Computer implemented video visitation method for incarcerated inmates and visitors

A computer implemented method for conducting electronic visitation sessions between a population of incarcerated inmates in a correctional facility and authorized non-incarcerated visitors,

• wherein the method is implemented with a system including:
• an audio/video visitation services computer system configured to provide audio/video inmate visitation services for registered 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 incarcerated inmate data and information and authorized visitor data and information, wherein each authorized visitor is preapproved to conduct an electronic video visitation session with at least one of the registered incarcerated inmates, and wherein the authorized visitor data and information includes log-in information for each authorized visitor;
• at least one inmate computing device in communication with the audio/video visitation services computer system, wherein the at least one inmate computing device is accessible to a registered incarcerated inmate in the correctional facility;
• and
• at least one authorized visitor computing device in communication with the audio/video visitation services computer system, wherein the at least authorized visitor computing device is accessible to an authorized user;
• wherein the method comprises:
• identifying authorized visitors via log-in credentials and the log-in information in the database;
• and
• accepting, via the at least one visitor computing device, a selection of a preapproved registered incarcerated inmate for a visitor-initiated electronic visitation session to be conducted through the audio/video visitation services computer system at the convenience of the identified authorized user and the selected registered incarcerated inmate without pre-scheduling and without any other human intervention;
• notifying, via the at least inmate computing device, the selected registered incarcerated inmate for the visitor-initiated electronic visitation session;
• and
• if the selected registered incarcerated inmate accepts the notification with the at least inmate computing device, automatically establishing the visitor-initiated electronic visitation session by the audio/video visitation services computer system and between the at least one inmate computing device and the at least one authorized visitor computing device.

A computer implemented method for conducting electronic visitation sessions between a population of incarcerated inmates in a correctional facility and authorized non-incarcerated visitors,

• wherein the method is implemented with a system including:
• an audio/video visitation services computer system configured to provide audio/video inmate visitation services for registered incarcerated inmates in a correctional facility and preapproved authorized non-incarcerated visitors;
• at least one database in communication with the audio/video visitation services computer system, the at least one database including registered incarcerated inmate data and information and preapproved authorized non-incarcerated visitor data and information, wherein each preapproved authorized non-incarcerated visitor is allowed to conduct an electronic video visitation session only with approved ones of the registered incarcerated inmates by the correctional facility, and wherein the registered incarcerated inmate data and information and the preapproved authorized non-incarcerated visitor data and information respectively includes log-in information;
• at least one inmate computing device in communication with the audio/video visitation services computer system, the at least one inmate computing device being accessible to a registered incarcerated inmate in the correctional facility;
• and
• at least one authorized visitor computing device in communication with the audio/video visitation services computer system, the at least one authorized visitor computing device being accessible to an authorized visitor;
• the method comprising:
• identifying registered incarcerated inmates or preapproved authorized non-incarcerated via log-in credentials and the information in the database;
• and
• after identified registered incarcerated or preapproved authorized non-incarcerated visitors, accepting a selection by an identified preapproved authorized non-incarcerated visitor or an identified incarcerated inmate for a desired inmate-initiated or visitor-initiated electronic visitation session to be conducted through the audio/video visitation services computer system without pre-scheduling and without any other human intervention for the desired inmate-initiated or visitor-initiated electronic video visitation session;
• sending a notification of the desired inmate-initiated or visitor-initiated electronic visitation session to the at least one inmate computing device or to the at least one authorized visitor computing device;
• and
• if the notification is accepted via the at least one inmate computing device or via the at least one authorized visitor computing device, the audio/video visitation services computer system automatically establishing the electronic visitation session between the at least one inmate computing device and the at least one authorized visitor computing device.