Method, medium, and system for an inmate privilege kiosk

• US 8,370,206 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keefe Commissary Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Keefe Commissary Network LLC
• Inventors: Collins, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, MATTHEW E
• Application Number:
  US11/855,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20090076832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 715/963
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40

Abstract

A method of administrating inmate privileges in a correctional facility using a computer kiosk is provided. The method includes accepting data and information corresponding to inmate privileges for an inmate population, the data and information including restrictions on the inmate privileges. The method also includes accepting requests for privileges by an inmate, applying the restrictions to the accepted requests, and visually presenting information to the inmate regarding accepted requests.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of administrating inmate privileges in a correctional facility using a computer kiosk, the computer kiosk including an input device and a display device, the method comprising:

storing, in a database, a first information corresponding to inmate privileges for an inmate population, the first information including restrictions on which commissary items in one or more commissary items each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to purchase and restrictions on which appointments in one or more appointments each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to schedule;

accepting a privilege request from an inmate, entered by the inmate using the input device of the computer kiosk in the correctional facility, wherein the privilege request includes at least one of a requested commissary item and a requested appointment;

automatically determining at a first time instance, using a computer processor, that the privilege request is valid based on the accepted privilege request and at least one of the one or more commissary items the inmate is allowed to purchase from the first information and the one or more appointments the inmate is allowed to schedule from the first information;

visually presenting a second information to the inmate on the display device of the computer kiosk in the correctional facility that the privilege request is valid;

storing the accepted privilege request in a batch of other privilege requests for other inmates already determined to be valid; and

automatically determining at a second time instance whether each privilege request in the batch of privilege requests is still valid based on whether any of the restrictions on which commissary items in the one or more commissary items each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to purchase has changed and the restrictions on which appointments in the one or more appointments each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to schedule has changed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting the privilege request with a screen display, the screen display including an inmate financial account information summary section.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising generating a detailed transaction history for review by the inmate.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting commissary good categories to the inmate via a screen display.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises displaying a detailed selection screen for each of the commissary good categories selected by the inmate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises displaying a quantity selection display for items of the detailed selection screen selected by the inmate.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising presenting at least one of a commissary order summary section display, an edit commissary order display, and a delete commissary order display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an appointment calendar to the inmate.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a submit request for appointment display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a review request display.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the second information to the inmate regarding the accepted privilege request comprises presenting status information for the accepted privilege request.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein presenting status information comprises presenting a status identifier comprising at least one of pending status, approved status, or cancelled status.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying facility information to the inmate.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving and storing an update to the stored restrictions at a third time instance, wherein the third time instance is after the first time instance and before the second time instance.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time instance is a time the request is accepted and the second time instance is a predetermined time for processing valid requests.

41. The program of claim 37, wherein the second time is a predetermined time instance for processing valid requests.

14. A network-based system for processing requests for privileges by an inmate in a correctional facility, the system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a database storing a first information corresponding to inmate privileges for an inmate population, the first information including restrictions on which commissary items in one or more commissary items each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to purchase and restrictions on which appointments in one or more appointments each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to schedule; and

a server system adapted to be coupled to the client system and the database, the server further configured to;

accept a privilege request by an inmate including at least one of a request for a commissary order and a request for an appointment;

automatically determine at a first time instance, using a computer processor, that the privilege request is valid based on the accepted privilege request and at least one of the one or more commissary items the inmate is allowed to purchase from the first information and the one or more appointments the inmate is allowed to schedule from the first information;

present a second information to the inmate that the privilege request is valid;

store the accepted privilege request in a batch of other privilege requests already determined to be valid; and

automatically determine at a second time instance whether each privilege request in the batch of stored privilege requests is still valid in view of at least one of a change in the restrictions on which commissary items in the one or more commissary items the inmate is allowed to purchase and a change in the restrictions on which appointments in the one or more appointments the inmate is allowed to schedule.

15. The system of claim 14, the server further adapted to display a status of the stored accepted privilege requests.

16. The system of claim 14, the server further adapted to access the first information corresponding to inmate privileges stored in the database and present selection information, via a screen display, based on the inmate privileges, the selection information including a selection section for one of a transaction history for the inmate, a commissary order selection, a request appointment selection, and a facility information selection.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is further adapted to balance a financial account of the inmate as the privilege request is accepted, and display account information to the inmate.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further adapted to access a detailed transaction history stored in the database and display the detailed transaction history, the transaction history including deposits to an account and payments made from the account.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is further adapted to prompt selection of the privilege request by the inmate.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is adapted to display a selection screen for commissary goods, and accept orders for commissary goods.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the server is adapted to display a summary screen of commissary good categories to the inmate, and the server is adapted to display a detailed order screen for each commissary good category.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the server is adapted to present graphical icons for each commissary good offered by the commissary.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is adapted to present an appointment calendar to the inmate.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is adapted to indicate a status of a request for an appointment as one of pending, approved, and cancelled.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is adapted to display information regarding facility information to the inmate.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the server is adapted to enable at least one of an edit of the privilege request and deletion of the privilege request.

39. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further adapted to submit the stored privilege requests to a facilities administrator for approval.

40. The system of claim 14, wherein the second time instance is a predetermined time for processing valid requests.

27. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium for processing a privilege request by an inmate of a correctional facility, the privilege request including at least one of a request for a commissary order and a request for an appointment, the program comprising at least one code segment that receives the privilege request from the inmate, and, in response to the received selection, the code segment:

accesses stored first information corresponding to inmate privileges for an inmate population, the stored information including restrictions on which commissary items in one or more commissary items each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to purchase and restrictions on which appointments in one or more appointments each inmate in the inmate population is allowed to schedule;

automatically determines at a first time instance that the received privilege request is valid based on the received privilege request and at least one of the one or more commissary items the inmate is allowed to purchase from the first information and the one or more appointments the inmate is allowed to schedule from the first information;

displays status information for the received privilege request;

stores the received privilege request in a batch of other privilege requests already determined to be valid; and

automatically determines at a second time instance whether each privilege request in the batch of stored privilege requests is still valid in view of at least one of a change in the restrictions on which commissary items in the one or more commissary items the inmate is allowed to purchase and a change in the restrictions on which appointments in the one or more appointments the inmate is allowed to schedule.

28. The program of claim 27, wherein the at least one code segment further displays a commissary good category selection screen.

29. The program of claim 28, wherein the at least one code segment further displays a detailed commissary good selection screen.

30. The program of claim 27, wherein the at least one code segment further displays financial account of the inmate as privilege requests are received.

31. The program of claim 30, wherein the at least one code segment further displays a detailed transaction history including account deposits and payments.

32. The program of claim 27, wherein the at least one code segment further displays a request for appointment screen.

33. The program of claim 32, wherein the at least one code segment further displays a request for appointment status screen.

34. The program of claim 33, wherein the request for appointment status screen comprises one of an accepted status, a pending status, or a cancelled status.

35. The program of claim 32, wherein the at least one code segment further displays an appointment calendar.

36. The program of claim 27, wherein the at least one code segment further displays a correctional facility information screen.