Mechanism for Multiple System Common Scheduling and Analysis of Unrelated Events in a Corrections Facility

Abstract

A method is presented for use in correctional facilities to manage resources. Particularly, the method includes using a scheduling engine capable of receiving scheduling requests from other systems or direct entry of scheduling data and which is equipped to provide reports that inform the facility of the schedules of all inmates, transportation requirements, and space accommodations. The method may be employed for evaluating the needs for transportation and space and may also be used to generate reports that show relationships between inmates based on activities, locations, and time.

1 . A method for managing data in a correction facility comprising:
 receiving data from a plurality of standalone systems, the data including at least one of information for at least one offender and the correction facility resources.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information for the at least one offender includes first scheduling information of a first event from a first standalone system and second scheduling information of a second event from a second standalone system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 applying rules to the first event and the second event when there is a conflict between the first event and the second event in a time slot.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first event is associated with a first priority level and the second event is associated with a second priority level. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 one of cancelling and rescheduling the second event when there is a conflict in the time slot.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 sending one of a cancellation notice and a rescheduling notice to the second standalone system.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first event is one of a doctor's appointment and a court appointment and the second event is the other of the doctor's appointment and the court appointment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the data includes a date stamp and the method further includes selection of a report from a plurality of preset reports, running said report against the data, and providing a report of the data returned in chronological order. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data is from two of a medical appointments standalone system, a medical records standalone system, a group counseling standalone system, a court appearances standalone system, a rehab program events standalone system, a prescriptions and dosages standalone system, a discipline records standalone system, a contacts with staff standalone system, and a work schedule system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the data is for a plurality of offenders and the data includes a date stamp and the method further includes selection of a report from a plurality of preset reports, running said report against the data, and providing a report of the data returned in chronological order. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data is from two of a medical appointments standalone system, a medical records standalone system, a group counseling standalone system, a court appearances standalone system, a rehab program events standalone system, a prescriptions and dosages standalone system, a discipline records standalone system, a contacts with staff standalone system, and a work schedule system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the data includes a date stamp and the method further includes selection of a report from a plurality of preset reports, running said report against the data, and providing a report of the data returned in chronological order, wherein the report includes the names of offenders present in a same vicinity at a selected time frame and the data is from at least two of a medical appointments standalone system, a medical records standalone system, a group counseling standalone system, a court appearances standalone system, a rehab program events standalone system, a prescriptions and dosages standalone system, a discipline records standalone system, a contacts with staff standalone system, and a work schedule system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource information is pulled from at least two of a medical appointments standalone system, a medical records standalone system, a group counseling standalone system, a court appearances standalone system, a rehab program events standalone system, a prescriptions and dosages standalone system, a discipline records standalone system, a contacts with staff standalone system, and a work schedule system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying a set of rules related to the resources.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein application of the rules to the resources changes a schedule of at least one offender 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the resource information includes at least one of vehicles, rooms, and officers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 generating alerts when a resource is near complete allocation for a given time slot.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 surveying the schedules for a plurality of offenders, finding the least scheduled time slot for each of the offenders in the plurality, and scheduling an event for said plurality of offenders.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying rules and rescheduling an event for at least one offender where there is a conflict in the availability of resources.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying rules and rescheduling an event for at least one offender where there is a conflict, wherein the conflict is where two or more people are deemed enemies or criminal collaborators and the two or more people are scheduled to be in a same place at a same time.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying rules and reallocating resources when an event includes two or more people deemed enemies or criminal collaborators and the two or more people are scheduled to be in a same place at a same time.