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Kiosks keep tabs on inmates released from jail during coronavirus pandemic

Photo courtesy of AB KIosk.

April 1, 2020

Across the U.S., jail administrators are releasing inmates to reduce their jail populations as they plan for the arrival of the coronavirus. As expected, this is causing concern within some communities that are wondering if anyone is monitoring these newly freed inmates.

The good news is that the autonomous AB Kiosk system, which is already being used in the lobbies of jails and courthouses to conduct court-mandated probation check-ins and alcohol screenings, can also be used to monitor those inmates who are being released into the community, according to a press release.

More than 20 county courts and probation departments across the Midwest already use the AB Kiosk system to conduct alcohol screening, pre-trial monitoring and probation check-ins. This includes Marion County, Indiana, whose six AB Kiosks currently monitor more than 1,700 low-risk probation clients.

"Using probation officers to conduct face-to-face check-ins with inmates would be a logical option in normal times, but this would also increase the risks of coronavirus transmission," Patrick McKinney, general manager of Precision Kiosk Technologies, said in the press release. "Our AB Kiosk can autonomously conduct recorded check-ins with released inmates, and the results of these check-ins can be remotely monitored in real time."

For any newly released inmate, the AB Kiosk handles the entire monitoring process from start to finish:

• Set kiosk schedules for the client check-ins and alcohol monitoring.
• Notify the client via texts and emails to check-in using a kiosk.
• Use biometric fingerprint authentication to confirm the client’s identity.
• Capture photos and video of each check-in.
• Deliver questions to the client and upload his or her responses.
• Issue a time-stamped receipt to the client.
• Notify the probation officer of the completed check-in.
• Alert the probation officer or jail supervisor when a check-in is missed.
• Automatically update the client’s records, including any changes in address, employment or participation in mandated treatment programs.

In most cases the AB Kiosk is located in the lobbies of the jails or courthouses where clients do not have to go through security to use the Kiosks. By using the AB Kiosk for low-risk clients, supervisors are also able to separate high- and low-risk clients, which prevents negative interactions between these groups.

For the latest updates on how the coronavirus is affecting the kiosk industry, click here.