Featured Article from Conferencing

Coimbatore Prison Videoconferencing System Getting 4G Upgrade

By Mandi Nowitz
Web Editor

The videoconferencing system at Coimbatore Central Prison will be receiving a 4G upgrade. Authorities revealed plans after the current system was taken down nearly a month ago. The previous videoconferencing system had been used for both interrogations and court litigations but, with the system down, it is has become quite dangerous to escort inmates back and forth from jail to court and back.

“In its absence, prisoners, including high-risk prisoners like Maoists and bomb blast case accused lodged here, have to be taken in and out of the jail frequently. It’s too risky to escort Maoists during November and December, as Maoists from other States are trying to establish camps in the region and may attack policemen who accompany prisoners,” a senior police officer said.

Violence amongst the Maoist prisoners has become so prevalent that videoconferencing became necessary to keep prisoners – and even the public – protected. On November 24, 2016, two Maoists were killed during an encounter with Thunderbolt police team in Kerala. Alerts were issued by intelligence agencies about the possibility of border attacks along with the dangers associated with Maoist transporting.

It was then suggested that videoconferencing be utilized as to avoid any further conflicts and confrontations. Along with easing the interrogation process, while protecting the safety of inmates and police escorts, videoconferencing is a great way for families to connect to loved ones in prison.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, both private organizations and prisons are working to swap in-person visits with video calls. It’s a big issue, because the videoconferencing systems in prisons are subpar in quality, but overly expensive.

Videoconferencing is a safer method for court appearances with highly dangerous criminals while keeping families connected. The proof is in the pudding: The more video chat time a prisoner gets with their family, the improved chances of in-person visits. Migrating to a 4G model will help service consistency and quality for all uses of the videoconferencing system.