BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
NCIC Inmate Communication, Inc., provides inmate phone services in jails, detention centers, and prisons. This agreement outlines the scope of service, fees and obligations.
The Saginaw City Jail is equipped with telephones inside certain jail cells where inmates may be housed until released or transferred. These phones are designed to operate with software that logs and documents inmate calls by date, time, duration, and phone number, generates reports for Department records, and provides additional phone controls and features remotely. Phones were previously operated through a company called JCW, which discontinued its service in 2020.
Using current hardware, NCIC Inmate Communications will load proprietary software on the phone system to operate the service. Because inmates are not allowed to have personal items or money in the cells, calls can be placed by normal carrier based "collect call" service, or direct by pre-paid phone cards or debit cards. NCIC Inmate Communications collects a portion of these fees for providing the service.
This agreement stipulates that there is no cost to the City, and the City would receive 35% of any gross revenue after the first $250 of gross revenue in each month. The agreement would be renewable annually.
Without this service the City would incur high cost rates for telephone calls by inmates, need to purchase phone system software with additional maintenance fees, and probably be required to make unnecessary inmate movement within the jail.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no cost to the City and the City would receive 35% of any gross revenue over $250 each month.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval.