Monthly Archives: September 2016

Business Integrity

Global Tel-Link is Dealing With Some Drama

People whine a little too much about this and that. It is now Global Tel-Link’s turn to hear a little whining from the people. Apparently, the giant inmate communications company has been outed for adding extra minutes to calls made between inmates and their loved ones. This went on for years. How in the world could something like that go on for years? I will tell you how; people were simply not paying attention to their bills to notice the discrepancy. Yeah, I know everyone wants to blame the company for doing something like this, but I would blame the people, too. It is easy to blame the big bad Global Tel-Link company, but I think people need to accept some responsibility.
Some people noticed the discrepancy right away, and they tried to talk to the FCC that did nothing about it for years. Sure, the FCC is now performing an investigation involving GTL, but it is nothing more than an investigation. The FCC is supposed to be on the people’s side, yet it seems like the agency is not too confident about the case. For one, the government agency ignored people for years, and now their investigations seem to be taking longer than necessary. I just read on PR Newswire that Global Tel-Link’s competitors released a paper trail that links Global Tel-Link to the accusations. I would imagine that would be enough to convince the FCC, but apparently not.

Well, the FCC did put a cap on the amount of money that these companies can charge for services (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs3WHNzOcj4) but nothing further. I do not know who to root for here. I think that the people that were swindled need to suck it up, and talk to loved ones through the mail if they do not trust Global Tel-Link and similar companies. I think the FCC needs to be scrutinized, and I do think Global Tel-Link needs to suffer a loss, but we shall see what happens. Visit prisontalk.com for more information related to GTL and their doings.

 

Inmate Communication

The Risks and Benefits of Prisons Going High-Tech

Technology makes prisons safer and reduces the need for many correctional staff for surveillance. Some facilities perform inmate visits by use of electronic video/audio technology, videoconferencing and teleconferencing to attend court sessions remotely and use of advanced packaged food technology that let many inmates remain in their cells during meal times. Due to this, critics argue that reducing face-to-face contact by use of technology dehumanizes inmates and imposes psychological damage via continuous isolation.
Advancing technology in correctional institutions is a necessary evil. Even the most invaluable things come with their own downsides. The Criminal Justice director a South University, Columbia, Denny Powers says that the isolation is necessary in keeping other inmates from more dangerous prisoners. Keefe Supply Company is a leading supplier of necessities, services and solutions to the corrections market and they understand the need for improvement in the industry.

After supplying single serve coffee packets to a Florida facility many years ago, Keefe Group realized the need for advancement in correctional product offering. The company knew that the only way to evolve the industry was to provide products, services and solutions that will make prisons more secure and effective. The company pioneered the packaging of instant coffee and drink mixes in sealed paper pouches as well as pouch-packaging seafood. This eliminated the use of glass and metal containers that posed a security threat.

Keefe Group is made of six operating companies with each addressing distinct features of commissary operations. Keefe Group is a leading supplier of personal care products, clothing, food products, technology, electronics, telecommunication, and software solutions to the correctional market. Keefe Group services the corrections market through its affiliates – Keefe Commissary Network, Advanced Technologies Group, Keefe Supply Company, Access Securepak, Access Corrections, and Keefe Commissary Network. Learn more about Keefe on corrections.com.

For nearly four decades now, Keefe Group has been a pioneer and leader in providing advanced services and solutions to the correctional market. The company has its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Keefe Group also has several facilities around the country including ten regional service centers and seven principle distribution centers.
Related Links:
cdispatch.com

http://www.prisoncensorship.info/article/fight-keefe-food-group-corruption/

 

 

Business Integrity

IC Solutions Is Out For Blood

In regards to IC Solutions, they are out for blood. They are going straight for the throat of their clients and customers. For those unfamiliar with the company, they are an inmate communications provider which allows inmates to speak to their loved ones over the telephone for a fee. However, as this Pissed Consumer article points out, https://icsolutions.pissedconsumer.com/ic-solutions-shady-fraudulent-company-20141224574304.html, there are a lot of hoops to jump through and their prices are simply impossible for people on a low-income to afford. They know this and they do not care. I’m serious. All they care about is getting as much money in their pockets as possible from their victims and yes, they are victims.
I’m a big believer in second chances and redemption. After all, no one is perfect and sometimes people make a mistake in the blink of an eye and their life changes. It does not excuse what they have done or justify it. It is just a reason. There is a reason for everything. There is more to it. However, after they pay the price and do their time, they should get a chance to come out and start their life over again the right way. They are human beings too.

However, if you want to talk about people that are not human beings, that is IC Solutions. They are vultures looking to grab as much as they can by any means necessary. They do not care if they are putting families in debt or actually stealing straight out of their pockets. They seem impossible to get a hold of and they don’t really work on their people skills. They know they have customers right where they want them and if they want to talk to the person they love, they will have to pony up the money somehow and someway. http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/IC-Solutions/internet/IC-Solutions-inmate-calling-solutions-A-Necessary-evil-Internet-833195

 

Business Integrity

Global Tel-Link Needs to Close Down, and Give Better Companies a Shot

I just read that the FCC is putting a cap on the fees that inmate communication companies can charge families. I was a bit upset because I do not think that the FCC or any other entity has the right to interfere with business. This is why we have a free market in this country. The free market regulates itself without governmental interference. I took a closer look, and everything became a little clearer. It seems that this whole thing started with Global Tel-Link, which is one of the biggest companies that provides this service to prisons.
Global Tel Link focuses on phone communication and has been making loads of money for years. That makes sense to me when you pay attention to how much the company was charging loved ones to call inmates. I read a Law360 report that said it was not strange to see rates up to 89 cents per minute. This rate does not include service fees, which are due every time a loved one runs out of minutes. What really hit me was finding out that Global Tel-Link was also charging people hidden fees and additional minutes. Keep in mind that these additional minutes were never used by the customers.

You would think that this company would have announced some kind of apology but nope. What is worse is that the communications business decided to fight the FCC by saying that the cap that the agency placed on the business might disturb the quality of calls. I do not know why this company decided it was okay to fight an agency, especially after doing what this company did. Businesses like this give liberals leverage and make their arguments valid. I hope this company is taken down and replaced by a company that treats its customer base with dignity.

References:
youtube.com
http://mythreecents.com/reviews/global-tel-link
https://action.aclu.org/global-tel

Inmate Communication

IC Solutions: Connecting Inmates With Family and Friends

IC Solutions has drastically revolutionized telecommunication in the American criminal justice system. This company offers various types of IT solutions for inmates and their loved ones. Video visitation by IC Solutions comes with many benefits and advantages compared to traditional forms of communication. First of all, family members can set up a video visitation from the convenience of their own house. Such individuals do not have to deal with the hassle of security checkpoints in jails and prisons. On the other end, an incarcerated loved one can also conveniently sit in front of a computer and enjoy a face-to-face interaction via a virtual platform.
IC Solutions has spent a lot of time and effort on optimizing the video visitation service (http://jailphoneservices.com/ic-solutions/). A unique platform has been developed to allow people easy access to such a communication service. Before initiating the sessions, users must properly test their internet connection speed at home. It is not recommended that video visitation be done via a Wi-Fi network in a public place such as a library or cafe. IC Solutions has developed advanced software that is optimized to run smoothly only with high-speed internet connections.

The jails or prisons that offer video visitation have also made major improvements to their IT infrastructure. IC Solutions wants to ensure that its clients can enjoy the best possible experience in the latest telecommunication products and services. Therefore, it might take some time for correctional institutions to fully qualify for all of the IT solutions that are offered by this company. For example, special kiosks have to be set up in correctional facilities that want to offer the Secure Mail and Secure Photo services. Once the kiosks are installed, they also have to be properly maintained and monitored. Security officers are responsible for checking all of the content that goes through the Secure Mail and Secure Photo platforms.  Read more on pissedconsumer.com.

Source:
ripoffreport.com

 

Inmate Communication, Prison News, Prison Phone Calls

Communcating with Loved One’s Behind Bars

Communicating with inmates has become big time business for many companies in the United States and Canada. Large organizations have streamed lined the process, and discovered a market that is easy for them to control. An inmate doesn’t have an option of choosing a particular service when trying reach out to friends or family members. If they are in a position where visitation isn’t allowed, phones are usually the best recourse. The rates are set by the service providers. There is no negotiating plans and pricing. This leaves the customer at the mercy of the big companies that control the communication process.
The FCC has looked to intervene and set a cap on rates. However, these efforts have had little impact. The pricing is arranged in a deal with the technology provider and the local law enforcement agency. At the moment there is little that can be done about how these two entities conduct business.
Calls are priced at about a dollar per minute. Interstate communication rates have been regulated by the FCC. This means that an inmate call form Virginia to North Carolina is price capped by law. The rates are set and cannot be elevated by the service provider. Intrastate calls are not subject to this regulation, and often become inflated. It is believed service providers have adjusted their pricing on calls within state to make up for revenue lost by the FCC regulation.
Large companies blame the FCC’s involvement for not being able to accommodate customers with lower prices. Since the government agency regulated one aspect of their business, they claim that they were forced to adjust service rates in order to cover costs. In the end, the consumer is getting the bill.

References

http://www.ibtimes.com/why-prison-phone-rates-keep-going-even-though-fcc-regulated-them-2388200

Inmate Communications Technology, Prison Issues, Prison News

FCC Helps to Lower Call Rates for Inmate Communications Technology

The Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) has taken action with reducing the rates for inmate phone and inmate calls and email technology. Traditionally, contacting inmates within a prison facility has always been accompanied by high rates. The FCC no longer wants families and inmates to be charged exuberant prices just to keep in touch.

The FCC realizes that inmates do better when they are able to keep in touch with family. It helps them to remain more positive while they are behind bars and in many cases it helps to reduce the recidivism for convicted felons.

Also, when inmate communication rates are low; children can keep in touch with their incarcerated parents. The fact is that many inmates are poor individuals once they are arrested. Their families are also economically challenged.

When a head of household is sent away to jail it is often hard for the rest of the family to go them. Contacting them on the phone can be just as difficult. The point is that when a family lacks resources they will have a harder time calling and visiting their loved one in jail.

The FCC’s efforts with reducing inmate communication fees is very beneficial to family and inmates alike. It also helps the prison industry as a whole since it reduces potential issues with inmates throughout facilities. The truth is that many inmates will keep their behavior under control if they know they have something to lose. The FCC will continue to monitor inmate technology to ensure that inmate communications providers are not overcharging inmates and their families. You can find out more about this information at the FCC website.

Communications Service

IC Solutions Offers Modern Telecommunication In Jails

Originally established as a provider of telephone services, IC Solutions has gradually evolved into a top IT enterprise. This company now offers a variety of telecommunication solutions for correctional institutions in the United States of America. Perhaps according to SJR, the most innovative service that is offered by this firm is video visitation.
Inmates who are allowed to use video visitation surely appreciate the convenience of such an option. Of course, family members and friends also benefit tremendously from using video visitation. First of all, there is no need for people to actually travel to a correctional facility just to see a loved one who’s locked up. Video visitation can be done from the comfort of a home, office or any place that has a reliable internet connection. However, inmates have a bit more restrictions when it comes to using video visitation. This service is usually available only at designated times throughout the day at a participating correctional facility. An inmate is allowed to settle down in front of a computer that is connected to a webcam and microphone. Every video visitation session is closely monitored by the given facility. IC Solutions surely understands the importance of security in any telecommunication product or service that is set up in a jail or prison. Visit their website: https://www.icsolutions.com/

When it comes to using a traditional telephone service by IC Solutions, inmates have plenty of flexibility. For example, inmates might be able to access their voicemail if they did not get the chance to talk with someone in real time. The basic telephone services that are provided by IC Solutions come at affordable rates for people all over the United States of America. By using debit cards and other common payment methods, it should be quite simple to add funds to a given account that is associated with an inmate. Read more on Pissedconsumer.com.

 

Inmate Communication, Prison Call Rates, Prison News, Prison Phone Calls

Finally, FCC Regulates Prison Phone Calls Rates

After 14 years of campaigning for prison phone calls regulation, advocates for prisoners together with their families managed to attract the attention of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In October 2015, FCC announced the new rates. According to these rates, caps per-minute in federal or state prisons would be 11 cents while it will cost 22 cents per-minute in local jails. The new caps are fair compared to previous year’s charges, which went as high as 89 cents. An FCC commissioner, Mignon Clyburn, expressed her excitement through her touching speech, explaining how happy she was that the issue was addressed after a long time.
A Republican Commissioner, Pai, also pointed out how the contraband cell phone trade has been violated in Georgia prisons, without making direct links to the culprits. However, Global Tel-Link and Securus, the two main phone services providers at correctional facilities, did not receive the news well. The chief executive officer of Global Tel-link, Brian Oliver, condemned FCC’s new rules by saying that it would create financial instability in their company. This situation will in turn hurt the same inmates that the body is trying to protect. Conversely, Securus argued that the new rate caps are way below their cost of business and vowed to appeal to the D.C. Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals.
However, the new FCC rules left out two major issues surrounding the controversy of the inmate communications. One is the expensive video chat services that limit in-person visitations. The second is the prison telecom industries where prison facilities sign contacts with specific service providers who charge high fees to prisoners in an attempt to deal with rivalry in paying back the prisons. The executive director of the prison policy initiative, Peter Wagner, has been advocating on the elimination of these site commissions. However, he sees it as a worthless venture since companies will always have other ways of bribing the sites. This information was originally reported on Bloomberg as provided in the link below http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-22/is-this-the-end-of-sky-high-prison-phone-call-rates-

Business Integrity

Communication Through New Wave Keefe Group Software

Inmate communication isn’t something that is on the minds of most people until one of their friends or family members get locked up. I had a cousin that got locked away recently, and that is when it hit me. I needed to find a way to visit. He was in a prison that was as much as 5 hours away. I was in no position to visit him in the physical, but with Keefe Group I discovered that I did not have to. I got the chance to research the software, and now I know that this is the best way to go.

With the video visit I have been able to capture the feeling of having a visit with my cousin without the hassle of driving that far. I was actually communicating with him through Face Time before he got locked away and this is just an extension of that.

Everyone has a smartphone will notice that the best way to stay in touch with family members that have been incarcerated is with a reliable app. Keefe Group (check out their vendor profile on corrections.com) has become the one that has made it possible for more people to keep communicating when the tables have turned like this.

The big thing that a lot of people may notice is that the Keefe Group is giving people a lot of options. There is jail voice mail that is very popular for me and my family. Everyone may not get in on the video visit, but I have encouraged tons of my family members to leave jail voice mail for my cousin. This is something that can be encouraging for him. The great thing is that it doesn’t cost much to do this. Many people have family members that need a little bit of encouragement when they are imprisoned.

Source: http://www.prisoncensorship.info/article/fight-keefe-food-group-corruption/