Covert Monitoring and Recording of Audio and Video in Controlled-Environment Facilities

• US 20150358589A1
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Passe, Scott, Keiser, Luke
• Granted Patent: US 10,284,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/155 involving storage of or access to video conference sessions tracking arrangements for later retrieval of a computer conference content or participants activities H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

Systems and methods for covert monitoring and/or recording of audio and/or video in controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include capturing at least one of: an audio, a video, or a picture of one or more residents of a controlled-environment facility using a communication device disposed within the controlled-environment facility, where the communication device is not being used in any communication session during at least a portion of the capturing; and storing the at least one of the audio, video, or picture.

Claims

1. A method for covert surveillance of residents of controlled-environment facilities, the method comprising monitoring key stokes of one or more residents of a controlled-environment facility using a communication device disposed within the controlled-environment facility.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the key strokes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the key strokes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a touch screen and the key strokes are entered on the touch screen, by the resident.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a touch screen and during the monitoring the touch screen does not provide any visual indication that the capturing is taking place.

6. A method for covert surveillance of residents of a first controlled-environment facility, the method comprising allowing investigators from another controlled-environment facility access to audio, images and/or video from one or more cameras in the first controlled-environment facility.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more cameras is part of a communication device disposed within the controlled-environment facility.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication device is a video visitation device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the residents are inmates, the controlled-environment facilities are correctional facilities and the communication device is located in a pod or cell within one of the correctional facilities.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the residents are inmates, the controlled-environment facilities are correctional facilities and the communication device is located in a visitation area within one of the correctional facilities.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication device is not being used in any communication session during at least part of the access.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication device is used in a resident'"'"'s communication session during another portion of the access.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication device includes an electronic display and wherein, during the access, the electronic display does not provide any visual indication that the access is taking place.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising comparing at least one video or image of a resident from one of the cameras with one or more biometric or non-biometric identifiers, and identifying the resident based upon the comparison.

15. A method, comprising:

capturing at least one of;

an audio, a video, or a picture of one or more residents of a controlled-environment facility using a communication device disposed within the controlled-environment facility, wherein the communication device is not being used in any communication session during at least a portion of the capturing;

comparing captured audio, video or picture with one or more biometric or non-biometric identifiers, and identifying a plurality of residents based upon the comparison; and

alert controlled-environment facility personnel in response to a first identified resident being adverse to a second identified resident.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first identified resident is a member of a first gang, group and/or organization, and the second identified resident is a member of an opposing gang, group and/or organization.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a determination that first identified resident is adverse to the second identified resident is based on a type of resident of the first and/or second identified resident.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a determination that first identified resident is adverse to the second identified resident is based on a resident classification system.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a determination that first identified resident is adverse to the second identified resident is based on one of the identified residents being classified as more violent than another of the identified residents.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the controlled environment facility is a correctional facility and the residents are inmates, and wherein a determination that first identified resident is adverse to the second identified resident is based on terms of sentences of the residents.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein a determination that first identified resident is adverse to the second identified resident is based on at least one identified resident being under investigation and at least one other identified resident not being under investigation.