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ONLINE: Weber County Jail revamps visitation with a video phone system that isn't wildly popular with inmates just yetOGDEN, Aug 26, 2009 (Standard-Examiner - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Inmates and recent visitors to the Weber County Jail are noticing differences in the way visits are conducted, and many are not enthusiastic about the changes. About 25 new monitors and software let inmates and their visitors hold visits from different ends of the jail through video rather than face to face through a pane of thick glass. Some inmates have complained the new system makes conversations less personable, but jail officials say the equipment that went into use earlier this month makes it easier for staff to carry out the visits. "I don't like it very well," said inmate Dave Dahlberg. "I like the face-to-face. I've heard people say you might as well hand me a picture of someone and talk on the phone. It takes something out of the visit altogether." Two video monitors were installed in each of the jail's housing units, as well as 25 others in the facility's visiting area. After 25 minutes, the monitor shuts off automatically. Inmates are no longer transported from their housing units to the visiting area. "The video monitor is in the pod," said Julie Richesson, the jail's lead accountant. "The inmate just sits on a stool in front of the monitor and can carry out the visit. Some inmates get up to two visits a week." The new equipment and software cost $420,000, and $60,000 more was spent to retrofit the visitation booths and install equipment. Jail officials believe the new system will save on costs to supervise the frequent transfer of inmates from housing units to the visiting area and will help make the facility safer by making illegal drugs more difficult to smuggle. The software gives the jail the option of recording and listening in on every inmate-visitor conversation, something that was difficult to do before. "Before we used to just have the glass with air panels on the side; they weren't on the phone," Richesson said. "Now we can record the visit." Authorities can use the software to pick out certain words that are deemed suspicious or inappropriate. For example, if officials want to see if someone mentions the word "murder" during a visit, they can type that word into the computer and a list will pop up of conversations where the word was mentioned. Jail officials say it is a good investigative tool. Prisoners and visitors are warned beforehand that what they say could be monitored. Dahlberg said it's "to be expected" his conversations are monitored and doesn't quite object to that aspect of the new system. In the past, visitors could peel off the caulking that seals the windows inside the visitor area and slip small amounts of drugs through to inmates, Richesson said. Using the video visitation system eliminates that risk. In return, visitors get more flexibility when scheduling visits. Formerly, visits were restricted to certain days and hours. "Now it doesn't matter what day of the week, visitors can schedule on the Web and come anytime during visiting hours," Richesson said. "They can even schedule online at their convenience." To schedule a visit with an inmate online, go to the Weber County Sheriff's Office home page at www. co.weber.ut.us/sheriff and click on the inmate visitation link. Visitors will have to provide an email address and create a password to proceed to the scheduling page. To see more of the Standard-Examiner, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.standard.net. Copyright (c) 2009, Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |