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Prison board hears jail phone-monitoring volume; members discuss part-time hire and live-scan rollout
Summary
Board heard that jail intelligence staff monitored a very large volume of phone calls in 2024 (about 241,000) and discussed hiring a part-time employee to assist with phone and video monitoring; staff also reported a pending live-scan computer delivery and staff training.
At the Jan. 22 meeting the Lawrence County Prison Board discussed the volume of jail telephone monitoring and the status of a planned live-scan fingerprinting system.
The district attorney and jail staff reported that jail phone systems produced roughly 241,000 calls in 2024, about 20,000 a month, creating a large monitoring workload for one intelligence officer. The district attorney said the volume makes it difficult for one officer to review calls and suggested the board consider funding a part-time position or otherwise reallocating duties to allow detectives or ADAs to assist with monitoring specific calls.
Board members also discussed the potential for video-visit monitoring to be supported by the same part-time hire; staff noted that running video visits and occasional monitoring would also help the jail generate revenue.
On live-scan implementation, staff reported they are awaiting delivery of a computer; once received the system will be connected and county personnel will receive vendor-recommended training. Staff noted the live-scan system will reduce recurring costs for local police departments by enabling local prints to be processed at the jail; the board discussed ensuring courts receive notice and that invoicing details be included to allow costs to be attached to criminal cases where appropriate.
Board members did not vote on hiring at the meeting but directed staff to include the topic for future consideration (possibly via executive session or at the salary board), and to return with further cost and staffing proposals.
