Cape May County Jail visits go online in way to save money, minimize risk

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE -- Inmates at the Cape May County Jail can visit their friends or family over the Internet in a system officials said could generate thousands of dollars for taxpayers each year.

Sheriff Gary Schaffer on Thursday unveiled the system designed by the Internet company iWebVisit.com that will replace the typical system in which inmates and visitors talk over a telephone separated by a thick pane of glass.

Cape May County was the first jail in the nation to buy the service, similar to Skype, which allows inmates to see and hear from loved ones anywhere in the world. The company beta tested its equipment at the Washoe County Jail in Reno, Nev., company founder Rob Avery said.

This system is expected to reduce the risk that moving inmates throughout the jail poses to sheriff's officers. Schaffer said the jail's inmates have affiliations to as many as nine gangs. Fights sometimes erupt.

The county bought 27 terminals for $67,000 using $50,000 in capital expenses and $17,000 from inmate fees. Under a profit-sharing deal, the county will receive 46 percent of the company's proceeds in the five-year contract.

Unlike Skype, the service was designed for jails with security features in mind. The sessions are recorded and monitored remotely by a county sheriff's officer, who can pause or disable the service. This function is deactivated for confidential discussions between inmates and clergy or their lawyers.

The New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said video visitation would be a nice option, but it makes a poor substitute for in-person visits.

"Especially when dealing with one's children or other immediate family members, this is an unsatisfactory and incomplete substitute," legal director Ed Barocas said. "Research shows that one of the best predictors of successful reintegration after an inmate is released is quality visiting from friends and family while incarcerated. Anything that makes that more difficult is counterproductive and therefore impedes not only rehabilitation but also public safety."

Schaffer said the system is likely to increase the amount of time inmates can spend with their families.

Cape May County's jail scheduled nearly 10,000 inmate visits last year for family members and legal professionals. The new system will greatly expand the hours and frequency of visits, Schaffer said.

The jail will allow up to three Internet visits per inmate per day. The families create an account through the private company and pay the contracted service provider $10 for each 20-minute session. Schaffer said in most cases, this is cheaper than making a collect call or traveling to the jail in person.

Families without Internet access can use the service for free at the jail through kiosks set up in the old visiting room. Schaffer is collaborating with the county library to configure those public computers for visitation use by local families.

"I think it's good for families," Schaffer said. "The children aren't exposed to the hard realities of jail. Psychologically, I think that will be beneficial to the kids."

The jail had limited visitors to two for each in-person visit. But the Internet service allows inmates to talk to their entire family simultaneously. Friends or family members in different states can participate simultaneously.

Schaffer said a prison-wide system could be a legitimate source of revenue for New Jersey.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, a former county sheriff, toured the jail last week. Salem County Sheriff Charles Miller examined the system on Thursday.

"We have 135 federal prisoners from Philadelphia and Delaware in our facility," Miller said. "It could be a good tool for people who live out of state."

Contact Michael Miller:

609-463-6712

MMiller@pressofac.com