IE11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

State Lawmakers Mull New Guidelines for Video Visitation Systems at Correctional Facilities

As some counties consider cutting in-person visits altogether, members of California’s Legislature are wondering if the regulations allowing on-screen communication in jails have gone too far.

Providing video visitation at correctional facilities is becoming increasingly prevalent, offering monetary and security benefits to state and local governments throughout the country. But as some counties consider cutting in-person visits all together, members of California’s Legislature are wondering if the regulations allowing on-screen communication in jails have gone too far.

At a Joint Legislative Oversight hearing held Tuesday, panelists informed senators and assemblymembers of the benefits of a digital alternative for visitations, as well as potential negative consequences of doing away with face-to-face interactions.

Proponents of on-screen visits generally advocate for the technology as a way to supplement in-person communication, especially in scenarios where a relative or friend cannot afford to make a trip to the premises. However, some localities lack the room and staff to facilitate face-to-face meetings.

Kings County has been exclusively video visitation for more than a decade now, a move Sheriff David Robinson said was a result of overcrowding and multiple failed attempts to secure funding to build and expand facilities to accommodate on-premise visits. Rather than issues related to lack of in-person visits, Robinson explained complaints centered more around poor technology. The county plans to go to RFP in July for a new video system to fix this issue.

The legislative oversight hearing follows a Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) meeting held last Thursday, in which regulations governing counties’ ability to only offer video visits were modified. With these regulations, 10 counties that already have visitation space are now allowed to switch to digital visits only, six facilities were built without visitation and 10 counties in the preliminary stages of building new facilities intend to only have video visitation.

BSCC Executive Director Kathleen Howard maintained at the legislative hearing that the board followed the direction outlined by Gov. Jerry Brown in his veto explanation of Senate Bill 1157, a measure that would have required all correctional buildings offering remote video interaction to provide means to visit in person as well.

Lawmakers suggested revisiting the BSCC’s grant programs, which provide funding for the construction of new facilities. To assist the state in moving forward with regulation, panelist Bernadette Rabuy, policy and communication associate for the Prison Policy Initiative, gave a series of recommendations, including requiring all jails offer in-person visits, not allowing companies to dictate visitation policies, requiring better technology and encouraging counties to procure equipment separately rather than in bundled products.

Maggie Cabrey is a staff writer for Techwire.