Inmate visitation scheduling and management

• US 20050114192A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gickler, Christopher L.R., Tor, Daniel K., Crites, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A computerized visitation registration and scheduling system provides the department of corrections the ability to have inmates and visitors schedule visits through an automated interface, such as a telephone interface, or the internet. The system allows, for example, the ability for potential visitors to perform a registration process with little to no manual overhead requirements of department of corrections employees. Secondly, potential visitors, once approved, are able to schedule inmate visits without necessarily having to burden department of corrections employees.

Claims

1. An inmate visitation system, comprising:

means for receiving a visitation request from an inmate,

means for sending a registration request based upon the received visitation request;

means for receiving registration information based upon the sent registration request;

means for determining whether the visitation request from the inmate is approved or disapproved; and

means for communicating the approval or disapproval of the visitation request.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for recording information associated with one or more of a visitation request, a registration request and visitation approval or disapproval.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining is at least one of a prison official and a analytical process that reviews at least one of historical visitation requests and visitation data.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for recording further maintains a history of potential visitors requested by an inmate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a visitation request includes at least one of a potential visitor'"'"'s phone number, relationship of the potential visitor and the inmate, the potential visitors name and the potential visitors address.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for scheduling, for approved visitors, an available time to visit an inmate.

7. A method for registering potential visitors of incarcerated inmates, comprising:

receiving a visitation request from an inmate,

sending a registration request based upon the received visitation request;

receiving registration information based upon the sent registration request;

determining whether the visitation request from the inmate is approved or disapproved; and

communicating the approval or disapproval of the visitation request.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

recording information associated with one or more of a visitation request, a registration request and visitation approval or disapproval.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining is at least one of a manual and an automated process that reviews at least one of historical visitation requests and visitation data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein recording further comprises maintaining a history of potential visitors requested by an inmate.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a visitation request includes at least one of a potential visitor'"'"'s phone number, relationship of the potential visitor and the inmate, the potential visitors name and the potential visitors address.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

scheduling, for approved visitors, an available time to visit an inmate.

13. An inmate visitation system, comprising:

a visitation registration module for receiving a visitation request from an inmate, automatically approving or disapproving a registration request based upon the visitation request and recording information associated with at least one of the visitation request and the registration request; and

a visitation scheduling module for scheduling, for approved visitors, an available time to visit an inmate.

14. The inmate visitation system of claim 13, wherein the visitation scheduling module is accessed by an approved potential visitor.

15. The inmate visitation system of claim 13, wherein the visitation registration module further comprises communicating denial requests in response to the registration request.

16. The inmate visitation system of claim 13, wherein the visitation registration module further allowing the one or more visitors to access a status of a response to the registration request.

17. The inmate visitation system of claim 13, wherein the visitation registration module further placing a response to a register request on hold pending additional information.

18. An automated method to register and schedule a visit an inmate, comprising:

receiving a request to provide registration information in order to schedule visitation of the inmate;

supplying the requested registration information to the sender;

receiving an approval notification; and

accessing a visitation scheduling module to schedule a visit with the inmate;

entering a proposed visiting time;

determining whether the inmate is available at the proposed visiting time; and

if the inmate is available during the proposed time, receiving a schedule and confirmation number.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the receipt of the registration request is based upon a visitation request supplied by an inmate.