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Committee approves inmate-phone contract with IC Solutions; council gets assurances on data, rates and indigent calls
Summary
The committee recommended approval of a cooperative purchasing agreement with Inmate Calling Solutions LLC for inmate communications for the Davidson County Sheriff's Office after council members received answers about call rates, data ownership and indigent/attorney call policies.
The Metropolitan Nashville Public Health & Safety Committee on RS2025-1419 approved a cooperative purchasing master agreement with Inmate Calling Solutions LLC, doing business as IC Solutions, to provide inmate communications for the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. The committee recommended approval 8 in favor, 0 against, 0 not voting.
Council member PrepTee (name as recorded) removed the item from the consent agenda to ask pre-filed questions and have answers entered into the record. PrepTee asked whether the new agreement would replace an existing Securus contract; staff answered that the Securus contract would end at year-end and the IC Solutions agreement would substitute those services when it takes effect.
PrepTee also asked about confidential information collected through the system—names, internal OCA numbers, phone numbers called, and call lengths—and whether that data could be sold. Staff and the sheriff's office representatives said the contract prohibits unauthorized disclosure and that the data belongs to Davidson County and would not be sold. Ruby Joerner, Chief of Corrections, confirmed provisions for indigent callers: there are one or two free calls per month for people without resources, and attorney calls are free and not recorded.
The committee also heard that the per-minute charge under the current Securus arrangement and the new IC Solutions contract is 6 cents per minute. PrepTee noted the importance of affordable telephone access to reduce recidivism by keeping people connected to family and supports.
After brief public questions and confirmation from sheriff's office representatives in attendance, the committee moved and seconded the item and recommended approval.
