KBZK
BILLINGS — The Yellowstone County Detention Facility recently implemented a system that will allow loved ones to engage in visits with inmates without ever leaving their home.
The remote visitation system by Telmate, launched Dec. 5, is said to be the first of its kind in Montana. It allows scheduled 30-minute visits via webcam for inmates to communicate with their friends and family members for $10.50 a session. The public links to the inmate through a Web browser, and the system in the detention facility resembles a pay phone with a screen. It’s equipped with a camera and telephone for communication similar to what an in-person visit would entail.
“This gives you the option to schedule a visit at a time that is convenient for you and you can stay right at home,” Justin Tidwell, a Telmate account manager, told KBZK. “It also saves you time and money from driving down here.”
Full story: ‘Skype’ for Jail: Video Chat Moves Inmate Visits Online