Configurable correctional facility computer kiosk systems and methods for portable electronic device access and management

A dynamically configurable computer kiosk system for securely managing an inventory of portable electronic devices across a variable pre-registered population of incarcerated inmates in a correctional facility over time, the configurable computer kiosk system comprising:

• a database including correctional facility data and information, authorized incarcerated inmate information and data for the pre-registered population of authorized incarcerated inmates in the correctional facility, revocable inmate privilege information and data for the pre-registered population of authorized incarcerated inmates in the correctional facility, and non-inmate user data;
• wherein the revocable inmate privilege information and data is a dynamically changeable inmate privilege status over time in response to individual inmate behavioral considerations in the correctional facility or to security concerns of the correctional facility overall;
• a tamper proof main kiosk housing in the correctional facility, the main kiosk operative in response to receiving the authorized incarcerated inmate information and data in the database and to accepting unique login information from any of the pre-registered population of incarcerated inmates, comparing the accepted unique login information to the authorized incarcerated inmate information and data in the database to confirm an authorized access to the main kiosk;
• and
• at least two or more of modular add-on charging bays in the correctional facility, a number of modular add-on charging bays respectively configured to be separately added onto the main kiosk and each of the portable electronic devices in the inventory being selectively positionable relative to the number of modular add-on charging bays, the number of add-on charging bays configured to connect, communicate with, and be controlled by the main kiosk, wherein by virtue of the add-on charging bays the number of add-on charging bays is initially selectable to simultaneously receive and secure an entire initial inventory size of portable electronic devices for a first population size of authorized incarcerated inmates in the correctional facility, and wherein by virtue of the add-on charging bays the number of add-on charging bays is subsequently changeable to simultaneously receive and secure an entirety of another inventory size of portable electronic devices which is larger or smaller than the initial inventory size as the population of authorized incarcerated inmates increases or decreases over time;
• wherein each of the add-on charging bays includes stationary lockable slots, the stationary lockable slots respectively receiving and securing one of the portable electronic devices in the inventory in a locked check-in state, and each of the add-on charging bay further including charging circuitry configured to charge and recharge the portable electronic devices in the inventory while the portable electronic device is in the locked check-in state;
• wherein the main kiosk is further configured to, when an authorized access to the main kiosk has been confirmed, verify the inmate privilege status based on the accepted unique login information and the revocable inmate privilege information and data in the database, and in response to the verified inmate privilege status either securely maintain the locked checked-in state of the portable electronic devices in the modular add-on charging bays in locked state or execute an unlocked check-out state of at least one of the portable electronic devices, wherein the execution of the unlocked state includes where the main kiosk sends an unlock signal to a particular lock of the modular add-on charging bay, wherein in the unlocked state the portable electronic device is entirely removable from one of the stationary lockable slots of one of the number of add-on charging bays for use in the correctional facility;
• wherein the main kiosk includes a controller and lock management hardware and software for operating at least one locking mechanism for the stationary lockable slots in each one of the number of add-on charging bays;
• wherein the two or more modular add on charging bays includes first and second add on charging bays respectively including stationary lockable slots, the first and second add on charging bays having different numbers of stationary lockable slots;
• and
• wherein the main kiosk and the at least two modular add-on charging bays are separately manufactured in a modular, plug and play form.