County jail visits now done by videoconference Officials say change will stop contraband from getting in, cut costs BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer PHOTOSBY JENNIFER AMATO The new video visitation system implemented at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick will consist of 45 monitors in the housing units being linked to 41 monitors in the front lobby area, shown at top. Middlesex County The Middlesex County Adult Correction Center unveiled a new video visitation system, the first of its kind in New Jersey, with a special demonstration at its Apple Orchard Lane facility on Oct. 31. "We like to be on the cutting edge here, and this is another example of the cutting edge, and we think other counties will follow suit," said Freeholder Christopher Rafano, the chairman of the Law and Public Safety Committee. The interactive, real-time system will be similar to a telephone conversation with an added visual component. Officially implemented on Nov. 1, the 45 monitors placed in the inmate housing units are linked to 41 monitors in the front visiting area of the building. The names of six visitors per inmate will be placed on an approval list. Visits can last 20, 40 or 60 minutes, and a five-minute countdown will appear on the screen towards the end of the session. A corrections officer can monitor and record the conversation from the front desk and can interrupt the session with his own video presence at any time. Freeholder Christopher Rafano demonstrates how to use the new video visitation system on Oct. 31. "From what you can see, not only can you see it well but you can hear it well," Warden Edward Cicchi said during the demonstration. "It is a tool if they're planning some illegal activity on that visit. We can hear it, see it, record it and stop it." The waiting time for visitors will be reduced since a new scheduling method will accompany the system, with Wednesday through Sunday visits scheduled according to the first initial of the inmate's last name. There will now be the ability to accommodate 120 visits an hour, or 490 visits per day. "This system also enhances the visits themselves [because] we can accommodate many more visitors at one time, cutting down on wait times and offer more privacy," Rafano said. The new method enhances security because any of the 1,300 inmates who have visitation rights no longer have to be brought down to the visitation room, and because of a lack of personal contact, contraband cannot be passed, according to Rafano. He also said it will be cost-effective because of the lesser number of necessary officers. Although eight officers were on duty at one time during the old system, the duties were split between monitoring the front desk, control booth and pat-down areas. Since two officers would be in the actual visitation room monitoring up to 160 visitors and inmates at one time, it was easy to distract them and therefore pass any money, drugs or weapons prohibited by the facility. Contraband was normally found once or twice a week. Now, five fewer officers will be needed to monitor the process because of the lack of inmate movement and personal contact. "Not only will the video visitation system prove cost-effective, it will enhance the security of everyone who lives, works or visits the corrections center. It's new technology that truly enhances our ability to keep our residents safe," the freeholder said. Previously, inmates were brought from their living quarters to the visitation space, having contact with other inmates on their way down and then needing to be searched beforehand. The visitation room consisted of two long tables of about 50 chairs each in which inmates would sit next to each other, across from their visitors. Privacy was practically nonexistent and security was at a minimum due to the large number of people in one area. Although the lack of physical contact came into question, Rafano said the security and cost measures, combined with the video component of the system, does not hinder the visitation experience. Also, the inmates are subject to parameters whereby after 90 days of incarceration they can schedule a contact visit for the last Friday of the month. "Most jails' contact visits aren't even contact visits; most visits are through glass," Cicchi said. Lawyers, clergy and specially ordered visits by judges or social services will still be done face to face. The system was originally observed by Cicchi during a visit to a correctional facility in Indiana to see the system in progress. Although $1 million was allocated in the county's general capital budget for this program, the system only cost about $700,000. Tomar Construction installed the monitors, which were provided by Stanley Integrator of Indianapolis. Rafano believes the costs will be recovered through the cutback on overtime, reduction of staff required to handle visitation and the reassignment of unneeded officers. "Our adult corrections facility is the only county corrections facility in the state to achieve perfect annual surveys for 13 years in a row," Rafano said. "But rather than resting on our laurels, Warden Cicchi, his staff and the freeholders continually strive to make the center safer and operations more cost-effective. The video visitation system achieves both those goals."