System and method for providing controlled environment resident status

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for providing controlled environment resident statuses. In an embodiment, a resident status communication system communicates with non-resident communication devices via audio calls and/or textual messages to provide inmate statuses as well as information related to the operation and administration of a correctional facility. The resident status communication system receives requests for information from the non-resident communication devices, determines whether the non-resident is authorized to access the requested information, and provides the requested information in a natural language format to facilitate the user experience. The resident status communication system also allows law enforcement officials and/or correctional facility staff to maintain statuses related to inmates and selectively distribute this information to authorized non-residents.

1 . A resident status communication system, comprising:
 a memory that stores a list of authorized individuals; and   one or more processors and/or circuits coupled to the memory, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are configured to:
 receive a request for correctional facility information from a communication device, wherein the request is received as audio data; 
 request audio identification information from the communication device related to the user of the communication device; 
 search the list of authorized individuals for information matching the audio identification information, wherein the audio identification information was previously added to the list of authorized individuals based on a previously completed registration process of the user of the communication device; and 
 in response to identifying information matching the audio identification information based on the search, transmit the correctional facility information as computer-generated audio data to the communication device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The resident status communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the correctional facility information includes statistics related to inmate recreational activities. 
     
     
         3 . The resident status communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the correctional facility information includes an amount of funding available in an inmate account. 
     
     
         4 . The resident status communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the correctional facility information includes correctional facility visitation hours. 
     
     
         5 . The resident status communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to:
 store a record associating the request with the audio identification information in the memory.   
     
     
         6 . The resident status communication system of  claim 1 , wherein to transmit the correctional facility information as computer-generated audio data, the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to:
 package the correctional facility information using natural language processing.   
     
     
         7 . The resident status communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are configured to perform the search by:
 converting the audio identification information to a textual format to generate textual identification information;   comparing the textual identification information with textual entries of the list of authorized individuals; and   designating a match in response to identifying a textual entry that matches the textual identification information.   
     
     
         8 . The resident status communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to:
 in response to identifying information matching the audio identification information based on the searching, fetch the correctional facility information from a resident status database located in a correctional facility.   
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, from a first communication device, first data requesting personal information related to a first inmate;   prompting the first communication device for first identification data related to a first non-inmate;   authenticating the first communication device based on the first identification data;   transmitting the personal information related to the first inmate to the first communication device in response to authenticating the first communication device;   receiving, from a second communication device, second data requesting personal information related to a second inmate;   prompting the second communication device for second identification data related to a second non-inmate, wherein the second identification data is a different type of identification data than the first identification data;   authenticating the second communication device based on the second identification data; and   transmitting the personal information related to the second inmate to the second communication device in response to authenticating the second communication device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first identification data includes a government identification number and wherein the second identification data includes biometric data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein prompting the first communication device for first identification data utilizes a natural language textual response process and wherein prompting the second communication device for second identification data utilizes a natural language interactive voice response process. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 data associated with the first inmate indicates that the first inmate has been charged with a first crime;   data associated with the second inmate indicates that the second inmate has been charged with a second crime;   the type of identification data of the first identification data is associated with the first crime; and   the type of identification data of the second identification data is associated with the second crime.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the type of identification data of the first identification data is associated with a request for information related to inmate activity within a correctional facility and wherein the type of identification data of the second identification data is associated with a request for judiciary information related to the inmate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 storing a record of the first data and first identification data against metadata associated with the first communication device.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a request for correctional facility information from a communication device, wherein the request is received as audio data;   requesting audio identification information from the communication device related to the user of the communication device;   searching the list of authorized individuals for information matching the audio identification information; and   in response to identifying information matching the audio identification information based on the search, transmitting the correctional facility information as computer-generated audio data to the communication device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the correctional facility information includes correctional facility visitation hours. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 storing a record associating the request with the audio identification information in the memory.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein transmitting the correctional facility information as computer-generated audio data, further comprises:
 packaging the correctional facility information using natural language processing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the searching further comprises:
 converting the audio identification information to a textual format to generate textual identification information;   comparing the textual identification information with textual entries of the list of authorized individuals; and   designating a match in response to identifying a textual entry that matches the textual identification information.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 in response to identifying information matching the audio identification information based on the searching, fetching the correctional facility information from a resident status database located in a correctional facility.