NCJ Number
206167
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 31 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2004 Pages: 112,114,117
Date Published
June 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the benefits of video visitation systems for inmate visitation.
Abstract
During the past few years, video teleconferenced visitation has been making its way into correctional facilities across the country, streamlining operations and saving money. Video visitation at Douglas County (Nebraska) Department of Corrections is described as a success because of the increased efficiency of visitation and the reduction in staff time spent on inmate visitations. In the past, visitors to Douglas County Correctional facilities only had a short window of opportunity to arrive for visitation; anyone arriving even 5 minutes late for visitation was turned away for security reasons. Now, video conferencing has allowed the correctional facilities to have open visitation from 8 in the morning until 9 at night. Not only does video visitation save staff time and money, it improves security; reports of contraband materials have decreased by 75 percent since the video visitation system was implemented at the Randall County (Texas) correctional facility. This was accomplished at the same time there was a substantial increase in the number of visitors to the facility. Video visitation systems also allow for video arraignments, which have been gaining in popularity. There are some compromises involved with the move to video visitation. Some inmates complain about the impersonal nature of video visitation; such complaints are generally overcome by allowing occasional window visits, especially with large families as the video visitation only allows two visitors at once. Despite this drawback, video visitation is lauded for adding ease of communication between attorneys and inmates, cost-effective measures for law enforcement, and more convenient and safe visits for family members.