OffenderConnect Portal Added to Inmate Telephone

Here's an entire industry this reporter confesses he didn't even know existed: Prison inmate phone systems.

 

Inmate Telephone has reportedly added the OffenderConnect.com portal to provide additional service and support to families and friends of inmates who have Inmate Telephone's service at their facility.


OffenderConnect.com replaces the InmateBanker.com and ITI Bill Pay Web sites used by nearly 50,000 customers currently, offering existing services as well as several new services, the company said.  English and Spanish language versions of OffenderConnect.com are available

 

The portal lets ITI customers open a telephone account, deposit funds in an inmate's commissary and telephone accounts, check balances on their telephone accounts, view prior statements and payment histories, move money on telephone accounts between participating facilities and close accounts online.

“We really wanted to add more self-service options online for our customers,” said Matt Caesar, chief of product development for DSI / ITI, in a statement, adding that it "provides us with a platform to add additional services to better serve inmate family and friends in the future.”

 

Existing Inmate Telephone, Inc. customers using ITI Bill Pay and InmateBanker.com may convert their accounts into OffenderConnect.com accounts until August 3rd, after which any ITI customers will have to create an OffenderConnect.com account. Customers "don’t lose anything in the transition,” Caesar said.

Established in 1984 in Altoona, Pa., Digital Solutions Incorporated is a privately-held technology company that specializes in automating corrections agencies. Its sister company, Inmate Telephone Incorporated, was founded in 1994 to create and maintain inmate phone systems.

Last month, "due to continued growth," Digital Solutions /Inmate Telephone added a new Product Specialist to its expanding team. Joe Dabay came to DSI / ITI from Prince George’s County, Maryland Department of Corrections where he served as the Information Services Manager. 

 

While working for the Prince George’s County DOC, Dabay led the initiative to establish the PGC DOC Information Services Unit and was instrumental in implementing new technology for the department including biometrics, Interactive Voice Response systems and digital mug shots.

Prior to working with the Prince George’s County DOC, Dabay worked for several major healthcare organizations where he provided high-level system support and implementation services in mission critical environments.