Jail Adding E-Mail for Inmates
In an effort to reduce the volume of mail for inmates at the Oklahoma County Jail, the inmates will soon have access to e-mail. Jail personnel will print received e-mail and type responses from inmates.
Sheriff John Whetsel says officials are also mulling the purchase of software that can scan and decipher handwriting. The initiative will be cost-free unless the software is purchased.
Whetsel is also planning to employ videoconferencing to replace certain face-to-face inmate visits, and has allocated roughly $50,000 for portable video booths on each story of the prison building. The technology will help reduce contraband from visitors, says Whetsel.
Some public defenders are already using the video booths to visit clients without having to come to the jail physically. Conversations via video are monitored only if certain trigger words are involved, such as bomb or escape, according to Whetsel.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) from the Daily Oklahoman (01/01/07); Dean, Bryan.