System and method for affecting inmate conduct with good behavior discount telephone rates

• US 6,636,591 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Evercom Systems Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Vaello, Donald B., Swope, Bobb
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/640,999
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112.01, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.1, 379/114.12, 379/114.13, 379/114.14, 379/114.15, 379/114.17, 379/114.2, 379/114.21, 379/114.23, 379/121.01, 379/121.02
• US Class Current: 379/114.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/14 according to class of calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/42 Dynamic individual rates per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/68 Billing calls completely to the calling party, except POTS, e.g. charge on caller's choice service

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method of affecting inmate behavior within a correctional facility through providing discount telephone calling rates to inmates who qualify for the discounted rates based on predetermined criteria, such as inmate good behavior. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of providing an identification for each inmate, establishing qualifying criteria for a discount telephone rate, and reducing the telephone call charge rate for inmates that meet the qualifying criteria.

Claims

1. A method of affecting inmate behavior within a correctional facility comprising the steps of:

providing an identification for each inmate;

establishing a discount telephone rate;

establishing a measurement of conduct during incarceration for the inmates, wherein

said measurement is a predetermined point total;

reducing the telephone call charge rate for inmates that meet the measurement of conduct during incarceration for a predetermined period of time;

maintaining a record of inmate behavior for each inmate according to said identification;

awarding points to each inmate based on particular behavior; and

deducting points from each inmate based on particular behavior.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of raising the rate when an inmate no longer meets the measurement of conduct during incarceration.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

connecting to a database to determine whether an inmate is qualified to receive the reduced charge rate.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said reduced charge rate is a rate for a collect call.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification is a respective PIN number assigned to each inmate for placing collect calls.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification is a respective number associated with a prepaid calling card.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification is effected through voice recognition.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification is effected through biometric reading techniques.

9. A method of affecting inmate behavior within a correction facility comprising the steps of:

establishing a discount telephone rate;

establishing a measurement of conduct during incarceration for the inmates, wherein

said measurement is a predetermined point total;

reducing the telephone call charge rate for inmates that meet the measurement of conduct during incarceration for a predetermined period of time;

associating the reduced charge rate with at least one predetermined destination number;

maintaining records of inmate behavior for each inmate according to an inmate identifier;

awarding points to inmates based on particular behavior; and

deducting points from inmates based on particular behavior.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

connecting to a database to determine whether an inmate is qualified to receive the reduced charge rate for said at least one predetermined destination number.