Communication tracking system for correctional facilities

Abstract

The present disclosure is for a system and a method for tracking physical and digital communication that is sent to an inmate who is incarcerated in a correction facility. The present invention enables a significant reduction in contraband and/or prohibited communication that is sent to inmates, and, at the same time, provides transparency in the communication delivery process such that a sender is appraised as to the status of the communication as it is processed by various systems and sub-systems within a correctional facility. Moreover, the present invention enables the identification and detection of criminal or prohibited communication that would otherwise have been undetected using prior art systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer program product for tracking and monitoring of communication that is sent to an inmate who is incarcerated in a correctional facility, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 obtain digital mail data associated with a communication sent to an inmate by a sender;   enable the sender to access a mail-tracking system;   update the mail-tracking system, wherein the sender is enabled to track the status of the communication by accessing the mail-tracking system.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method for tracking and monitoring of communication that is sent to an inmate who is incarcerated in a correctional facility, the computer-implemented method comprising:
 obtaining digital mail data associated with a communication sent to an inmate by a sender;   enabling the sender to access a mail-tracking system;   updating the mail-tracking system, wherein the sender is enabled to track the status of the communication by accessing the mail-tracking system.   
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein digital mail data is comprised of one or more digital files representing physical communication. 
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein physical communication is comprised of communication sent via postal mail. 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein digital mail data is comprised of one or more digital files representing digital communication. 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to whether the communication has been delivered for view by the inmate. 
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to any flags attached to the communication. 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to whether the communication has been accepted or rejected by the correctional facility. 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to whether the inmate has accessed the communication. 
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to date and time of delivery of the communication to the inmate for viewing. 
     
     
         11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to date and time of access of the communication by the inmate. 
     
     
         12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to location of delivery of the communication to the inmate. 
     
     
         13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to location of access of the communication by the inmate. 
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to identification of any individual that accessed the communication. 
     
     
         15 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to if and when the communication is reviewed by a correctional facility. 
     
     
         16 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the status includes information related to if and when the communication is printed for delivery at the correctional facility. 
     
     
         17 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein enabling the sender to access the mail-tracking system includes obtaining a sender information check, the sender information provided by the sender in order to be given access to the mail-tracking system. 
     
     
         18 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising automatically flagging the digital mail data if a contraband analysis indicates that the communication is comprised of contraband. 
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein updating the mail-tracking system is done automatically. 
     
     
         20 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining whether the sender is associated with a sender identification. 
     
     
         21 . The computer implemented method of  claim 20 , further comprising providing registration information to the sender if the sender is not associated with a sender identification, wherein the registration information enables the sender to register for the mail-tracking system and receive updates regarding the communication. 
     
     
         22 . A computer-implemented method for tracking and monitoring of communication that is sent to an inmate who is incarcerated in a correctional facility, the computer-implemented method comprising:
 obtaining digital mail data associated with a communication sent to an inmate by a sender;   enabling the sender to access a mail-tracking system;   updating the mail-tracking system, wherein the sender is enabled to track the status of the communication by accessing the mail-tracking system, wherein the status includes information related to at least one of: whether the communication has been delivered for view by the inmate, any flags attached to the communication, whether the communication has been accepted or rejected by the correctional facility, whether the inmate has accessed the communication, date and time of delivery of the communication to the inmate for viewing, date and time of access of the communication by the inmate, location of delivery of the communication to the inmate, location of access of the communication by the inmate, identification of any individual that accessed the communication, if and when the communication is reviewed by a correctional facility, if and when the communication is printed for delivery at the correctional facility.