Inbound calls to intelligent controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices
Inbound call processing systems and methods for processing inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident media and/or communications devices employ an inbound resident call server configured to host inbound calling accounts established by non-residents, receive inbound calls from the non-residents, route the inbound calls to an authenticating server, confirm that the resident device is active, and connect the inbound resident call system with the resident device if active or inform the non-resident the resident is not available if not. The inbound resident call server also connects the non-resident inbound call with the resident device if the non-resident is associated with the inbound calling account, the inbound calling account is associated with an address identifier of the resident device and the resident's personal identification number is associated with the address identifier of the resident device, all of which may be authenticated by the authenticating server.
1. An inbound call system for providing inbound calls to an inmate media and/or communications device operated by an inmate of a controlled-environment facility, the system comprising:
an inbound inmate call server configured to:
receive a call originating from an inbound caller dialing a called number, wherein the received call is redirected from a telecommunications service provider to an inbound calling account associated with the inmate; and
connect the inbound caller with the inmate media and/or communications device; and
an authenticating server configured to:
confirm the inbound caller is associated with an address identifier of the inmate media and/or communications device;
receive, via the inmate media and/or communications device, data for verifying the identity of the inmate; and
verify the identity of the inmate using the received data;
confirm the identified inmate is associated with the address identifier of the inmate media and/or communications device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating server is further configured to:
confirm the inmate is authorized to receive inbound calls redirected from the called number.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating server is further configured to:
reject a redirected call originating from an inbound caller that is not listed in a preapproved contact list associated with the inmate.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inbound inmate call server is further configured to:
provide the unidentified inbound caller with instructions for registering as an inbound caller listed in the preapproved contact list associated with the inmate.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the called number is assigned to a mobile phone device that the inmate is prohibited from using.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the called number is assigned to the mobile phone device by the telecommunications service provider.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the call originating from the inbound caller is received by the telecommunication service provider and redirected to the inbound calling account.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by an inbound call system operable to provide inbound calls to an inmate media and/or communications device operated by an inmate of a controlled-environment facility, wherein the program instructions cause the inbound call system to:
receive a call originating from an inbound caller dialing a called number, wherein the received call is redirected from a telecommunications service provider to an inbound calling account associated with the inmate;
confirm the inbound caller is associated with an address identifier of the inmate media and/or communications device;
receive, via the inmate media and/or communications device, data for verifying the identity of the inmate;
verify the identity of the inmate using the received data;
confirm the identified inmate is associated with the address identifier of the inmate media and/or communications device; and
connect the inbound caller with the confirmed inmate operating the inmate media and/or communications device.
9. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more communications systems to:
confirm the inmate is authorized to receive inbound calls redirected from the called number.
10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more communications systems to:
reject a redirected call originating from an inbound caller that is not listed in a preapproved contact list associated with the inmate.
11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more communications systems to:
provide the unidentified inbound caller with instructions for registering as an inbound caller listed in the preapproved contact list associated with the inmate.
12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the called number is assigned to a mobile phone device that the inmate is prohibited from using.
13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 12 , wherein the called number is assigned to the mobile phone device by the telecommunications service provider.
14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 8 , wherein the call originating from the inbound caller is received by the telecommunication service provider and redirected to the inbound calling account.
15. A method for providing inbound calls to an inmate media and/or communications device operated by an inmate of a controlled-environment facility, the method comprising:
receiving a call originating from an inbound caller dialing a called number, wherein the received call is redirected from a telecommunications service provider to an inbound calling account associated with the inmate;
confirming the inbound caller is associated with an address identifier of the inmate media and/or communications device;
receiving, via the inmate media and/or communications device, data for verifying the identity of the inmate;
verifying the identity of the inmate using the received data;
confirming the identified inmate is associated with the address identifier of the inmate media and/or communications device; and
connecting the inbound caller with the confirmed inmate operating the inmate media and/or communications device.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
confirming the inmate is authorized to receive inbound calls redirected from the called number.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
rejecting a redirected call originating from an inbound caller that is not listed in a preapproved contact list associated with the inmate.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
providing the unidentified inbound caller with instructions for registering as an inbound caller listed in the preapproved contact list associated with the inmate.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the called number is assigned to a mobile phone device that the inmate is prohibited from using.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the called number is assigned to the mobile phone device by the telecommunications service provider.