Intermediary service bureau system and method

A method for routing communications for a correctional facility, the method comprising:

• transmitting, from a first communication device of first user inside the correctional facility, a first request to an intermediary service bureau (ISB) subsystem of the correctional facility for communication with a second communication device of a second user located outside the correctional facility;
• connecting by the ISB subsystem, the first communication device to the second communication device, via a selected communication provider of a plurality of communication providers, wherein the selected communication provider routes and monitors a communication between the the first communication device and the second communication device;
• transmitting, to the selected communication provider, a second request to convert communication data of the communication to a desired data format;
• and
• receiving, from the selected communication provider, the converted communication data in the desired data format, wherein the converted communication data is converted to the desired data format from a different communication standard by the selected communication provider.

An inmate communication system for a correctional facility, comprising:

• a first communication device of an inmate located at the correctional facility;
• a second communication device of an outsider located outside the correctional facility;
• a plurality of correctional facility communication providers configured to provide communication between the first communication device and the second communication device;
• an intermediary service bureau (ISB) subsystem configured to:
• store in a database, data related to the inmate and the outsider, the data including identity information of the inmate and the outsider, and communication logs;
• route a communication between the first communication device and the second communication device by connecting the first communication device to the second communication device using a selected correctional facility communication provider of the plurality of correctional facility communication providers;
• transmit, to the selected correctional facility communication provider, a request to convert communication data of the communication between the first and the second communication devices to a desired data format;
• and
• receive, from the selected correctional facility communication provider, the converted communication data in the desired data format.

A correctional facility communication system comprising:

• a first communication device associated with a first user located at the correctional facility;
• a second communication device associated with a second user located outside the correctional facility;
• a plurality of correctional facility communication providers configured to provide one or more service providers for routing communications between the first communication device and the second communication device;
• an intermediary service bureau (ISB) subsystem configured to:
• determine a selection of one of the plurality of correctional facility communication providers for routing the communications between the first and second communication devices, wherein the determination is based on at least one of a location of the correctional facility in which the first communication device is located, a type of communication being initiated, or a selection received from the first user;
• connect the first communication device to the second communication device via a selected correctional facility communication provider;
• provide permissions to the selected correctional facility communication provider to retrieve communication logs and copies of communications between the first and second communication devices.