Corrections Community

Yakima County Department of Corrections is considering all of its jail to video visiting, versus face to face visiting. I would be interested in learn about what other Jail are doing. If they have video visiting, how is it working, why type of equipment do they use. My T.S. group is recommending equipment prodiced by Tandberg, however I can't find where it has been installed in jails around the country. I can be reached at 509-574-1706 Michael D. Williams, Chief

Chief, we have been doing Video Conferance with the Courts, Bails, and probation Dept. I have about 20 " inmate style" units throughout my facility. These are wall mount units that have a hand set and a 15' screen. The units are all touch screen and we have no intervention by staff, lower staff cost for us The probation Dept can have interviews from their offices 12 miles away. We also plan to roll out a plan for outside Attorneys to talk with inmates with out coming to the Jail on video. The Tandberg systems are good units but not for a correction setting. The DoIT maintance was also a cost that I did not want to grow also, lic fees, network bandwith etc. These units are build for a correction setting and work over E-net with 110 power. The system is managed both by my staff and the vendor. the cost was also better for us. With these units we can connect to our booking system, commissary, and create sick call slips that would be send to medical. Inmates can look up money balances, courts dates, this is a open system not just for Video. Please call me I would be happy to talk with you and give you some more information. Sgt. Donald Smith Westchester County DOC Tech Services Supervisor 914 231 1435 dds4@westchestergov.com.