(12) United States Patent
`Swope et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,636,591 B1
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`US006636591B1
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(51)
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AFFECTING
`INMATE CONDUCT WITH GOOD
`BEHAVIOR DISCOUNT TELEPHONE RATES
`
`Inventors: Bobb SWOpe, Coppell, TX (US);
`Donald B. Vaello, San Antonio, TX
`(Us)
`Assignee: Evercom Systems, Inc., Irving, TX
`(Us)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 62 days.
`
`Appl. No.: 09/640,999
`Filed:
`Aug. 17, 2000
`
`Int. Cl.7 ............................................. .. H04M 15/00
`
`US. Cl. ........................... .. 379/114.12; 379/114.01;
`379/114.1; 379/114.15; 379/121.02
`Field of Search .......................... .. 379/111, 112.01,
`379/11401, 114.03, 114.1, 114.12, 114.13,
`114.14, 114.15, 114.17, 114.2, 114.21, 114.23,
`121.01, 121.02
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,359,642 A
`5,485,507 A
`5,646,839 A
`5,655,013 A
`5,926,533 A
`
`10/1994
`1/1996
`* 7/1997
`8/1997
`7/1999
`
`gigs; et a1
`KatZ _______ ____________ __ 379/9301
`Gainsboro
`Gainsboro
`
`379/114.01
`5,991,376 A * 11/1999 Hennessey et al.
`6,054,928 A * 4/2000 Lemelson et al. ..... .. 340/573.4
`6,072,860 A * 6/2000 Kek et al. .............. .. 379/88.25
`6,173,046 B1 * 1/2001 Jagadish et al. .......... .. 379/111
`6,222,914 B1 * 4/2001 McMullin ............ .. 379/144.01
`6,327,573 B1 * 12/2001 Walker et al. ..
`........ .. 705/14
`6,543,686 B1 * 4/2003 Ritter ....................... .. 235/380
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`GB
`W0
`W0
`
`2308474 A
`W0 99/ 18708
`WO 00/52610
`
`6/1997
`4/1999
`9/2000
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report issued Sep. 9, 2002 PCT/US
`01/41756.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Sinh Tran
`Assistant Examiner—Quoc Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or F irm—Fulbright & J aWorski L.L.P.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention is a system and method of affecting
`inmate behavior Within a correctional facility through pro
`viding discount telephone calling rates to inmates Who
`qualify for the discounted rates based on predetermined
`criteria, such as inmate good behavior. The method of the
`present invention comprises the steps of providing an iden
`ti?cation for each inmate, establishing qualifying criteria for
`a discount telephone rate, and reducing the telephone call
`charge rate for inmates that meet the qualifying criteria.
`
`10 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`18
`
`l"_""-—_S""- _ — _ _ -'_"'I
`l
`l
`l
`l
`l
`I
`
`L - - - .- _ _ _- - - - - _ J
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFICE
`
`12
`
`14
`
`SERVICE
`BUREAU
`/
`1 6
`
`CENTRAL
`OFFlCE
`\
`22
`
`l- _ — _ - ‘I
`
`:
`'
`; _ 1
`‘"v‘
`20
`
`r. r_...._
`
`------i
`
`J
`-7"
`10
`
`GTL 1001
`IPR of U.S. Patent 6,636,591
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 21, 2003
`Oct. 21, 2003
`
`US 6,636,591 B1
`US 6,636,591 B1
`
`18
`
`
`
`

`

`US 6,636,591 B1
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AFFECTING
`INMATE CONDUCT WITH GOOD
`BEHAVIOR DISCOUNT TELEPHONE RATES
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention generally relates to institutional
`telephone systems and more particularly to methods of
`affecting inmate conduct through providing discounted tele
`phone rates based on certain criteria, such as inmate good
`behavior.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Most correctional facilities typically provide some type of
`telephone system that inmates can access to place calls to
`people outside of the correctional facility, such as friends
`and family. Regular contact With family is one of the key
`elements that can impact inmate conduct during incarcera
`tion and decrease the rate of recidivism. Most of these
`telephone systems alloW inmates to place calls via conven
`tional collect calling methods or debit-based calling methods
`that utiliZe pre-paid calling cards. The telephone rates for
`these types of calls are typically higher than normal public
`call rates.
`There currently eXists a groWing aWareness and dissatis
`faction With the calling rates associated With telephone calls
`placed or received by inmates Within correctional facilities.
`Most of the time, these calls are paid for by the family and/or
`friends of the inmate. Family members face a certain lack of
`control over the total amount of charges that an inmate can
`generate through standard collect calling methods When an
`inmate calls home due to the dif?culty in refusing a collect
`telephone call from a loved one. Furthermore, When charges
`are in eXcess of What the family had planned and eXceed
`What their budget can support, the charges can not be paid.
`This results in a loss of telephone contact With the inmate
`until past due charges can be settled.
`Thus, there is a need to provide discounted rates for
`inmate telephone calls, Which Would promote regular con
`tact With family members and, in turn, impact inmate
`conduct during incarceration. There is presently no knoWn
`system or method that ties telephone contact With motivation
`by family members to encourage or promote good behavior
`on the part of inmates.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is a system and method of affecting
`inmate behavior Within a correctional facility through pro
`viding discount telephone calling rates to inmates Who
`qualify for the discounted rates based on predetermined
`criteria, such as inmate good behavior. The method of the
`present invention comprises the steps of providing an iden
`ti?cation for each inmate, establishing qualifying criteria for
`a discount telephone rate, and reducing the telephone call
`charge rate for inmates that meet the qualifying criteria.
`In a speci?c embodiment of the present invention, an
`inmate is identi?ed by a Customer Identi?cation Veri?cation
`(CIV), such as a Personal Identi?cation Number (PIN), a
`number associated With a calling card, such as a prepaid
`calling card, or some other data used for identi?cation
`purposes. Predetermined qualifying criteria for the reduced
`rate is established by the institution or correctional facility.
`Data based on the predetermined qualifying criteria and
`actual measurements of the inmate’s behavior is stored in a
`database either associated With a telephone system of the
`
`2
`facility or independently managed by a remote site provider
`or service bureau. When the actual measurements meet or
`eXceed the predetermined qualifying criteria for a given
`period of time, the inmate’s PIN number becomes associated
`With a discounted calling rate Within the telephone system.
`Alternatively, speci?c destination telephone numbers pro
`vided by the inmate can be associated With the discounted
`rate, thereby eliminating the need to associate the rate With
`the PIN number. The calling rate remains at a given standard
`rate for inmates that do not meet or eXceed the predeter
`mined qualifying criteria for the given period of time. Thus,
`the PIN number for these inmates is associated With the
`standard calling rate Within the telephone system. If the
`behavior measurement data changes for an inmate such that
`they no longer qualify for the discounted rate, the rate
`associated With the inmate’s PIN number changes to the
`standard rate and the inmate must “re-qualify” for the
`discounted rate.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`25
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`While the present invention Will be described fully here
`inafter With reference to the accompanying draWing, in
`Which a particular embodiment is shoWn, it is to be under
`stood at the outset that persons skilled in the art may modify
`the invention herein described While still achieving the
`desired result of this invention. Accordingly, the description
`Which folloWs is to be understood as a broad informative
`disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate arts
`and not as limitations of the present invention.
`The present invention is a system and method of affecting
`inmate behavior Within a correctional facility through pro
`viding discount telephone calling rates to inmates Who
`qualify for the discounted rates based on predetermined
`criteria, such as criteria relating to inmate good behavior.
`The predetermined criteria may be based on any type of
`measurement of behavior and can be quanti?ed in a subjec
`tive “approved/denied” status-type system or a more objec
`tive point-based system Wherein a prisoner must have a
`requisite point total to qualify for the discounted rate. In this
`type of system, points can be aWarded or deducted based on
`particular behavior of the inmate. The system may also
`require the inmate to maintain the predetermined criteria for
`a given time period before the inmate can be eligible for a
`discounted telephone rate. Predetermined qualifying criteria
`for the reduced rate is established by the institution or
`correctional facility. When an inmate receives a reduced rate
`for his or her telephone calls based on good behavior, the
`inmate Will have an incentive to maintain his or her good
`behavior.
`A correctional facility having a premises-based telecom
`munications system or a telecommunications provider may
`provide various methods for an inmate to place a collect call.
`For eXample, the provider can issue a prepaid reverse-billing
`account that can be purchased by anyone Wishing to receive
`calls from an inmate. Additionally, other methods of
`payment, such as credit card, debit card, or prepaid calling
`card can be utiliZed by the inmate. Each inmate is provided
`identi?cation through the use of a Customer Identi?cation
`Veri?cation (CIV), such as a Personal Identi?cation Number
`(PIN). The identi?cation alloWs the correctional facility to
`track and maintain records on the behavior of each inmate.
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`

`

`US 6,636,591 B1
`
`3
`FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention as
`implemented in connection With a correctional facility or
`other institution having at least one originating telephone 10
`connected to a premises-based telecommunications system
`12. HoWever, it is to be understood that this embodiment
`could be utiliZed in connection With any location having a
`premises-based telecommunications system. An inmate ini
`tiates a telephone call from the originating telephone 10 to
`a called party as a typical collect call by dialing a predeter
`mined access number, such as a “0” (or a “1” and an “800”
`number), and then a 10-digit destination number. The call is
`received at a central of?ce 14 of a typical telecommunica
`tions system network, such as the PSTN, and routed to a
`service bureau 16, Which is the location associated With the
`access number. The service bureau 16 includes the necessary
`equipment to facilitate the method of the present invention,
`including a processor (not shoWn) that can link to one or
`more databases 18 and a collection and detection device (not
`shoWn), such as a DTMF collection and detection device, for
`receiving data entered or provided by the inmate.
`Alternatively, the equipment can be premises-based, i.e.,
`Within the correctional facility. In either case, the inmate is
`required to provide a CIV, such as a PIN number. Each
`inmate Within the facility is identi?ed by a CIV.
`Alternatively, other CIVs could be utiliZed, such as voice
`recognition, or automated biometric reading techniques,
`such as “Iris Scanning,” ?nger or palm imaging, or the like.
`The processor can prompt the prisoner for a destination
`number, or, alternatively, the system can be designed so that
`the destination number is entered When the access number is
`dialed. The processor utiliZes the collection and detection
`device to collect the entry of the destination number and the
`CIV of the inmate. The processor contacts a database
`containing data based on predetermined qualifying criteria
`and actual measurements of each inmate’s behavior. The
`processor may optionally contact other databases and pass a
`protocol data message to the databases. This data may
`include the Automatic Number Identi?cation (AN I), the type
`and location of the telephone 10, and the destination number.
`The databases may be used for determining authoriZation of
`the destination number.
`The processor at the service bureau (or at the institution
`in a premises-based system) connects to one or more of the
`databases 18 to determine the rate associated With the CIV
`of the inmate. Alternatively, if the inmate quali?es for the
`discounted rate, the discounted rate may be associated With
`one or more predetermined destination numbers provided by
`the inmate. A database Would then associate the discounted
`rate With the predetermined destination numbers if the
`inmate quali?es for the discounted rate. In this alternative
`embodiment, an inmate Would merely dial the destination
`number. The processor Would then determine if the desti
`nation number matches one of the predetermined numbers
`provided by the inmate. This particular embodiment Would
`limit discounted rates only to the predetermined destination
`numbers.
`The call is then completed at the given telephone rate to
`a destination telephone 20 associated With the destination
`number through a central of?ce 22 that is associated With the
`telephone 20. A record, such as an AMA, is established by
`the processor indicating various call data, such as the total
`cost of the call, the rate charged, etc. The rate reductions are
`determined by agreement betWeen the correctional facility
`and the telecommunications service provider for the facility.
`In a preferred embodiment, the correctional facility pro
`vides the measurement data for each of the inmates. When
`the actual measurements meet or eXceed the predetermined
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`qualifying criteria for a given period of time (qualifying
`period), the inmate’s CIV, such as a PIN number, is asso
`ciated With a discounted calling rate Within the database. The
`calling rate remains at a given standard rate for inmates that
`do not meet or eXceed the predetermined qualifying criteria
`for the given period of time. Thus, the CIV, such as a PIN
`number, for these inmates is associated With the standard
`calling rate Within the database of the telephone system. If
`the behavior measurement data changes for an inmate such
`that they no longer qualify for the discounted rate, the rate
`associated With the inmate’s PIN number changes to the
`standard rate and the inmate must “re-qualify” for the
`discounted rate and again maintain quali?cation for the
`qualifying period.
`The method is particularly useful to the corrections indus
`try for use With inmates Who frequently call their friends,
`family, loved ones, etc. The costs of these calls are typically
`borne by the family. Since the inmate can potentially qualify
`for loWer telephone rates through good behavior, the friends
`and family of the inmate Will most likely “pressure” the
`inmate to continue his or her good behavior so that they can
`bene?t from the reduced rates.
`While the speci?c embodiments have been illustrated and
`described, numerous modi?cations come to mind Without
`signi?cantly departing from the spirit of the invention and
`the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the
`accompanying claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of affecting inmate behavior Within a cor
`rectional facility comprising the steps of:
`providing an identi?cation for each inmate;
`establishing a discount telephone rate;
`establishing a measurement of conduct during incarcera
`tion for the inmates, Wherein
`said measurement is a predetermined point total;
`reducing the telephone call charge rate for inmates that
`meet the measurement of conduct during incarceration
`for a predetermined period of time;
`maintaining a record of inmate behavior for each inmate
`according to said identi?cation;
`aWarding points to each inmate based on particular behav
`ior; and
`deducting points from each inmate based on particular
`behavior.
`2. The method according to claim 1, further including the
`step of raising the rate When an inmate no longer meets the
`measurement of conduct during incarceration.
`3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
`connecting to a database to determine Whether an inmate
`is quali?ed to receive the reduced charge rate.
`4. The method according to claim 1 Wherein said reduced
`charge rate is a rate for a collect call.
`5. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the identi
`?cation is a respective PIN number assigned to each inmate
`for placing collect calls.
`6. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the identi
`?cation is a respective number associated With a prepaid
`calling card.
`7. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the identi
`?cation is effected through voice recognition.
`8. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the identi
`?cation is effected through biometric reading techniques.
`9. A method of affecting inmate behavior Within a cor
`rection facility comprising the steps of:
`establishing a discount telephone rate;
`
`

`

`US 6,636,591 B1
`
`5
`establishing a measurement of conduct during incarcera
`tion for the inmates, Wherein
`said measurement is a predetermined point total;
`reducing the telephone call charge rate for inmates that
`meet the measurement of conduct during incarceration
`for a predetermined period of time;
`associating the reduced charge rate With at least one
`predetermined destination number;
`maintaining records of inmate behavior for each inmate
`according to an inmate identi?er;
`
`6
`aWarding points to inmates based on particular behavior;
`and
`deducting points from inmates based on particular behav
`ior.
`10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:
`connecting to a database to determine Whether an inmate
`is quali?ed to receive the reduced charge rate for said
`at least one predetermined destination number.
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`