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Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton is backing off a contract provision that would have eliminated face-to-face visits in the county's two jails in favor of video kiosks.

That decision, announced today, comes after a Street Roots report earlier this month highlighted the change, suggesting it might be a sweet deal for a technology company the sheriff's office contracted with, but not for inmates.

Under that contract, with a Texas company called Securus Technologies, visiting via video/audio kiosks at the jail would have been free—the same as in-person visits today, in which inmates speak to well-wishers through a pane of glass—but would otherwise be no different in substance to video visiting Securus would make available online, for a fee. That could take away incentives for family and friends to visit incarcerated loved ones in the jail, and increase the likelihood they'd pay Securus—and Multnomah County— for a video visit.

The story raised concerns among Multnomah County commissioners, and today Staton announced he's got a "verbal agreement" to amend the contract with Securus.

Sheriff Staton has listened to feedback from the public regarding video visitation throughout this process. Sheriff Staton made the decision to maintain an in person "through the glass" visiting option for visitors. Sheriff Staton held discussions with Securus Technologies, the video visiting provider, to address this. The contract amendment has been verbally agreed to and will be completed by the end of the week. Sheriff Staton will continue to review social visiting processes and video visiting processes over the next six to eight months to ensure all concerns are taken into consideration.

Video visiting isn't intrinsically a bad thing. It allows people who might not otherwise see their imprisoned loved ones that chance, and during a wider range of days and hours. And the kiosks provide options for scheduling visits online, and even send would-be visitors an e-mail if an inmate is unavailable to receive company. Multnomah County, as the sheriff's office noted in the original Street Roots story, is hardly at the forefront of the trend.

Still, it makes little sense to force a video chat at the jail, when facilities already exist for face-to-face visits. According to Staton's announcement, kiosks are in place at both the Multnomah County Detention Center and the Inverness Jail, but face-to-face visits will remain available.

Hit the jump for Staton's full announcement.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) which is continuing to roll out jail kiosk capabilities as part of its agreement with Securus Technologies has now enabled video visiting kiosks at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail. The Multnomah County Detention Center is currently in the process of installation and will also have video visiting available once it has been completed.

Sheriff Staton has listened to feedback from the public regarding video visitation throughout this process. Sheriff Staton made the decision to maintain an in person "through the glass" visiting option for visitors. Sheriff Staton held discussions with Securus Technologies, the video visiting provider, to address this. The contract amendment has been verbally agreed to and will be completed by the end of the week. Sheriff Staton will continue to review social visiting processes and video visiting processes over the next six to eight months to ensure all concerns are taken into consideration.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is committed to providing excellent service to the communities of Multnomah County and video visiting is a technology that enhances the ability for an inmate to stay connected with family and friends. The expanded hours and ability to schedule a video visit seven days a week provides working families more options to visit with a loved one at a time that is convenient for them. Scheduling a video visit decreases delays incurred during first come, first serve visiting sessions, as the time is reserved for your use when it is scheduled. All onsite visitation is free at the jail facilities.

In addition, lobby kiosks at both facilities are now active and available for scheduling visits with inmates at the Inverness Jail. Visitors can schedule online to conduct their visit from either jail lobby. This increases access for visitors who use public transportation or are traveling from other areas and wish to use a Multnomah County Detention Center lobby video visiting kiosk, rather than going all the way out to the Inverness Jail facility. Any visits scheduled through the kiosk system also provide automatic notifications via email in case an inmate is unavailable for the visit due to a scheduling conflict (court, appointments, etc). Inmates held at the Multnomah County Detention Center will have video visiting options available later this year once installation is completed.

The new video visiting kiosks also give family and friends of an inmate in custody at the Inverness Jail the option for "Remote video visits". Remote video visits allow a visitor to sign up and schedule a remote visit from their home or another location utilizing their internet connected computer with webcam capabilities for a fee. The current fee is $5 for a 30 minute remote video visit. For more information regarding this option, or to sign up, please go to www.visitfromhome.net

Sheriff Staton has set up a review process for video visiting to occur semi-annually once the kiosks are fully installed and operating to ensure it is meeting goals. Goals set include an increase in efficiencies, expanded accessibility for inmate visitation, meeting inmate needs for visitation, decreasing visiting delays, and increasing staff safety. Video technology could also be utilized in the future to assist in medical and mental health services, commissary services, entertainment, connections with community providers or other services yet to be determined.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office continues to look for ways to integrate new technologies into its operations to increase efficiencies and offer additional services to the public we serve.