By Jason Shueh
GovTech
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — In an effort to cut costs and save taxpayer dollars, the Westchester County Department of Correction (WCDOC) in New York has turned to video conferencing.
In a Cisco video conference used to promote its video services, WCDOC Operations Capt. Mark Reimer said the department introduced secure video feeds to shave hours off of many of its supervisory and transportation duties.
“It saves us from transporting from within the jail, and it saves us from having to process everybody who comes to the jail,” Reimer said.
He explained that the program functions by using encrypted video-conferencing units that essentially provide inmates a secure webcam and microphone to interact with the outside world. Video conferencing can now be done with family members, attorneys, mental health professionals and medical staff, as well as to allow participation in ancillary court proceedings that don’t require the inmate to be presented before a jury.
Since the video initiative began in 2005, the WCDOC has gradually increased its video visitation units to 80. Officials plan to install additional units for the department’s inmates — a fluctuating population that averages around 1,300 but can go as high as 1,800. While the service is not new, its growth in Westchester County is evidence of its increasing use in prisons as a means of reducing costs. The state of Michigan began video conferencing in 1996 across 34 correctional facilities.
Full story: Webcams Slash Prison Costs in New York