Controlled-environment facility interactive session system

A method for providing a resident of a controlled-environment facility with messaging-initiated interactive sessions, the method comprising:

• creating a message for the resident, wherein the message is created by a non-resident for the resident;
• receiving a request for use of a resident device by the resident;
• authorizing exclusive use of the resident device by the resident;
• notifying the resident of the message from the non-resident;
• presenting the message to the resident via the resident device;
• determining an approval for an immediate interactive session between the resident and the non-resident;
• and
• issuing a request to the non-resident for the approved immediate interactive session indicating current availability of the resident for the interactive session until the expiration of the first time duration of the resident's authorized exclusive use of the resident device, wherein the request for the immediate interactive session comprises an option for the non-resident to delay accepting the request for the interactive session for an amount of time selected by the non-resident within a first delay interval and to retry the request when the selected amount of time elapses.

A computer-readable storage device having program instructions stored thereon for providing a resident of a controlled-environment facility with interactive services, upon execution by one or more processors, the program instructions cause the one or more processors to:

• present a message for the resident, wherein the message is created by a non-resident for the resident;
• receive a request for use of a resident device by the resident;
• authorize exclusive use of the resident device by the resident;
• notify the resident of the message from the non-resident;
• present the message to the resident via the resident device;
• determine an approval for an immediate interactive session between the resident and the non-resident;
• and
• issue a request to the non-resident for the approved immediate interactive session with the resident, wherein the request indicates current availability of the resident for the interactive session until the expiration of the first time duration of the resident's authorized exclusive use of the resident device, wherein the request for the immediate interactive session comprises an option for the non-resident to delay accepting the request for the interactive session for an amount of time selected by the non-resident within a first delay interval and to retry the request when the selected amount of time elapses.