Covert monitoring and recording of audio and video in controlled-environment facilities
Systems and methods for covert monitoring and/or recording of audio and/or video in controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include capturing at least one of: an audio, a video, or a picture of one or more residents of a controlled-environment facility using a communication device disposed within the controlled-environment facility, where the communication device is not being used in any communication session during at least a portion of the capturing; and storing the at least one of the audio, video, or picture.
1. A method, comprising:
capturing at least one of: an audio, a video, or a picture of one or more residents of a controlled-environment facility using a communication device disposed within the controlled-environment facility, wherein the communication device is not being used in any communication session during at least a portion of the capturing; and
storing the at least one of the audio, video, or picture.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more residents are inmates, and wherein the controlled-environment facility is a correctional facility.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the communication device is located in a pod or cell within the correctional facility.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the communication device is located in a visitation area within the correctional facility.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a video visitation device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device includes an electronic display and wherein, during the capturing, the electronic display does not provide any visual indication that the capturing is taking place.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is used in a resident's communication session during another portion of the capturing.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the at least one of the audio, video, or picture with one or more biometric or non-biometric identifiers, and identifying at least one of the one or more residents based upon the comparison.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, in response to the identified resident not being authorized to use the communication device, alerting controlled-environment facility personnel of the presence of the identified resident.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, determining whether the identified resident is authorized to access the communication device and, in response to the identified resident not being authorized to access the communication device, recording a communication session taking place through the communication device within a selected time interval of the capturing.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication session is selected from the group consisting of: a telephone call, a video visitation session, an electronic chat session, a video telephone call, a text message, a prerecorded video message, a social network message, and an electronic mail message.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a communication device disposed within a correctional facility, cause the communication device to:
enable real-time inmate communications involving inmates and non-residents of the correctional facility; and
capture at least one of audio or video of one or more inmates of the correctional facility while the communication device is not being used in any inmate communication.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the communication device is configured to provide an indication to the inmates that audio or video is being captured during the real-time inmate communications, and wherein the capturing occurs without the communication device providing the indication.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the communication device includes an electronic display and wherein, during the capturing, the electronic display does not indicate that the capturing is taking place.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the communication device, further cause the communication device to compare the captured audio or video with one or more biometric or non-biometric identifiers, and identify at least one of the one or more inmates based upon the comparison.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the communication device, further cause the communication device to alert controlled-environment facility personnel in response to a first identified one of the one or more inmates being adverse to a second identified one of the one or more inmates.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the communication device, further cause the communication device to determine a number of inmates in a vicinity of the communication device.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the communication device, further cause the communication device to issue an alert in response to a predetermined number of inmates being in the vicinity of the communication device.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the communication device, further cause the communication device to issue an alert in response to a selected type of inmate being in the vicinity of another selected type of inmate.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the communication device, further cause the communication device to issue an alert in response to a predetermined number of inmates being within a selected physical distance from a correctional facility officer.
21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the communication device, further cause the communication device to issue an alert in response to a selected type of inmate being within a predetermined physical distance from a correctional facility officer.
22. A communication device disposed within a correctional facility, the communication device 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 communication device to:
enable an inmate communication involving one or more inmates of the correctional facility, wherein the communication device is configured to provide a visual indication to the one or more inmates that audio or video is being captured during the inmate communication;
capture at least one of audio or video of one or more inmates of the correctional facility while the communication device is not being used in any inmate communication and without providing the visual indication; and
at least one of:
determine a number of inmates within range of the communication device and issue an alert in response to the number of inmates meeting a threshold; or
compare the captured audio or video with one or more voice or facial biometric signatures, identify at least one of the one or more inmates based upon the comparison, and issue an alert in response to the identified inmate meeting a selected inmate profile.