Hinds Co. inmate visitation to be through video conferencing

The 1,000-plus inmates in Hinds County’s three jails will soon talk to friends, family and attorneys through web based video conferencing rather than eyeing each other through a Plexiglas screen in the jail’s visiting area.

Members of the Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the new visitation system, which could reap hundreds of thousands of dollars in fee income for the county. Mobile, Ala.-based Global Tel Link Corp. will provide the service.

It’s touted not just as a revenue source but also as a safety move. Guards and deputies now must move inmates from secure cells to facilitate visitation, potentially placing inmates and staff at risk. And, using cloud-based video conferencing will keep down the number of visitors to the jail, including those who try to sneak in contraband.

Today, inmates wanting to visit with someone outside the jail can either call them for a flat $3.50 in-state fee, or their visitors can come to see them at either the Adult Detention Center in Raymond, the women’s facility in downtown Jackson, or the Penal Farm located adjacent to the main Raymond jail. Inmates do not have to pay for visits at the jail, in which there is no physical contact. The inmate and the visitor are separated by a clear screen and talk to each other through a telephone hookup.

“When I have full-fledged visitation going on at the Raymond jail, it’s exhausting to the staff,” said Hinds County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chris Picou. Inmates must be moved to designated visiting areas, and their guests often come unannounced and unscheduled, he said.

The new system allows visits to be scheduled online. Those wanting to visit inmates can use their own computer or cell phone to multipoint video conferencing with them, and attorneys can save time and money by conferring with inmates from their offices instead of driving to Raymond.

“Where I would now use 10-12 people to staff visitation, I wouldn’t have to use any,” Picou said. “The technology is something we have badly needed.”

Said Jackson attorney Mike Espy, who is representing GTL in the endeavor: “It’s a tremendous upgrade to the current services.”

There will be no fee for a video visit in which the visitor comes to one of the three jails. And, in certain circumstances, inmates and visitors could still see each other through the glass screen, Picou said.

A typical video conferencing server visit lasting about 20 minutes would cost $12. That’s a lot less than it might cost someone to drive to and from the Raymond jail, take time off work or factor in inconvenience, said Robert Orso, an account manager for GTL. “This is especially good for attorneys who spend a lot of time just coming to the jail. They can now sit in their offices and talk to their clients.”

Inmates and potential visitors will be given instructions on how to use the new system. They can still place phone calls instead of choosing to visit by video.

In 2012, the county reaped about $175,000 in fees from inmates placing phone calls at $3.50 a call. In constrast, Orso said, Rankin County earned about $369,000 from inmate video and phone fees in 2012, even though that jail system has less than half the inmate population of Hinds County.

Orso estimates the county could gross about $700,000 from fees generated for phone and video visits in the system’s first year. Of that amount, the county would keep 60 percent, and GTL would get 40 percent. The county would pay no money up front for the new system.

Although all supervisors approved moving to the new system, District 5 Supervisor Kenneth Stokes worried that some visitors would rather use the old procedures. “This is a county jail. It’s not a prison. A lot of the people are innocent,” he said. “You have mamas who call us and their son is in jail, and he hasn’t done nothing. I hope we will support them visiting face to face.”

Article Source: Hinds Co. inmate visitation to be through video conferencing

Video conferencing company Blue Jeans network raises $50M for global growth

Blue Jeans Network, a web based video conferencing company that plays nicely with other services, is announcing that it has raised $50 million in new funding.

The round doubles the amount that Blue Jeans had previously raised, and it was led by Battery Ventures, with participation from previous investors Accel Partners, New Enterprise Associates, and Norwest Ventures Partners. (A spokesperson told me that Battery’s Roger Lee isn’t joining the board of directors, but he will be sitting in as an advisor.)

When a company raises a round of this size, it’s probably growing at an impressive clip (especially when, as co-founder and CEO Krish Ramakrishnan claims, it managed to close the round in a single week). Blue Jeans isn’t sharing revenue numbers, but it does say that its customer base now includes more than 2,000 businesses of all sizes,including Facebook and 99designs. More than 3 million people have conducted nearly 2 million meetings using the service.

Naturally, Ramakrishnan and I used a Blue Jeans cloud-based video conferencing to discuss the funding. One of its main selling points is its interoperability with services like Skype and Polycom RealPresence. In conjunction with Blue Jeans’ mobile apps, this seems to fulfill Ramakrishnan’s goal of letting people join a mulitpoint video conferencing from wherever and whenever they want. (Not that I really stress-tested it — I just connected from my browser after spending a few seconds installing the needed plugin.)

The broader goal, Ramakrishnan said, is to turn Blue Jeans into the top platform for visual collaboration, which he described as “the wave of the future.” In other words, it’s not just about video conferencing server, but also helping users work together in “visual, real-time” way. Ramakrishnan said that doesn’t mean competing with to document-sharing companies like Box, but rather making that documents and other content a bigger part of the conference experience: “We want to replicate what an office meeting would look like.”

Ramakrishnan added that the new funding will be spent in a number of areas, including research and development, sales and marketing (more on that in a second), geographic expansion (with new offices in San Francisco and operations in Europe and Australia), and building a data center.

And yes, Blue Jeans has also attracted attention for its tongue-in-cheek marketing. In fact, my most recent post about the company focused on a fun promotional video about a fake product called The Roominator. Ramakrishnan promised that as Blue Jeans grows, “We’re not going to lose that edge.”

The company has even recruited its new investors to take part in a new promotional video, as you can see below. I’m not sure Battery’s partners have a big future as online video stars, but hey, the on-camera destruction is pretty fun.

Article Source: Video conferencing company Blue Jeans network raises $50M for global growth

InFocus introduces cloud-based ConX group video conferencing service

Visual communications industry pioneer InFocus Corporationis expanding its offerings today with the launch of ConX (kh-NEX'), its cloud-based video conferencing service.

InFocus ConX requires no extra hardware investment and enables an unlimited number of participants in different locations to take part in a web based video conferencing using standardized SIP or H.323 video conferencing devices. The user experience is similar to a traditional audio conference; one dials an assigned ConX number from the video device and enters a secure pin code to complete the call. The ConX service then translates all the different feeds and delivers each video stream in a separate window on the same screen.

"ConX makes group multipoint video conferencing a viable option for almost any organization because it is affordable and easy to use. It empowers them to connect and collaborate with employees, partners or customers in a much more engaging and productivity-boosting way," said Raymond Yu, president of InFocus. "Historically, most video calls were reserved for groups who used the same kind of video conferencing, within the same organization. Now groups from different organizations, on different systems, and even using the Web, can connect using ConX." 

Through the cloud, ConX seamlessly connects all parties, whether they are using an InFocus Mondopad, a video phone or a video conference server system from Cisco, LifeSize or CUMeeting. Those who do not have a SIP or H.323 device can connect to the video meeting software using InFocus' free WebDial browser plug-in or can participate with audio-only using a telephone. Users can also join the meeting with audio only, for those participants without video conferencing server devices. Additionally, The InFocus ConX service can easily connect with third-party video conferencing applications such as Jabber.

Yu continued, "From our projectors to our large format collaboration displays like Mondopad one of our core goals at InFocus is to continually deliver products that help people collaborate in productive ways. ConX is a service that continues in that tradition and moves us closer to our goal."

Article Source: InFocus introduces cloud-based ConX group video conferencing service

VIDEO: Petroc students hold video conference with Noam Chomsky

STUDENTS at Petroc college had the chance to question one of America’s greatest philosophers during a web based video conferencing last month.

Noam Chomsky is a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an American linguist, political commentator and activist.

He agreed to do the conference with both A-level and degree students in December as he had a link with a teacher at Petroc.

Around 75 people from the college attended the multipoint video conferencing and 10 asked questions regarding civil rights in the USA.

Cathy Slaughter, scholarly activity co-ordinator at Petroc, said the conference was very beneficial and feedback from the students afterwards had been positive.

“Noam is 85 and very lucid,” she said. “He used certain questions as a jump-off platform to go on to other subjects.

“It is quite an unusual video and raises some interesting points.”

Chloe Gibson who is studying for a foundation degree in history with English, said: “We are studying the civil rights module at the moment, so it was great to be able to listen to the views of someone who was around at the time.

“I was a bit nervous before putting my question to him, but he was very receptive and I was really impressed by the level of detail he gave in his response.”

Bob Neale who is studying for the same degree added: “It was awe-inspiring. I found the whole conference thoroughly fascinating.”

Article Source: VIDEO: Petroc students hold video conference with Noam Chomsky

Spotlighting Kashmir issue: Video conference to be arranged for journalists on both sides of LoC

A web-based video conferencing for journalists working on both sides of the Line of control (LoC) will be arranged shortly with help from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club on Friday, Central Union of Journalists (CUJ) President Asif Raza Mir said that people-to-people contacts and other interactions would help the countries sort out their differences on Kashmir amicably.

He said that the conference will also help highlight poverty and other issues plaguing the people on both sides besides creating an environment for promoting mutual trust. Mir said that the divided families on both sides of the border would also get a chance to interact with their loved ones.

The speakers said if the Indian government did not give permission for the conference, they would march towards the LoC in protest. CUJ founder Shamim Chaudhry said that for the first time in history, journalists from both sides would get a chance to interact on the Kashmir issue. He said that the conference will also help in highlighting the Kashmir issue internationally.

CUJ Secretary General Aurangzaib Jaral alleged that western and Indian media had been running a propaganda campaign against the independence movement of the Kashmiris. The cloud-based video conferencing will be a milestone in uniting journalists and intellectuals on both sides to give a befitting reply to the negative propaganda, he added.

CUJ and the National Press Club will arrange the conference.

Article Source: Spotlighting Kashmir issue: Video conference to be arranged for journalists on both sides of LoC

GP2U to launch WebRTC video conferencing app

Telehealth provider GP2U plans to release a new version of its iPhone app with in-built WebRTC functionality, and is also using the technology now to conduct web based video conferencing between GPs, specialists and patients through its website.

WebRTC is a developing telecommunications standard that will allow people to conduct multipoint video conferencing and transfer images and documents in real time through common internet browsers without the need to download a separate application such as Skype.

GP2U founder James Freeman said the new version of the app will allow patients to register, book, pay, cloud-based video conferencing and get prescriptions through their iPhones.

The app is currently in Apple’s approval process, and should be available on the App Store next week. The Android version will be released on Google Play at the same time.

A simple button will be added to the existing app to take the patient straight to GP2U's virtual waiting room, with connections to the doctor via WebRTC proving faster and more secure than when using Skype.

Dr Freeman said he expected there to be reasonable uptake of people video conferencing server through the app on their phones, but most would still use PCs, Android tablets or iPads.

The GP2U website also now includes a WebRTC link in the virtual waiting room, so once a patient has logged in, they only need one click to attend the web conferencing software.

“If I want to see the doctor I go to the waiting room and I wait until the doctor comes to get me,” he said. “With our virtual waiting room patients simply wait the until the doctor pops up on the screen. That's pretty easy to explain. Go to the waiting room and wait for the doctor – you don't need to explain anything much else as it all just works.”

WebRTC currently only works natively with the Chrome or Firefox browsers, but it is also easy enough for users of Internet Explorer as IE will install Chrome's Frame plug-in automatically.

The WebRTC standard is not yet ratified and there is still some wrangling going on – Google, for example, wants to mandate the VP8 codec, while others are still pushing for the more widely used H.264. This was initially rejected as it was a proprietary codec and involved licensing fees, but in October last year its owner, Cisco, announced the codec was being open sourced.

People can still use WebRTC now, although it does require a signalling protocol in order to exchange IP addresses, and STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT) and TURN (Transversal Using Relays around NAT) servers to transverse firewalls.

Dr Freeman's team built a signalling server itself, but has now decided to outsource to a company called TokBox, which is backed by Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica. TokBox runs the OpenTok service and is one of many new start-ups concentrating on WebRTC.

“One of the advantages of WebRTC over Skype is that because we are using a signalling server we're not bouncing from machine to machine trying to work out where you are,” Dr Freeman said. “The bottom line is that it only takes a couple of seconds to connect so it’s much faster than Skype.

“We are continuing with the process of trying to make it as easy as possible for people to video conference. We have really smooth registration processes with patients that you can do on the phone or on the computer, it's easy to understand as you just go to the waiting room, you click one button once to allow the camera, and it will just work.

“One of my contentions about video conferencing is that it’s still too damn complicated, but if you look at the little iPhone app, you just press a button like answering a phone call and away it goes. And then once you've finished you press the hang up button. The volume control is the phone’s native volume control, it’s automatically on speakerphone, so there is almost nothing to go wrong.

“From the user interface point of view what we were shooting for was a video application that works as easily as answering a phone call. One button to answer, one to hang up. Simple, but instead of a voice only call you have video as well.”

Dr Freeman and his team have been building the company up for several years, but this year plan to make a full assault on the market, having appointed Salmat to help with marketing and Red Agency to help with PR. He estimates that GP2U currently does more than 20 per cent of all the Medicare-funded specialist telehealth consults in the country, and is also looking to get into the occupational medicine market.

Last year, GP2U caused a few ripples when it launched Skype2doctor, a paid service that allows patients to Internet video conferencing directly with the GP. For both GP2U and Skype2doctor, a prescription ordering service is available that allows the GP to fax a script to the patient's pharmacy of choice, allowing them to pick it up at their leisure. Patients can also choose to have their script mailed out to them or home delivered via Terry White Chemists Online service.

The company has signed agreements with pharmacy giants Terry White Chemists and Priceline Pharmacies to help with prescription medication delivery.

“We are really grateful to both Terry White Chemists and Priceline Pharmacies for the support they have given us in this new and emerging market of online doctor consultations,” Dr Freeman said.

“Because the prescriptions are faxed through prior to the patient arriving, on many occasions they walk in to find their medications already waiting for them, so not only are patients saving time both travelling to see a doctor and sitting in a waiting room, they are also getting a very efficient service from both Terry White and Priceline.”

Article Source: GP2U to launch WebRTC video conferencing app

ClearOne to acquire Spontania and expand its video conferencing offering to include cloud solution

ClearOne has entered into an agreement to acquire Spontania from Spain-based Dialcom Networks, S.L. in an all-cash deal for EUR3.65 million (approximately US $5.0 million). Spontania is a software-based cloud collaboration solution which combines the benefits of web based video conferencing and web conferencing software into a unique, effective and powerful enterprise solution that can scale to tens of thousands of users.

The addition of Spontania makes ClearOne the only company offering an entirely software-based cloud-based video conferencing product line that provides on-premise and cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions. Spontania complements ClearOne's existing premise-based, enterprise video conferencing offering, COLLABORATE(R) (VCON).

"This acquisition will position ClearOne to address a broad range of needs in the rapidly growing desktop and mobile multipoint video conferencing markets," said Zee Hakimoglu, Chairman and CEO of ClearOne. "ClearOne can now offer its partners and end users a clear choice between public cloud, private cloud and on-premise solutions for video collaboration along with our industry-leading voice solutions."

"Spontania's acquisition by ClearOne will benefit and provide new opportunities for our partners, customers and other stakeholders," said Enrique Dominguez, President and CEO of Dialcom Networks. "ClearOne shares our vision for the future growth of the video conferencing server market and will be able to leverage its strengths and global leadership position to continue to enhance our web conferencing software."

ClearOne will fund the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Spontania business with available cash and will not assume any debt or cash. The acquisition is expected to be accretive immediately and should close by the end of the first quarter of 2014, subject to customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.

Since 2007, Gartner, the leading IT research and advisory firm, has consistently ranked Spontania in their "Magic Quadrant." Spontania enables real-time video and voice conferencing, presence and instant messaging, as well as advanced collaboration services, including the ability to share interactive whiteboard, media files and presentations.

Designed to be flexible, Spontania is interoperable with video meeting software and communication platforms and runs on multiple platforms and devices including Android and iOS for smartphones and tablets, and on PC platforms such as Windows, Linux and Mac.

Article Source: ClearOne to acquire Spontania and expand its video conferencing offering to include cloud solution

TrueConf Unites users of multiple video conferencing servers

TrueConf Directory 1.0.0 is a single repository of information for users of multiple TrueConf Servers. This solution has been specifically designed for customers with large distributed cloud-based video conferencing infrastructure, with multiple video conferencing servers and a large number of subscribers.

Founded in 2003 in Moscow, TrueConf is a leading East European web based video conferencing vendor. The company is focused on collaboration solutions and offers an SVC-based MCU-less unified communication software platform. TrueConf has developed a full software suite suitable for corporate IP networks and all popular PC and mobile platforms, offering the convenience of both cloud-based (TrueConf Online) and server-based (TrueConf Server) multipoint video conferencing products. TrueConf Server offers a Full HD video experience and the ability to support multi-point video conferences with up to 250 participants (using UDP Multicast). 

TrueConf has facilitated over 1300 successful virtual conference solutions for governments, educational institutions, financial establishments, small businesses and corporations involved in all types of activities. The company developed the world's first 3D video conferencing application and has made significant advances in mobile conferencing and gesture-control video conferencing systems.

After deployment in a customer's network, TrueConf Directory changes the standard search among the local server's user group to a global search, which searches among all users and groups of several independent TrueConf Servers connected to TrueConf Directory. Clients connected to different TrueConf Servers can now directly organize web conferencing software and view user lists from external servers on demand. 

Advanced address book searching, with the support of TrueConf Directory, is already implemented in the client applications for Windows and Android: TrueConf Client 6.4.0 and TrueConf Mobile 1.2.0.

“Recently, our customers have primarily been large enterprises and organizations with a growing number of users. The territorial diversity of their branches requires special features to facilitate their video conferencing needs. Therefore, in terms of quality of the local conferences, maintaining regional video conferencing server instead of conducting all the video conferences through the central one is more efficient," says Michael Gotalsky, company's CEO. 

“For these customers, we have developed TrueConf Directory, allowing them to implement a transparent unified directory structure of video meeting software system users and install video conferencing servers in the required quantity and location. Convenient search tools and personal address books allows you to view the status of subscribers easily and quickly.”

Article Source: TrueConf Unites users of multiple video conferencing servers

Why video conferencing is critical to business collaboration

Geographically distributed organizations must understand whether collaboration is helping or hindering them. They need to know if it is increasing engagement and productivity and if not, why not. They also need to know what tools are driving employee engagement in the U.S., where two-thirds of the employees are disengaged, and what technologies will be acceptable to millenials entering the workforce in growing numbers. 

They should ask themselves who has successfully used these new collaboration technologies and what were the best processes to start with. Finally, they should know what they need to do to acquire one of these new cloud-based video conferencing systems.

Through a variety of research and case studies this report demonstrates that cloud-based video conferencing that offers high fidelity and the ability to connect seamlessly to any video end point (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac) is critical to businesses because it increases employee engagement. 

These tools can make the many meeting rooms that do not currently have multipoint video conferencing equipment fully video capable at a fraction of the cost of a room-based system.

The jobs of IT professionals are changing rapidly, as is the structure of the organizations that employ them. No longer is it only IT that can make technology decisions. With free trials and SaaS-based tools, anyone in any department can try a variety of tools to see which fits them and their group, department, or process the best. 

Whether you are an IT professional or someone helping to run a department or organization, this report will provide valuable and practical information for you to be successful with these new technologies.

Consider the following.

• Eighty-seven percent of remote users feel more connected to their team and process when using web based video conferencing.
• Sixty-five percent of communication is nonverbal.
• Video conferencing server today can be used in a wide variety of situations and at a low cost.
• Cloud-based collaborative online meeting software is a great way to increase engagement and productivity.
• Cloud-based video tools are less expensive and easier to use, and so they can be found in almost any meeting room.

Article Source: Why video conferencing is critical to business collaboration

Must-have video conferencing apps for Android

Web based video conferencing is not exactly something new to mobile devices. In fact, when 3G was first introduced to GSM networks, video-calling was the most-touted feature. Sadly, devices like the Nokia N90 and even the cheap LG KU250 “3G for all” did not end up popularizing video calling. While carriers theoretically supported video-conferencing through 3G networks, this was a poorly-marketed effort that was ahead of its time.

Fast forward to the era of smartphones, tablet computers and fourth-generation technologies. Today’s IP-based communication can more easily carry video calls with ease. iOS users have it easy, because FaceTime is built right into the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Macs. Higher-resolution FaceTime cameras ensure smooth cloud-based video conferencing, which is especially enjoyable at fast connections.

Android users might not be so lucky in terms of built-in offerings, because video conferencing support will be device-dependent (read: if the device has a front-facing camera and if the specs can handle video calls). Still, multipoint video conferencing on capable devices can be a breeze if you have the right apps. What’s best is that most apps that work well with Android are also cross-platform, so users can easily chat with other mobile or desktop users even on different platforms.

Here are our top choices.

Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is, of course, the default chat app on Android devices, although it does not come pre-installed on all Android phones and tablets. In fact, its predecessor, Google Talk, did not necessarily come with support on all ROMs. But Hangouts is an evolving product that actually combines various Google chat and communication efforts, including Talk, Google+ Messenger and Google+ Hangouts.

Google Hangouts works with up to 10 users in a online meeting software, and the app has a high threshold for poor connectivity, so you can count on your Hangout still working even if you have a slow or choppy connection (quality will automatically adjust). Google Hangouts is also more flexible than your usual chat and video-conferencing app, because it is now integrated with Google Voice (clarification: calling regular telephones is a feature only available on the iOS variant for now). You can call regular telephone lines and have them as part of your conversation.

Google Hangouts is also cross-platform, and there are native apps on both Android and iOS, plus a web version that runs on Google Chrome. While the app does have the occasional bug (which might cause you to miss calls), Google is constantly improving its Hangouts network and application.

Google Hangouts is a free download or update from Google Play, the App Store and for desktop.

Tango

Yet another free app, Tango has been around for at least half a decade, starting out as a calling service. The app is also a cross-platform offering, and works across Android, iOS and desktop. The app primarily offers voice calling, as opposed to Google Hangouts, which focuses primarily on chat and video calls. Plus, users can exchange text messages and switch to video conference server when a virtual face-to-face is the better mode of communication.

Tango has also recently launched itself as a platform for distributing games and content — a strategy that a lot of chat apps have taken themselves to doing, such as LINE, Kakao Talk and WeChat. Premium content is profitable, after all, and IM networks are earning tens of millions of dollars per year on stickers alone!

Tango is also free on Google Play and other platforms.

Skype

Perhaps the gold standard in web conferencing software and voice calls, Skype offers secure messaging for free, and supports voice calls, instant messaging and video calls across platforms. Versions for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and various desktop platforms exist (the app is now owned by Microsoft, after all). Skype also has offerings for both consumer and enterprise customers, which means businesses are also using Skype for mission critical communications.

Skype’s basic service is free, although users can also pay for premium services like outbound calls to regular telephones, an inbound telephone number, and the like. One disadvantage, however, is that Skype users more resources than other apps because of its distributed processing platform. Skype essentially uses each connected device by taking idle CPU time and using it to process data.

Still, it’s a good app to have if you want a reliable chat and Internet video conferencing app on Android. Skype is a free download on Google Play and other platforms.

ooVoo

ooVoo is another free, cross-platform virtual meeting software app popular among Android users. The developers promise the best video quality even on low bandwidth situations, and users can video-conference with up to 12 people in a group. Being cross-platform, the app has variants for iOS, Android and desktop computers. The Android version itself supports at least 300 devices (which is a good thing, considering fragmentation and differences in device capabilities).

ooVoo even has a feature highly popular in photo apps today: filters. Users can set up filters during a virtual conference, to add some effects to their video stream. Get ooVoo now from Google Play.

Conclusion

Video is not exactly a mainstream usage scenario for these apps, because most users would rather send an instant message or call, which is usually simpler. But the fact that devices are now more capable of handling video calls with their built-in hardware makes this functionality more accessible. Now, free web conferencing no longer requires expensive equipment meant for the corporate setting. Any smartphone, tablet or notebook computer will do.

But going beyond consumer-grade video chats and conferencing, the enterprise web meeting software industry is set to grow to a $1.1 billion dollar industry for “immersive” video chatting applications in three years’ time. The entire video-conferencing industry is set to grow to $3.8 billion by that time. Interestingly, three quarters of small businesses believe that in three years, video-conferencing will be the default means of communication on mobile and desktop devices. Will that mean goodbye to voice calls?

Article Source: Must-have video conferencing apps for Android

Prison Video Conferencing

With the increasing cost for corrections facilities and overcrowding of prison at all time. Correction facilities are looking for a new way to meet the needs of inmates while maximum the limited resources. Implement video conferencing software in correction facilities maybe a good choice.

Video conferencing can be an effective means for replacing or supplementing traditional visitation. It offers a convenient and easy way for family, friends or attorneys of inmates who are not convenient to meet in person. Besides, it can also be used to remotely conduct medical consultations, and for legal proceedings without the transporting the prisoner and utilizing other staff resources.

Video conferencing visitation can be beneficial not only for inmates but for jail as well.
For inmates, it expands visitation by making it more convenient for inmates and their families. By doing so, it can help reduce recidivism and violence among inmates, as well as cut down on opportunities for contraband to be smuggled into the jail. Besides, it can also expand an online medical program in which doctors treat prisoners through video conferencing.

For jail, it saves the taxpayer some money and eliminates the costs of transporting trail-awaiting inmates from the jail to the county courthouse and to municipal courts all over the county. It can help reduce recidivism and violence among inmates, as well as cut down on opportunities for contraband to be smuggled into the jail

Besides, video conferencing allows for parole hearings, misconduct hearings, administrative meetings, arraignment proceeding and witness testimony without the transportation costs and risks to public safety necessary for face-to-face meetings.

For inmate families, families of inmates can visit an inmate from their home, office or library. All you need is a computer with good internet connection and a webcam and a video conferencing software. The cost for inmates and their families to use video visitation is very cheap, usually inmates and their families are charged $12.5-20 for a 30-minute visit.

In a word, the benefits of video conferencing used for prison are: provides better access for inmates and their families, eliminate the cost of transporting prisoners to jail or court around the country, expediting cases faster through the system, scheduling and conducting hearings more efficiently, arraignment proceedings, parole hearings, consideration of appeals, mental health hearings, attorney consultations and inmate rehabilitation programs.

Wanna to find a proper video conferencing software? While, CUMeeting video conferencing software is a good choice, it is cloud-based and uses MD5 irreversible encoding technology and AES-256 encoding technology, giving you unmatched security and reliability. It offers high-quality video for inmates and their families. Have a try.

Article Source: Prison Video Conferencing