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Sheriff's department working on video visitation project for jails
Feb 14, 2012 (Merced Sun-Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The Merced County Sheriff's Department is trying to kick off a project that would bring video visitation equipment to the Main Jail and John Latorraca Correctional Center.
The effort hit a roadblock recently, when a request for proposals was delayed by the Board of Supervisors, but Cmdr. James Buttrey said the department is working toward bringing the item back next meeting for approval.
The video visitation equipment wouldn't only increase efficiency when it comes to inmate visits, it would also enhance safety and could reduce the amount of contraband entering the facilities, according to county documents.
"Its something to enhance the security of the facilities, and one of the ways it would enhance the security is by not having outside people entering the secured facility to visit," Buttrey said.
The upgrade would also provide attorneys with an easier way to meet with their clients for legal issues, he noted. Even if an inmate was housed at the JLCC, his attorney in Merced City could still contact him via video equipment instead of driving to the facility on Sandy Mush Road.
Though the idea is still in its embryonic stages, Buttrey said it's possible that the department could have visiting centers in buildings at the Main Jail and the JLCC where video visits could happen free of charge. Those who want to have video visits with inmates could also do it from home for a fee.
"In light of budget cuts and everything, we're constantly looking for ways to make corrections a more efficient-running department and always trying to enhance the safety for staff," Buttrey said.
Other potential costs won't be known until information comes back to the department after a request for proposals is sent out, but Buttrey said there are ways where the project can be done with no startup costs through revenue sharing, grants and other means.
"There are models out there where there could be zero out-of-pocket from us," he said.
During last week's Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Linn Davis mentioned that he wanted more time to review the item. A motion to delay it until a Feb. 28 meeting was passed on a 3 -- 2 vote.
Supervisor John Pedrozo, who was visibly upset by the item not passing, mentioned during the board reports section of the agenda that Davis could've gone to the department to get briefed on the topic when it first came up instead of delaying the item, which he classified as "baffling."
Davis responded that he thought Pedrozo's comment was "out of place," to which Pedrozo said, "I can make a comment."
Buttrey will meet with Davis this week to answer some of the questions he has about the project.
Despite last week's delay, Buttrey insisted that the equipment would ease the burden on correctional staff since they wouldn't have to move inmates around as much for visitations.
"The reason we're at the RFP point is there are so many different solutions and models, that we just want to throw it out there to see what people have that would benefit Merced County and our situation," he said.
Though most visitations would be done through video equipment if the project goes through, in-person visitations could still happen for legal situations, such as when an attorney needs to pass documents to his client.
Reporter Mike North can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or mnorth@mercedsunstar.com.
___ (c)2012 the Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.) Visit the Merced Sun-Star
(Merced, Calif.) at www.mercedsunstar.com Distributed by MCT Information
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