invoked, preferably institutes appropriate call treatment or handling procedures, such as to block the call or to allow the call while invoking additional call treatment action.

Abstract: Systems and methods which determines the likelihood that a calling (or in some cases the called) user will pay for a particular auxiliary service are described. A system of an embodiment considers the user's credit risk and his/her propensity to pay, when deciding if the user is eligible for a particular auxiliary service. A methodology used for determining propensity to pay for an auxiliary service according to embodiments is independent from a determination of propensity to pay for a basic calling service. Thus, the criteria used, and the weight given to each criteria, for determining eligibility for auxiliary services can be different from the criteria and criteria weight used for basic communication connections.

Abstract: Systems and methods which determines the likelihood that a calling (or in some cases the called) user will pay for a particular auxiliary service are described. A system of an embodiment considers the user's credit risk and his/her propensity to pay, when deciding if the user is eligible for a particular auxiliary service. A methodology used for determining propensity to pay for an auxiliary service according to embodiments is independent from a determination of propensity to pay for a basic calling service. Thus, the criteria used, and the weight given to each criteria, for determining eligibility for auxiliary services can be different from the criteria and criteria weight used for basic communication connections.

Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate wireless communications within a controlled environment in a controlled manner are shown. Embodiments operate to recognize wireless communications, whether voice, text, video, or data, terminating within a controlled environment facility and control one or more aspects of the communication using a call processing platform or other communication control system. In addition to providing a higher percentage of calls completed calls, embodiments of the invention provide improved investigatory tools for the controlled environment facility through controlling, monitoring, redirecting, and/or interrupting wireless communications. Embodiments deploy one or more wireless communication nodes in communication with a call processing platform operating in association with the controlled environment facility, such that wireless communications passing through the wireless communication nodes are subject to call processing by the call processing platform.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for processing alternatively billed telephone calls, such as, for example, collect calls and third party calls. In some representative embodiments, a method for completing an alternatively billed call between a calling party and a called party comprises establishing a calling party quality score and completing the alternatively billed call if the calling party quality score meets a threshold. In other representative embodiments, the method further comprises establishing a called party quality score and/or a third party quality score, combining the aforementioned quality scores, and completing the alternatively billed call if the combination of quality scores meets a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods which collect information regarding users of controlled environment visitation terminals for identification of one or more parties to a visitation conversation are shown. Identifying information may be provided by various means, such as entry of a PIN, RFID, biometrics, etcetera. Embodiments provide a closed circuit visitation communication system in which a single port of a communication control system is used with respect to a pair of visitation terminals. Embodiments operate to prevent communication between a resident of a controlled environment facility and a visitor while identifying information is collected and verified.

Abstract: Systems and methods providing radio frequency identification (RFID) of individuals, as may be implemented with respect to a controlled environment facility, using RFID transducer technology deployed in association with a user terminal, such as telephone or multimedia kiosk, are shown. Embodiments operate to identify residents of a controlled environment facility and control one or more transactions associated with the residents and/or actions of the residents using a RFID system in which a user presents a RFID transponder in proximity to a RFID transducer for identification. RFID tags of embodiments comprise data which identifies an individual, data which may be used to identify an individual, or a combination of both. RFID systems of embodiments are adapted to utilize existing communication links for identification of individuals using RFID and/or for controlling transactions, such as calls, using RFID.

Abstract: Systems and methods which facilitate wireless communications within a controlled environment in a controlled manner are shown. Embodiments operate to recognize wireless communications terminating within a controlled environment facility and control one or more aspects of the communications. Embodiments also operate to detect wireless devices disposed within a controlled environment facility and determine the location of the wireless devices. Embodiments deploy one or more wireless communication nodes in communication with an information processing platform operating in association with the controlled environment facility, such that wireless devices detected by the wireless communication nodes are located by the call processing platform and wireless communications passing through the wireless communication nodes are subject to call processing by the information processing platform.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide techniques providing account setup, management and transaction authorization determinations in real-time using transaction interrupt messaging. Embodiments preferably take into consideration the quality of one or more parties to the transaction and the means by which charges may be rendered to them when making account setup, management, and/or transaction authorization determinations. Accordingly, transactions, such as collect calls, meeting at least some minimal risk threshold may be completed on a first call attempt, even where a pre-arranged billing agreement or other business relationship is not previously in place.

Abstract: Embodiments connect a call in which at least one party is a VoIP call party and monitoring resulting VoIP signals for unauthorized call activity, such as three-way call activity. The monitoring may include monitoring the call for suspend and/or resume events to detect the unauthorized call activity, the suspend and resume events may be generated by a telephone system and passed into a VoIP system associated with the VoIP call party. The monitoring may be carried out by an agent disposed between a VoIP gateway and the VoIP call party or by the VoIP gateway itself.

Abstract: Embodiments connect a call in which at least one party is a VoIP call party and monitoring resulting VoIP signals for unauthorized call activity, such as three-way call activity. The monitoring may include monitoring the call for suspend and/or resume events to detect the unauthorized call activity, the suspend and resume events may be generated by a telephone system and passed into a VoIP system associated with the VoIP call party. The monitoring may be carried out by an agent disposed between a VoIP gateway and the VoIP call party or by the VoIP gateway itself.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide techniques providing account setup, management and transaction authorization determinations in real-time using transaction interrupt messaging. Embodiments preferably take into consideration the quality of one or more parties to the transaction and the means by which charges may be rendered to them when making account setup, management, and/or transaction authorization determinations. Accordingly, transactions, such as collect calls, meeting at least some minimal risk threshold may be completed on a first call attempt, even where a pre-arranged billing agreement or other business relationship is not previously in place.

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 disclosed for sending and receiving a message between a nonresident and a resident of a controlled environment facility that associates an identifier to the message, wherein the resident does not associate the identifier to resident created messages. The identifier my take the form of a barcode printed directly onto the message form or printed onto a detachable sticker that is affixed to the message form. Embodiments may allow the searching of a message for prohibited words, phrases, or ideas and notifying a relevant authority to the existence of such prohibited content. Embodiments may also allow a nonresident to select a delivery medium that is incompatible with the format of a message created by a resident by converting the resident created message to a message format compatible with the delivery medium.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for managing notification of residents of a controlled-environment facility of pending messages awaiting retrieval by such residents. In one embodiment, a messaging system is provided in which a party external to the controlled-environment facility may record a message intended for a resident of the controlled-environment facility. A notification controller receives notification of the pending message for the resident and determines an appropriate communication device to use for notifying the resident of the pending message. In certain embodiments, a wireless location tracking system, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, is employed to determine a communication device that is in the vicinity of the resident, wherein the notification controller directs notification of the pending message to the determined communication device.