VizVox: Securing the future of video visitation

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1 VizVox: Securing the future of video visitation Originally developed to reduce transport costs associated with on-site visitation, inmate transfer and security staffing, VizVox has quickly become an essential resource for government sectors requiring safe, cost-effective communication with inmates. Most notably used to remotely connect prisoners with visitors as a critical tool in the elimination of contraband, VizVox also leads the industry in customizable applications. These software add-ons are developed by industry-experienced engineers, unique to VizVox and facilitate: Jail management system interface (JMS) Digital recording of all visitation sessions Secure attorney client communications Court document collaboration with digital signature Commissary interface Inmate telephone system interface Video visitation from VizVox combines state-of-the-art IP video conferencing technology, data collaboration, browser-based visitor scheduling and networks into a single, sleek module.

2 How VizVox saves money and increases efficiency VizVox is the technology of choice for penitentiaries seeking to eliminate costs associated with inmate movement and for law enforcement agencies seeking to reduce time, paperwork and expenditures related to warrant application. Virtually indestructible, VizVox modules called Watchman sit within penitentiary walls and link to similar units in remote visitor centers, police stations, courtrooms and the homes or offices of judicial personnel. Voice, data and video are transmitted between components, and security controls can be configured to digitally record communication. Customizable software from VizVox uses IP-based technology to facilitate visitation session control, registration, scheduling, monitoring and digital archiving. These applications unique to VizVox distinguish our software as singularly capable of addressing an enterprise s complete security needs. VizVox built on the principles of simplicity and versatility quickly proves an intelligent choice for institutions looking to improve efficiency and avoid capital improvement expenses. It provides an alternative to the construction of visitation centers, large rooms requiring massive furniture units, proprietary wiring infrastructure and power supply for traditional analog-based video visitation systems. Large, legacy-based video-visitation booths and furniture are eliminated. VizVox diminishes costs associated with: New facility construction Inmate transfer Court appearances Visitor centers Cross-jurisdictional connectivity Visitor management Staffing required for traditional visitation

3 VizVox provides network connectivity and power through a single conduit, resulting in additional user savings. The IP protocol used allows a facility to leverage the existing LAN infrastructure, lower the cost of deployment and save money on cabling required by traditional video visitation systems. Flexible and efficient IP-based video visitation solutions Regarded as the industry s most flexible and easily deployable video visitation platforms, VizVox uses the latest in digital conferencing technology to provide high resolution, real-time video and stereo audio signals at 30 frames per second. The hardware, which employs local area networks or high-speed WAN connections at maximum bandwidth rates of 384 kbps, provides a quality visitation experience for both inmates and their communicators visitors, attorneys, law-enforcement personnel or judicial officers. VizVox Watchman provides a great deal of flexibility in video visitation deployment. Compact and self-contained, these innovative systems easily fit in jail pods, waiting areas or public building foyers. The Watchman allows facilities to interface with commissary vendors, so inmates can check balances on commissary accounts and place orders for commissary items. In addition, Watchman facilitates education for penitentiaries. Through an interface with library or educational-content servers, the hardware allows a facility to stream educational content to the inmate via library or Internet interfacing.

4 Virtually indestructible module construction and styling Made of high-impact, armored housing materials, steel lanyard and security-grade handsets, VizVox modules withstand abuse, and can safely be hung in inmate pods or cellblocks. The systems sturdy construction and resistance to tampering critical characteristics for inmate-accessible units provide value immediately upon installation. Inmate movement is limited, so human-resource expenditures decline and security increases for jail personnel, courthouse employees and the general public. VizVox Watchman Video Visitation Video Arraignment Inmate Calling System Commissary Kiosk Services Jail Management System (JMS) Services Revenue Generation through Remote Visitation Media Downloads (MP3 and Video) Send and Receive 17 LCD Touchscreen Grievance Filing 22 tall, 18 wide, 6 deep

5 Critical application as visitor-management and narcotic-prevention tools VizVox will reduce or eliminate the influx of contraband introduced to the jail population through contact visitation. The IP-based units facilitate off-site visitation, reducing staff resources dedicated to visitor supervision and management. Powerful applications within a single device A cost-effective and safe method of inmate communication, video visitation provides additional jurisdictionally relative applications: Control platforms for superior management and monitoring Inmate calling services Video arraignment and court appearance Digital archiving and live monitoring of video visitation Cross-jurisdictional connectivity Network management and reporting Web-based video visitation sessions The VizVox CSP control platform VizVox CSP is the server-based software platform controlling VizVox video visitation and related system applications. The software standing alone in the industry as the most trusted and comprehensive platform available runs on the VizVox control station. From one computer workstation personnel can identify an inmate location, recognize authorized visitors for inmates, assign a visitation station, set a visitation session length, connect two locations and visually determine the status of each communication exchange. The image below depicts the VizVox CSP control GUI with 29 simultaneous visitation sessions in progress. Figure 3-1

6 For ease of use and simple software navigation, a visual icon indicates the status of each session and a descending digital clock specifies session-time remaining. Any number of simultaneous video visitation sessions can be connected and monitored from a single application. Color-coded icons of VizVox units provide equipment status: green indicates the unit is functional and available for use; red indicates the unit is in an active video session and not available; gray indicates an out-of-service module. VizVox CSP facilitates the recording and monitoring of sessions to the VizVox IP-VCR, and provides naming schema for all visitation session recordings. It is a simple and easy-to-use mechanism for recovering and playing back previously recorded sessions. Figure 4-1 Inmate calling services VizVox provides Ethernet access through on-board network interface card. VizVox Watchman uses VoIP technology to facilitate inmate telephone services to locations where units are installed. The process is seamless. The inmate simply picks up the handset, pushes a pre-determined set of numbers to access the gateway, inputs his PIN number and dials a telephone number. Commissions generated from inmate communication provide significant revenue to the penitentiary and offset deployment costs. Uniquely efficient, VizVox is the only technology in the industry not requiring additional telephone devices to integrate video visitation and inmate calling services.

7 Video arraignment and appearance VizVox s state-of-the-art video-conferencing technology provides real-time, full-motion video and stereo audio at 30 frames per second. It can be used for court arraignment sessions, hearings and appearances a cost-effective alternative to transporting prisoners. By employing an MCU bridging option, judges can open a video link to the inmate s cell block and display multiple parties (prosecutors, defense counsel, witnesses) in a split screen. Face-to-face communication is facilitated and the security of the penitentiary, public and courtroom is intact. Digital archiving of video visitation and court-related activity The VizVox video visitation platform provides for high-resolution, side-by-side recording of a video visitation, arraignment or court session to a VizVox storage server. A file is scripted for long-term storage on a server or storage area network, which in turn works seamlessly with the VizVox platform. The recorded files can also be burned to a CD or DVD for presentations and as evidence in a criminal trial, defining VizVox as an incredible investigative and intelligence-gathering tool. Cross-jurisdictional connectivity VizVox utilizes IP transport protocol to communicate cross-jurisdictionally. Normally, inmates would be transported across county and state lines for interviews, deportments and arraignments. The cost-saving technology behind VizVox facilitates H.323-compliant video sessions to connect to other standards-based conferencing systems and eliminate inmate movement. Using the public Internet, a facility can make an inmate available for court appearances, bond hearings, and depositions, even parole hearings via video conference without any loss of video quality, audio clarity or encrypted data. An inmate can acknowledge understanding and receipt of court documents electronically through the use of a digital signature pad, even over a long-distance WAN connection. The facility will immediately realize a huge cost saving in annual travel expenses, an increase in productivity and a heightened level of security. Network management and reporting VizVox technology includes browser-based access to system management tools. The system can be remotely configured to adjust settings and can generate alert signals to local and off-site support personnel about equipment problems, providing a proactive response to equipment and software issues.

8 The Control and Management software suite generates daily, weekly and monthly reports on system usage. What s more, VizVox will interface with jail management systems to provide daily database updates, and eliminate the need for manual data processing. It can provide an up-to-date status of every inmate within the facility. Web-based video visitation scheduling The scheduling application from VizVox is the most advanced and benefit-heavy visitation software component available in the industry. The simple usability and wide breadth of management capabilities make the system agile, flexible and incredibly efficient. Visitors will go to the VizVox Web site and click the scheduling tab, then enter their personal information, login name, password and the name of the inmate. Once the registration process is complete and after the visitor passes the electronic background and warrant check, a visitor registration number is issued. The control deputy now has a list of each scheduled visit, the name of the visitor, the location from which the visitor will participate in the visitation and the confirmation number for the scheduled visit. When the visitor calls in from the visitation site, the deputy can confirm the identity of the visitor via the video conference and the visitor must supply the confirmation number before a call is connected to the inmate s cellblock unit. Upon successful logon, the scheduling process initiates. The visitor is asked to select a jail or prison from the drop-down menu. The inmate name box then populates with names of inmates the registrant is authorized to visit.

9 The next screen prompts the visitor to select visitation dates and times. Once selected, the visitor can confirm the visitation, upon which the software initiates a database search to determine the availability of units at the visitor site and the inmate s status. If no conflict exists, the system will confirm the scheduled visitation and issue a confirmation number. This confirmation number is required before a visitation session can be initiated. The VizVox CSP Control Software logs all visits scheduled into the database server. Each scheduled visit will populate the visitor- and inmate-history database with the date and time of the scheduled visit, the location of both the inmate and the visitor and the confirmation number. At a pre-determined time on the morning of each day, a list of visitations will be sent to the visitation control station or stations in order for the inmates housing unit to be notified; the inmate will be made available at the module unit for the scheduled visit.

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