Personal allowed number system
A system and method for preventing or facilitating communications between individuals who reside in detention environments (such as e.g., prisons or correctional facilities) and individuals who are not in such detention environments using an automated authentication or verification.
1. A method of identifying a called party comprising:
authenticating a detained individual's login credential;
receiving a telephone number;
determining that the telephone number is not in a database of allowed contacts;
calling the telephone number and:
receiving personal identifying information from the called party,
checking received personal identifying information against a remote database to verify the information,
wherein the remote database comprises one or more of a Line Information Databases, a Best Known Name and Address (BKNA) database, an identification verification database, a National financial database, a national passport database, a drivers' license database, military ID database, state issued ID card database, open warrants database, a national victim notification network, or a “do not contact” database,
asking additional questions to verify any personal identifying information that was not verified, and
adding the called party to the database of allowed contacts once the information is verified.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received personal identifying information is a photograph of the called party and a scan of a driver's license.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of checking received information against a remote database further includes checking received information against a remote database storing known sex offenders, gang members, felons, facility employees, witnesses, and victims to verify the personal identifying information.
4. A method of facilitating communication via a list of allowed destination numbers to which a detained individual residing in a detention environment is permitted to communicate, said method comprising:
detecting a contact initiated by a detained individual to a destination number of a recipient;
automatically checking the destination number to determine that the destination number is not on at least one of the list of allowed destination numbers associated with the detained individual, a list of allowed destination numbers associated with one or more different detained individuals or a general list of allowed destination numbers;
conducting an initial enrollment process for the recipient of the detected contact, wherein the initial enrollment process involves receiving personal identifying information comprising a name, an age, and a zip code from the recipient;
checking the received personal identifying information against a remote database storing information regarding criminals and associates of criminals, witnesses, or law enforcement personnel to verify the personal identifying information;
automatically associating the recipient with the destination number once the personal identifying information received from the recipient during the enrollment process is approved;
adding the destination number to list of allowed destination numbers; and
permitting the communication to the allowed destination number.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the destination number added to the allowed list of destination numbers is a phone number.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising, on detecting subsequent communication between the detained individual and the approved outside party recipient, authenticating the subsequent communication with one or more security questions.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the enrollment process is approved when the received personal identifying information comprising a name, an age, and a zip code of the recipient at least partly matches corresponding personal identifying information obtained from sources other than the recipient.
8. A method of adding approved individuals to an approved contact list containing contacts with whom a detained individual residing in a detention environment is permitted to communicate, said method comprising:
detecting a communication initiated between the detained individual and an outside party who is not a resident of the detention environment, the outside party having an identity;
attempting to authenticate the outside party by automatically comparing provided outside party information with stored outside party information within at least one of the approved contact list associated with the detained individual, an approved contact list associated with one or more different detained individuals or a general list of allowed contact numbers;
determining that the provided outside party information does not match the stored outside party information:
automatically attempting to verify the identity of the outside party by requesting personal identifying information comprising a name, an age, and a zip code of the outside party from the outside party,
comparing the provided personal identifying information against a remote database storing information regarding criminals and associates of criminals, witnesses, or law enforcement personnel,
determining whether applicable rules permit communication with the outside party, and
once the identity of the outside party is verified and the applicable rules permit communication with the outside party: adding the outside party to the approved contact list associated with the detained individual.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected communication comprises a phone call.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected communication comprises a text message, online chat, video conference, email, social media wall post, or other digital communication.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein when the detained individual and the outside party are still available after the outside party is initially added to the detained individual's allowed contact list, said method allows the communication to take place.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote database comprises one or more of a Line Information Databases, a Best Known Name and Address (BKNA) database, an identification verification database, a National financial database, a national passport database, a drivers' license database, military ID database, state issued ID card database, open warrants database, a national victim notification network, or a “do not contact” database.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected communication comprises a phone call.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected communication comprises a text message, online chat, video conference, email, social media wall post, or other digital or electronic communication.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein when the detained individual and the outside party are still available after the outside party is initially added to the detained individual's allowed contact list, said method allows the communication to take place.
16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote database stores information regarding criminals and associates of criminals, witnesses, and law enforcement personnel.