System and Method for Call Treatment Using a Third Party Database

Abstract

Systems and methods which detect unauthorized, impermissible, or otherwise undesired call activity through the use of one or more third-party databases are shown. For example, a controlled environment facility information management system may access a database external thereto, such as a victim notification database, which is created and maintained by a third party unrelated to the controlled environment facility. Such third-party database access may be accomplished at the point of call validation or caller verification for determining the treatment of the call (e.g., allowed, blocked, allowed with limitations, etcetera). Such call treatment determinations may be made with respect a particular prisoner or other resident of the controlled environment facility making the call, may be made with respect to all calls made from a particular controlled environment facility, may be made with respect to a group of controlled environment facilities, etcetera.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing for payment for purchases, said method comprising:
 identifying, via a computer system, a purchase to be made by a first party;   establishing, via said computer system, a credit risk score of a second party using information with respect to said second party's communication address accessed from a database;   selecting, based on said credit risk score with respect to a predetermined threshold, between (i) authorizing said purchase as a post-paid purchase, and (ii) requiring prepayment for said purchase; and   implementing said selected one of said authorizing said purchase or said requiring said prepayment for said purchase.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selected one is said authorizing said purchase, wherein said authorizing said purchase as said post-paid purchase requires indication that a charge is to be incurred by said second party on a purchase-by-purchase basis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first party is a resident within a controlled environment facility, said purchase is a communication service, and said second party is a called party with respect to said communication service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said purchase comprises acquiring a good selected by said first party. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selected one is said requiring said prepayment for said purchase, wherein said prepayment is made by said second party to an account associated with said first party. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said prepayment made by said second party to said account is restricted for use with respect to communication services purchases having a connection to said second party. 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing for payment for communication services, said method comprising:
 identifying, using a computer system, a communication service desired by a first party, wherein said communication service includes a desire to place at least said first party in communication with a second party;   determining, using said computer system, if sufficient funds are available in a debit account associated with said first party to fund said communication service;   selecting, using said computer system and based on whether sufficient funds are available in said debit account, between (i) authorizing said communication service, and (ii) contacting said second party, wherein contacting said second party allows said second party to provide funds to said debit account for authorizing said communication service; and   implementing, using said computer system, said selected one of said authorizing or said contacting.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 debiting said debit account for purchase of goods by said first party independent of said communication service to place said first party in communication with said second party.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said contacting is said selected one that is implemented, wherein said allowing said second party to provide funds to said debit account comprises:
 using a network of retail locations by said second party to provide payment for deposit into said debit account.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said contacting is said selected one that is implemented, wherein said allowing said second party to provide funds to said debit account comprises:
 accepting payment remotely via credit card charge.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 authorizing said purchase of services in addition to said communication service if sufficient funds are available in said debit account.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said communication service and additional services comprise a service selected from the group consisting of:
 providing a telephone call;   purchase of a commissary item;   satisfaction of a warrant; and   providing a video communication.   
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 detecting, using a computer system, an initiation of a communication aspect from an initiating person to a receiving person via a communication medium;   obtaining, using said computer system and from a third-party database separate from said computer system, a billed name associated with said communication medium of said receiving person;   determining, using said computer system, a collection risk for said communication aspect based on said billed name;   selecting, using said computer system and based on said collection risk with respect to a predetermined threshold, between (i) authorizing said communication aspect based on a post-use payment, and (ii) requiring alternative payment prior to authorizing said communication aspect; and   implementing, using said computer system, said selected one of said authorizing said communication aspect or said requiring said alternative payment prior to authorizing.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said initiating person is a resident within a controlled environment facility, and said receiving person is not a resident of said controlled environment facility. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said requiring said alternative payment is said selected one that is implemented, wherein said alternative payment includes paying from a debit account associated with said initiating person. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , where said requiring said alternative payment further comprises prompting, by said computer system, said receiving person to transfer funds to said debit account. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said determining said collection risk is further based on a billed address associated with said communication medium of said receiving person. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said communication medium is a telephone call. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said initiation of said communication aspect is an initiation of a telephone call. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said initiation of said communication aspect is initiation of call forwarding during an on-going telephone call. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said initiation of said communication aspect is initiation of a three-way call during an on-going telephone call.