Correctional postal mail contraband elimination system

Abstract

A method and system for eliminating contraband in postal mail at a correctional facility comprising a central processing facility and a network of inmate email kiosks and correctional institution staff review stations. The postal mail utilizes scanning stations to create electronic versions of the mail and associates various information about the sender, recipient, mail contents, and institution into a format that is easily reviewable and provides tracking data. The scanned mail may then be made available to the intended inmate and institution staff. Institution staff may also then access the associated information and tracking data.

1 . A method for eliminating contraband in a postal mail item for an inmate housed at a correctional facility, the method comprising:
 a. receiving the postal mail item for the inmate at a mail-processing facility physically remote from the correctional facility;   b. identifying mailing information of the postal mail item comprising the inmate the correctional facility;   c. identifying an identifier associated with the inmate;   d. identifying and electronically storing a sender information for the postal mail item;   e. identifying content information of the postal mail item;   f. associating the sender information and the content information with the inmate identifier;   g. screening the postal mail item for contraband;   h. scanning the content information to generate an electronic copy and associating the electronic copy with the inmate identifier;   i. storing the electronic copy for subsequent review by correctional staff and for presentation to the recipient inmate;   j. associating the electronic copy with a unique identifier which may be the same as the inmate identifier; and   k. providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility comprises providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility for display on an electronic display device accessible to the recipient inmate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising logging a date of receipt and a date of access to the electronic copy by the recipient inmate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing the electronic display device to the correctional facility. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic display device is at least one of a computer, tablet, or kiosk. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility comprises providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility for generating a printed copy at the correctional facility for delivery to the recipient inmate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing an electronically stored list of prohibited words to the electronic copy to determine a prohibited word. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating the electronic copy with an access flag. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising using the access flag to prohibit inmate access to information from the electronic copy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a graphical user interface for correctional staff to review the electronic copy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic copy is stored on a computer physically remote from the correctional facility. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic copy is stored on a computer that is physically remote from both the correctional facility and the mail-processing facility. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contraband comprises at least one of pornography, dangerous objects, and drugs. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a text from the electronic copy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the text is identified by manual transcription. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the text is identified using optical character recognition software. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising associating an access flag with at least one of the text and the electronic copy. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising using the access flag to prohibit recipient inmate access to information from the electronic copy or the text. 
     
     
         19 . A method for eliminating contraband in a postal mail item for an inmate housed at a correctional facility, the method comprising:
 a. receiving the postal mail item for the inmate at a mail-processing facility physically remote from the correctional facility;   b. identifying mailing information of the postal mail item comprising the inmate the correctional facility;   c. logging information regarding the postal mail item;   d. identifying an identifier associated with the inmate;   e. identifying and electronically storing a sender information for the postal mail item;   f. identifying content information of the postal mail item;   g. associating the sender information and the content information with the inmate identifier;   h. screening the postal mail item for contraband;   i. scanning the content information to generate an electronic copy and associating the electronic copy with the inmate identifier;   j. storing the electronic copy for subsequent review by correctional staff and for presentation to the recipient inmate;   k. associating the electronic copy with a unique identifier which may be the same as the inmate identifier;   l. providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility; and   m. providing a graphical user interface for staff to review the recipient inmate's communications.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility for displaying the electronic copy on an electronic display device accessible to the recipient inmate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising logging a date of receipt and a date of access to the electronic copy by the recipient inmate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electronic display device is at least one of a computer, tablet, or kiosk. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing the electronic copy to the correctional facility for generating a printed copy at the correctional facility for delivery to the recipient inmate. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising associating the electronic copy with an access flag. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising using the access flag to prohibit inmate access to information from the electronic copy. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the electronic copy is stored on a computer physically remote from the correctional facility. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the electronic copy is stored on a computer that is physically remote from both the correctional facility and the mail-processing facility. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the graphical user interface allows staff to review the electronic copy before it is printed at the correctional facility. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the electronic copy is stored on a computer physically remote from the correctional facility. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the electronic copy is stored on a computer that is physically remote from both the correctional facility and the mail-processing facility.