Five counties in Wisconsin are providing a video system similar to Skype for relatives who want to pay inmates a visit.
The system is made by Securus Technologies, a company based in Dallas, and lets families stay keep in touch with inmates without having to go to the prison itself, or wait for their loved ones to be escorted to the visiting room. Most recently, Racine County started using the system.
"This allows more flexibility for people to have visits from home, or for attorneys to meet with their clients," said Shawn Barker, lieutenant of Racine County's sheriff, adding that video visits are available "anywhere where they have the necessary technology to make it happen."
The other four counties that are using the system are Barron, Chippewaa, Forest and Marathon, and authorities in other counties say they are keeping track of how well the systems work so they can decide whether or not to use it as well, WISC Madison reported.
Deputies say it is easier to keep track of video visitations because they don't have to move inmates around and there is no risk of visitors sneaking in contraband. They can also remotely monitor video visits, which requires fewer staffers to be present in the room.
Securus' system is used by over 2,000 correctional facilities in 45 states. The video includes a tamper-resistant kiosk that comes with a color video screen, and provides a phone handset to prevent other inmates from listening in on conversations. A reminder is given to inmates and visitors at the beginning that their conversations will be recorded and monitored, while calls between inmates and their attorneys stay private. Those who will be barred from future calls include visitors who wear provocative clothing, flash nudity, flash gang signs or have drugs and weapons on them, TheNewsTribune reported.
Visitors have to be at least 18 years old and must be on a visitation list approved by jail staff, which is supposed to keep inmates from meeting with possible witnesses, co-defendants or people ordered by courts to have no contact with them.
Visitors usually have to pay 25 cents per minute for a video visit, which is provided in increments of 20, 30, and 40 minutes, TheNewsTribune reported.
Video sessions are still available to conduct in the lobby for free in Barron County. Sheriff's Capt. Tim Evenson said the county didn't have to pay for the Securus option, which it introducted in October. He added that families who live in different counties or states benefit from the new system, but not everyone is a fan of the option.
"Some families don't like the video aspect. They'd rather see them in prison," Evenson said. "I can understand that, but it just takes a lot more resources to make that happen."
