Crime reporting in a controlled-environment facility
Embodiments of the invention are directed to communication systems and methods that allow a resident of a controlled environment facility to report a past, on-going or threatened crime, such as a rape. The resident is able to make the report using a facility communications system without alerting other residents of the controlled environment facility that the crime has been reported.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a crime server, information related to a crime from an inmate in a controlled facility in a communication over a facility communications system;
providing a warning message that information provided by the inmate will be recorded;
recording the information related to the crime in a data storage device;
determining, during the communication, whether the crime requires immediate response from a live agent using a call selection policy, including at least determining, during the communication, whether an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm; and
selectively connecting the inmate to a live agent for live reporting of the crime, during the communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that the crime requires immediate response from a live agent.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, during the communication, whether the crime requires immediate response further comprises determining, during the communication, whether any inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining anonymity of the inmate reporting the crime.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recording the time of the alleged crime.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an incident report based on the information received from the inmate.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining whether the crime needs to be reported to a reporting agency.
7. The method of claim 6 , selecting a required reporting agency for reporting the crime in response to a reporting agency selection policy.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising communicating the incident report to the required reporting agency.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether facility staff is involved in the crime.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising instituting anti-retaliation measures in response to a determination that facility staff is involved in the crime.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving updated information regarding the crime from one or more inmates in the facility.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising associating the updated information with the information originally received.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising updating an incident report associated with the crime in response to receiving the updated information.
14. A system comprising:
a crime server configured to:
receive information related to a crime from an inmate in a controlled facility in a communication over a facility communications system;
provide a warning message that the information provided by the inmate will be recorded;
record the information related to the crime in a data storage device;
determine, during the communication, whether the crime requires immediate response from a live agent using a call selection policy, including at least a determination, during the communication, whether an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm; and
selectively connect the inmate to a live agent for live reporting of the crime, during the communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that the crime requires immediate response from a live agent.
15. A communications system that allows for an inmate of a facility to report a crime, the system comprising:
a facility communications system that provides communications with other entities for inmates at the facility; and
a crime server that is connected to the facility communications system that provides a warning message that the information provided by the inmate will be recorded, records information related to the crime received from the inmate and selectively connects the inmate to a live agent for live reporting of the crime, during a communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that the crime requires immediate response that includes at least a determination, during the communication, whether an inmate is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm.
16. The communications system of claim 15 , wherein the crime server is configured to connect the inmate to a live agent, during the communication, in response to a determination, during the communication, that any person is subject to a substantial risk of imminent physical harm.