Location based services for controlled-environment facilities
Systems and methods for developing, deploying, providing, and/or operating location-based services for controlled-environment facilities (e.g., jails, prisons, etc.) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving, from a resident of a controlled-environment facility (e.g., an inmate, etc.), a request to establish a remote communication with a mobile device operated by a non-resident of the controlled-environment facility (e.g., family, friend, attorney, etc.). For example, the mobile device may be a cellular phone, a smart phone, a computing device, a tablet, or the like. The method may also include allowing or denying the request depending, at least in part, upon a physical location of the mobile device. In some cases, the method may also include comparing an indication of the physical location with a geo-fencing rule and taking a predetermined action in response to the comparison.
1. A method, comprising:
performing, by one or more computer systems,
receiving, from a resident of a controlled-environment facility, a request to establish a remote communication with a mobile device operated by a non-resident of the controlled-environment facility;
allowing the request for the remote communication depending, at least in part, upon a physical location or proximity of the mobile device;
monitoring the physical location or proximity of the mobile device during the allowed remote communication; and
generating a notification depending, at least in part, upon the monitored physical location or proximity of the mobile device during the allowed remote communication.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote communication is a telephone call, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone, and wherein the physical location includes a cell or sector identification.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote communication is a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (IP) (VoIP) call, wherein the mobile device is a mobile computing device, and wherein the physical location includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical location includes latitude and longitude information.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
storing an indication of the physical location or proximity in a call detail record (CDR).
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
displaying a representation of the physical location or proximity on a geographic map.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
retrieving a geo-fencing rule;
comparing the physical location or proximity with the geo-fencing rule; and
causing an alert to be issued in response to the physical location or proximity violating the geo-fencing rule.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
retrieving a geo-fencing rule;
comparing the physical location or proximity with the geo-fencing rule; and
denying the request in response to the physical location or proximity violating the geo-fencing rule.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
retrieving another indication of another physical location of the mobile device during or prior to termination of the remote communication, wherein the other physical location is different from the physical location, and determining whether to allow the remote communication to continue based, at least in part, upon the other physical location.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
retrieving another indication of another physical location of the mobile device during or prior to termination of the remote communication, wherein the other physical location is different from the physical location, and causing an alert to be issued in response to the other physical location violating the geo-fencing rule.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
allowing the request depending, at least in part, upon whether the non-resident has previously provided an authorization to disclose the physical location of the mobile device to the controlled-environment facility.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
in response to the non-resident having previously provided the authorization, allowing the request, retrieving an indication of the physical location of the mobile device prior to or upon initiation of the remote communication, and storing the indication in a call detail record (CDR).
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
in response to the non-resident not having previously provided the authorization, allowing the non-resident to provide the authorization.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, after allowing the non-resident to provide the authorization:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
in response to the non-resident providing the authorization, allowing the request, retrieving an indication of the physical location of the mobile device, and storing the indication in the CDR; or
in response to the non-resident not providing the authorization, denying the request.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first physical location is outside of an area code associated with the mobile device, the method further comprising:
performing, by the one or more computer systems,
billing the remote communication based, at least in part, upon the physical location.
16. A system, comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory configured to store program instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:
receive, from an inmate in a correctional facility, a request to establish a remote communication with a device operated by a non-resident of the correctional facility;
determine that the device is a mobile device;
receive an indication of the physical location or proximity of the mobile device;
allow the request for the remote communication depending, at least in part, upon the physical location or proximity of the mobile device;
monitor the physical location or proximity of the mobile device during the allowed remote communication; and
generate notification depending, at least in part, upon the monitored physical location or proximity of the mobile device during the allowed remote communication.
17. The system of claim 16 , the program instructions further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:
retrieve a geo-fencing rule, the geo-fencing rule defining at least one of: (a) a geographical area from or to which the remote communication is allowed, or (b) a geographical area from or to which the remote communication is not allowed.
18. The system of claim 17 , the program instructions further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:
evaluate whether to allow the establishment or progress of the remote communication based, at least in part, upon a comparison between the indication of the physical location or proximity and the geo-fencing rule.
19. The system of claim 17 , the program instructions further executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:
receive a first indication of a first physical location of the mobile device upon establishment of the remote communication, wherein the first physical location does not violate the geo-fencing rule;
receive a second indication of a second physical location of the mobile device during progress of the remote communication, wherein the second physical location violates the geo-fencing rule; and
take a corrective action in response to the second indication.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein to take the corrective action, the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:
terminate the remote communication;
record or monitor an audio of the remote communication; or
issue an alert to a law enforcement entity.
21. A non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor, cause the processor to:
receive an instruction to determine a physical location or proximity of a mobile device operated by a non-resident of a controlled-environment facility, the instruction having been issued, at least in part, in response to a request from a resident of the controlled-environment facility to establish a remote communication with the non-resident via the mobile device;
determine the physical location or proximity of the mobile device;
allow the request for the remote communication depending, at least in part, upon the physical location or proximity of the mobile device;
monitor the physical location or proximity of the mobile device during the allowed remote communication; and
generate a notification depending, at least in part, upon the monitored location or proximity of the mobile device during the allowed remote communication.
22. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein to determine the physical location of the mobile device, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, cause the processor to:
query a communication service provider serving the non-resident for the physical location, the physical location including at least one of: a cell identification, a sector identification, or an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
23. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein to determine the physical location of the mobile device, the program instructions, upon execution by the processor, cause the processor to:
query a global positioning system (GPS) for the physical location, the physical location indication including a latitude and a longitude.
24. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the physical location information includes a Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code corresponding to the physical location.
25. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the physical location information includes a margin of uncertainty associated with the physical location.