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Think of it as “prisoner over IP.” In Washington, DC, Mayor Vincent C. Gray is reportedly announcing that the D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC) is moving forward with the implementation of a new model for inmate visitation via video conferencing. The technology will connect inmates housed at the D.C. jail with their visitors via the department's state-of-the-art Video Visitation Center, located within the D.C. General Hospital complex.

“I'm excited to announce this new visitation technology, because it will significantly streamline visitor check-in, improve the management of inmate visitation and improve safety and accessibility for family members and friends,” said Mayor Gray in a press release.“It's the right solution for our visitors, incarcerated persons and staff members at the D.C. Jail,” he said.

To put the technology in place, the Washington D.C. Department of Corrections' is working with Global Tel*Link (GTL (News - Alert)), the department's current provider of inmate telephone service. The DoC says the implementation will solve a number of problems and have added benefits. It will allow for an increased number of daily visits (the DOC says it will be able to double visits from 200 to 400 per day using the technology), reduces congestion and long lines for visitors, eliminates the need for invasive security measures (such as pat-downs and frisking) and cuts down on security-related and staffing costs.

But if you're looking to lay eyes on your incarcerated loved one in person, it might lack that interpersonal up-close feeling.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO click here.

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