Jails Moving To Video Visitations?

H

HardOCP News

[H] News
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
0
This is one area that you would think technology would be a benefit to both the jail and the relatives of the inmates. As long as it isn't costing taxpayers a bunch of money, I think this is a win-win.

The District of Columbia made the switch on July 25 to video visitation, a growing trend in the corrections field. To proponents, the video systems provide a more convenient, safer, thriftier alternative to in-person visits. Some jurisdictions even make money, by charging for the video visits. Critics, including prisoner advocates and corrections officers concerned with how prisoners fare once they are released, fear that the video visits allow less meaningful contact with family and could hurt inmates’ morale.
Click to expand...
 
What about conjugal visits? Are we looking at cybersex now?
 
So, the great state of DC has replaced visitations with video-calls. But, there's a huge psychological factor in being in the same room with someone, even if separated by glass. There's also a lot more that can be communicated in same room than over a video screen.


PS: I know, I know, DC isn't a great state. It's not great.
 
300px-Surrogate.jpg
 
I agree that seeing your friends and loved ones in person gives hope and soothes the soul. Taking that away could make an already explosive environment even more dangerous.

My brother was in prison for 7+ years after killing a police dog and involuntary man slaughter x 2 when a couple of men tried to rob him while he was selling drugs. He had a huge bowie knife, made in Pakistan, one I had bought him for a birthday gift. The robbers had a gun. Somehow my brother took the gun from them but in the struggle, one of the robbers got the knife and stabbed my brother several times. He nearly died and was in the hospital for a few months. He shot both of them in the head once or twice. He told me it was like hell inside prison that not even a television show could remotely come close to portraying. Constant noise 27/7 and everyone's on edge to kill one another. Lots of gangs inside. Gangs within gangs he said.

But, with that said. I'm ok with them doing the video visitation. The flip side is, it helps friends and family that are too far to come visit to now have access to the person inside the correctional facility.
 
this will not be helpful if it completely replaces in person visitation.
 
This is not the only place they're using video conferencing technology.

They're also moving to using VC for court appearances and things of that nature that require an inmate to be present in a courtroom. Right now, it takes about 3 officers or so per inmate that needs to be transported outside of an insitution, and that can be cut to just 1 that just walks him into a room and turns on the system.

Also, health care specialists are starting to use this as well in the prisons. From an IT standpoint, it's a huge pain the rear, but it'll save a lot of money in the long run.
 
i understand the arguments against this proposal, psycological reasons etc... but i will remind everyone that we are talking about convicted criminals here. the penal system has its faults, but basic law enforcement is logically very clear. if you break the law, you are penalized. everyone has free will and everyone can make the choice to NOT murder, to NOT steal, to NOT rape. those who choose to do so, against the law, are (or should reasonably be) completely aware of the consequences if they are caught, which include not being able to see your loved ones.

sixfoot- its unfortunate that your brother picked the choices that he did; its unfortunate that he was mugged and stabbed. but that doesnt change the fact that he chose to sell illegal drugs and be involved in that type of dangerous environment. he chose to kill those people (arguably in self defense, yes; but he was in that situation in the first place because of his own previous choices. he also had the choice between weather or not to pull the trigger, and he made his pick).


its like having sympathy for me for getting diabetes after i drink 6 liters of coke per day for the last 10 years, or feeling sorry for the guy who gets paralyzed from driving drunk and smashing his car into a tree. yea its an unfortunate situation to find yourself in, but you did that to yourself. perhapse not on purpose, but it was by your own hand. you now get to live with the consequences of your own actions.
 
Webhead said:
Do they actually mean jails and not prisons?
Click to expand...
in this article, they're talking about jail specifically

however the distinction will mean less after the rest of the country starts to follow California's lead in realignment
 
Some jurisdictions even make money, by charging for the video visits.
Click to expand...

Definitely, the prison system is a for-profit business. Private corporations operate over 200 facilities nationwide and are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
Our county jail is already video only visitation. Most court appearances are made by video also.

Been this way for awhile.
 
SixFootDuo said:
I agree that seeing your friends and loved ones in person gives hope and soothes the soul. Taking that away could make an already explosive environment even more dangerous.

My brother was in prison for 7+ years after killing a police dog and involuntary man slaughter x 2 when a couple of men tried to rob him while he was selling drugs. He had a huge bowie knife, made in Pakistan, one I had bought him for a birthday gift. The robbers had a gun. Somehow my brother took the gun from them but in the struggle, one of the robbers got the knife and stabbed my brother several times. He nearly died and was in the hospital for a few months. He shot both of them in the head once or twice. He told me it was like hell inside prison that not even a television show could remotely come close to portraying. Constant noise 27/7 and everyone's on edge to kill one another. Lots of gangs inside. Gangs within gangs he said.

But, with that said. I'm ok with them doing the video visitation. The flip side is, it helps friends and family that are too far to come visit to now have access to the person inside the correctional facility.
Click to expand...

Did your brother turn his life around once he got out?
 
ghost6303 said:
i understand the arguments against this proposal, psycological reasons etc... but i will remind everyone that we are talking about convicted criminals here. the penal system has its faults, but basic law enforcement is logically very clear. if you break the law, you are penalized. everyone has free will and everyone can make the choice to NOT murder, to NOT steal, to NOT rape. those who choose to do so, against the law, are (or should reasonably be) completely aware of the consequences if they are caught, which include not being able to see your loved ones.

sixfoot- its unfortunate that your brother picked the choices that he did; its unfortunate that he was mugged and stabbed. but that doesnt change the fact that he chose to sell illegal drugs and be involved in that type of dangerous environment. he chose to kill those people (arguably in self defense, yes; but he was in that situation in the first place because of his own previous choices. he also had the choice between weather or not to pull the trigger, and he made his pick).


its like having sympathy for me for getting diabetes after i drink 6 liters of coke per day for the last 10 years, or feeling sorry for the guy who gets paralyzed from driving drunk and smashing his car into a tree. yea its an unfortunate situation to find yourself in, but you did that to yourself. perhapse not on purpose, but it was by your own hand. you now get to live with the consequences of your own actions.
Click to expand...

Your post only considers one side of the equation. This system (assuming it is exclusive) also punishes the families of those in jail. It's not a child's fault his dad is in jail.

Also keep in mind that most prisoners will be released one day. Having a strong connection with their families will help prevent more crimes.
 
This is just another fucking cash grab for the corporate prisons of the USA. You need LESS people in prison, not stupid mandatory minimum sentences for a drug that the majority of the population wants to see decriminalized.
 
BloodyIron said:
This is just another fucking cash grab for the corporate prisons of the USA. You need LESS people in prison, not stupid mandatory minimum sentences for a drug that the majority of the population wants to see decriminalized.
Click to expand...

Totally true! Longer sentences make more people more accustomed to run-ons which we all know will cause confusion across the board from grade schools all the way up to professional, technical writers because no one will quite get why shorter sentences that get right to the point instead of rambling on and on are a more efficient way to communicate.

Um...you do know we're talking about video conferences right?
 
SkribbelKat said:
Um...you do know we're talking about video conferences right?
Click to expand...
if you notice they're charging $15-30 bucks a pop for access

the people in this thread with incarcerated loved ones or acquaintances are right in expressing concern over the rates because they've experienced the exorbitant rates for phone calls already
 
mope54 said:
if you notice they're charging $15-30 bucks a pop for access

the people in this thread with incarcerated loved ones or acquaintances are right in expressing concern over the rates because they've experienced the exorbitant rates for phone calls already
Click to expand...

I don't see anything wrong with charging money for it. Making and sending ones or zeros can get pretty expensive. Besides, it's either that or drive there to see them and burn 8 jillion monies in fuel getting there and back.
 
if you consider the cross section of who is incarcerated and the levels of impoverishment their families endure due to the primary bread-winner being out of commission during the prime earning period of his life, then it becomes a problem

and sending ones or zeros is not expensive

I'm not sure how expensive you think telephone calls over landlines are but there's minimal justification for phone calls costing dollars per minute.


are you for or against lucrative government contracts to private industry?
from your posting history I would suspect you're not supportive of monopolistic contracts given to prison officials' business associates in the manner that prison industries are handled in the US
 
mope54 said:
if you consider the cross section of who is incarcerated and the levels of impoverishment their families endure due to the primary bread-winner being out of commission during the prime earning period of his life, then it becomes a problem

and sending ones or zeros is not expensive

I'm not sure how expensive you think telephone calls over landlines are but there's minimal justification for phone calls costing dollars per minute.


are you for or against lucrative government contracts to private industry?
from your posting history I would suspect you're not supportive of monopolistic contracts given to prison officials' business associates in the manner that prison industries are handled in the US
Click to expand...

Are you kidding? I'm all for profitable contracting! It grows businesses and pays employees so they can pay bills and live happy, productive lives. Besides, lowest-cost contracting models have demonstrated historically poor performance and high employee churn that keeps expertise and stability off the table.

Anyhow, I remember those 1-900 calls for your future or for like, talking to some random girl that was excited for you to be on the phone as being several dollars per minute. And just look at what happens when you go over your alloted bandwidth on a modern phone! Verizon and At&T have to pass along HUGE costs to you in order to stay afloat.

As for people locked in the slammo and their families, I feel bad, I guess. However, if you picked a scumbag who got tossed in the pen for flipping out and hitting stuff in the head with a guitar...well, you can see where I'm going with that. People make mistakes and deserve a second chance, but the responsibility to have a backup plan in case your spouse gets thrown in jail is up to the individual. That's something that should be documented and planned for well in advance.
 
A "Visit" is not a "Visit" at all if its not in person. Just the sugestion that it is I find horible, you are locked away, and you have a visit from your loved ones or friends is a basic requirement to keep you mentally well and able to move on, as a basic human need. That is basic, what do you want to do to people, torture and destroy them emotionally ?
 
Wanting to torture and destroy them emotionally...I guess it depends on the crime, in my opinion.
 
the vast majority of people in jail are people who have not committed crimes
and I'm not referring to non-violent, non-person crimes like drug abuse although that's the next highest proportion of people in our US jail system

the majority of people in our US jail system (and also our prison, btw) are those who are awaiting hearings for violations. violations are things that are normally legal to do but because the person who is under supervision are now illegal: mundane things like not showing up for work, not showing up for a meeting with one's supervisory official, not getting a job, not having a place to live, not having reliable transportation, hanging out with other people who have been convicted of crimes, being around minors (regardless of whether the original crime was a sex offense), jaywalking, consuming alcohol (regardless of whether the original offense was drug or alcohol related), etc. There is a long list of violations that will bring someone back to jail or prison that have nothing to do with one's original crime or even make a whole lot of sense to average people when a researcher surveys public opinion.

Then there is a large proportion of people who are in custody for non-violent drug offenses.

Then there is a large proportion of innocent people who can not post bond before their trial.

Lastly, there is a small portion of the population that has committed some low-level crime like what you described. Those people are almost always suffering from some form of mental health malady.


And the reason people should care about who is in there isn't for pity but rather because when the institutions are statutorily required to make room for the groups I listed above that means the officials have to release based on priority: most often the drug fiends that are stealing people's shit to help fund their addictions

so it doesn't make much sense to support policies that end up damaging law-abiding communities more
but then again the US correctional system has always been much better at making dollars than cents :)
 
ghost6303 said:
i understand the arguments against this proposal, psycological reasons etc... but i will remind everyone that we are talking about convicted criminals here. the penal system has its faults, but basic law enforcement is logically very clear. if you break the law, you are penalized. everyone has free will and everyone can make the choice to NOT murder, to NOT steal, to NOT rape. those who choose to do so, against the law, are (or should reasonably be) completely aware of the consequences if they are caught, which include not being able to see your loved ones.

sixfoot- its unfortunate that your brother picked the choices that he did; its unfortunate that he was mugged and stabbed. but that doesnt change the fact that he chose to sell illegal drugs and be involved in that type of dangerous environment. he chose to kill those people (arguably in self defense, yes; but he was in that situation in the first place because of his own previous choices. he also had the choice between weather or not to pull the trigger, and he made his pick).


its like having sympathy for me for getting diabetes after i drink 6 liters of coke per day for the last 10 years, or feeling sorry for the guy who gets paralyzed from driving drunk and smashing his car into a tree. yea its an unfortunate situation to find yourself in, but you did that to yourself. perhapse not on purpose, but it was by your own hand. you now get to live with the consequences of your own actions.
Click to expand...

You're only looking at it from a punishment perspective and not the perspective of rehabilitation or what's best for the community. Should we be more interested in punishing the crime doers or rather trying to improve the situation for families affected by having a member incarcerated and in turn improve the situation for the community.

I'm not going to try and make an argument for it because I haven't studied the numbers enough to do that, but none the less have a look at incarceration rate by country...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate

And note the US is top of the list, glancing down more than double most western countries and in many cases 4 or 5 or 6 times higher (look at England, Australia, Canada). Compare that to the homicide rates...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

The third table you can arrange "by rate" and if you scroll down you'll see the US at 4.2 per year per 100,000 people, and I'm flicking through and not seeing any western countries worse than that, most are half or a quarter of that.

So, does the idea of "punishment" really work (at least in the western context). Again, I'm just presenting the numbers I've read, I leave the further research and conclusions to you.
 
The rates are that high because of Facebook and Twitter.

Okay, not really...more accurately, it's because we're all stupid-heads with senses of entitlement and defective genetics that make us violent. Add violent video games that we dump on our male half from a young age and you end up with a whole nation of nutjobs wanting to jack each others cars and drive around on beaches hitting random people to see how many police stars they can evade.

Anyway, our system is all about rehabilitation rather than punishment and it doesn't look like it does a very good job. :(
 
Another cash grab in the prison system.

I find it funny how they talk about how overcrowded the prison system in the US is yet they make a TON of money off them via food, snacks, drug dealing under the tables, and now just to visit someone oyu'll have to pay to talk/see them.
 
In my opinion people in jail/prison already have too many rights.

Alot of places you can smoke cigarettes, buy candy, watch TV, hell even now people can access the internet from prison and even go on facebook.

If I was a prison warden it would be hard labor 24/7.
 
I think families should be able to see their loved ones in person, even if it is through a pane of glass. A video chat just doesn't get it done. No need to punish families further that have already been punished by their loved one screwing up.

But our entire prison system is screwed up beyond belief anyway. It's all about profit, and maximizing the number of prisoners. We put people in there for stupid reasons, and then once they are in, they just come out worse than they went in.

First step, decriminalize all these trivial ass drug possession charges. Second, get rid of overly harsh mandatory minimums. Let our courts decide if someone is worth giving a break to.

Third and most importantly, you're never going to rehabilitate someone by locking them in a cage with more bad examples of humanity. The less hardened prisoners need to be forced to interact with decent human beings so that they can learn some life skills and maybe re-evaluate their goals in life. Sticking some small time thief in with some dude doing 20 to life for armed robbery is only gonna make things worse.
 
Oh, and restrict prisoners free time to educational activity. None of this playing cards or goofing around on the interwebs or vegging in front of the TV. That'll help them more in the long run.
 
Prisoner's are used to be financially raped, average cost per minute in a federal prison in .26 cents.
 
NKDietrich said:
Oh, and restrict prisoners free time to educational activity. None of this playing cards or goofing around on the interwebs or vegging in front of the TV. That'll help them more in the long run.
Click to expand...



Well I guess I might as well chime in here. I was in a federal prison camp for just under 2 years for a non violent computer based offense, I was young in college and very stupid.
Education programs in prison are a joke, what few programs offered had been put together by the prisoners themselves.

The average inmate's day consisted of 5-7 hour's at his assigned 'job' and then another 8-10 hours of TV and Recreational activities. I am not being racist when I tell you this was divided between the black inmates watching BET/Lifetime the hispanic inmates watching Telemundo/Other spanish channels and the white people watching golf or law and order.

Prison in itself is just a human storage facility, the only education that is mandated is GED classes if an inmate does not have a HS diploma. I taught ESL and GED and had a few inmate/students pass their respective tests.
 
Thanks for sharing, Bash. I did 4 in a state pen back in my early twenties before I earned my phd
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top