Crime reporting in a controlled-environment facility

• US 9,774,733 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Keiser, Luke, Edwards, Adam Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Parth
• Application Number:
  US13/920,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 37926607, 379 45, 37914205, 37914206, 37914207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to communication systems and methods that allow a resident of a controlled environment facility to report a past, on-going or threatened crime, such as a rape. The resident is able to make the report using a facility communications system without alerting other residents of the controlled environment facility that the crime has been reported.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a crime server, information related to a crime from an inmate in a controlled facility in a communication over a facility communications system;

providing a warning message that information provided by the inmate will be recorded;

recording the information related to the crime in a data storage device;

determining, during the communication, whether the crime requires immediate response from a live agent using a call selection policy, including at least determining, during the communication, whether an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm; and

selectively connecting the inmate to a live agent for live reporting of the crime, during the communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that the crime requires immediate response from a live agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, during the communication, whether the crime requires immediate response further comprises determining, during the communication, whether any inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining anonymity of the inmate reporting the crime.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the time of the alleged crime.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an incident report based on the information received from the inmate.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether the crime needs to be reported to a reporting agency.

7. The method of claim 6, selecting a required reporting agency for reporting the crime in response to a reporting agency selection policy.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating the incident report to the required reporting agency.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether facility staff is involved in the crime.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising instituting anti-retaliation measures in response to a determination that facility staff is involved in the crime.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving updated information regarding the crime from one or more inmates in the facility.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising associating the updated information with the information originally received.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising updating an incident report associated with the crime in response to receiving the updated information.

14. A system comprising:

a crime server configured to;

receive information related to a crime from an inmate in a controlled facility in a communication over a facility communications system;

provide a warning message that the information provided by the inmate will be recorded;

record the information related to the crime in a data storage device;

determine, during the communication, whether the crime requires immediate response from a live agent using a call selection policy, including at least a determination, during the communication, whether an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm; and

selectively connect the inmate to a live agent for live reporting of the crime, during the communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that the crime requires immediate response from a live agent.

15. A communications system that allows for an inmate of a facility to report a crime, the system comprising:

a facility communications system that provides communications with other entities for inmates at the facility; and

a crime server that is connected to the facility communications system that provides a warning message that the information provided by the inmate will be recorded, records information related to the crime received from the inmate and selectively connects the inmate to a live agent for live reporting of the crime, during a communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that the crime requires immediate response that includes at least a determination, during the communication, whether an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm.

16. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the crime server is configured to connect the inmate to a live agent, during the communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that any person is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm.