Inmate initiated video visitation system

A computer implemented visitation system for conducting electronic visitation sessions between incarcerated inmates and previously registered visitors, the system comprising:

• an audio/video visitation services computer system configured to provide audio/video inmate visitation services for incarcerated inmates in a correctional facility;
• at least one database in communication with the audio/video visitation services computer system, the at least one database including registered inmate data and information and registered visitor data and information, wherein each registered visitor is preauthorized to conduct an inmate-initiated electronic video visitation session with at least one of the registered inmates, and wherein the registered inmate data and information includes log-in information for each registered inmate;
• at least one computer device in communication with the audio/video visitation services computer system, the at least one computer device accessible to a registered inmate in the correctional facility and configured to:
• accept log-in information that uniquely identifies the registered inmate;
• and
• after successful log-in by the uniquely identified registered inmate, accept a selection from the uniquely identified registered inmate of a registered visitor for an inmate-initiated electronic visitation session to be conducted through the audio/video visitation services computer system at the convenience of the uniquely identified registered inmate and the selected registered visitor without pre-scheduling and without any other human intervention;
• wherein the audio/video visitation services computer system further is configured to:
• in response to the accepted selection of the registered visitor, notify the selected registered visitor of the inmate-initiated electronic visitation session;
• and
• automatically establish the inmate-initiated electronic visitation session if the selected registered visitor accepts the notification.