Board approves two-year in-facility communications contract, forwards to commissioners

The Tippecanoe County Community Corrections Board voted to approve a two-year contract to provide in-facility communications tablets and related services and will forward the agreement to the county commissioners for final approval.

Staff summarized the contract as similar to the sheriff’s department arrangement and said the county attorney had reviewed the documents. "Participants can buy minutes much like, adding to a phone card and then the facility would receive a percentage or a commission off of those minutes," said Corey George, director, in presenting the proposal. George said video visitation features are optional and can be declined; staff printed the full contract package for board review and said the agreement would terminate the current provider relationship.

Board members asked practical questions about device custody and monitoring. Staff said tablets would be managed by work-release staff, checked in and out like library materials, and would not leave secure areas. A staff member explained the retention and oversight process: "We keep the data for 5 years in a database, and we're able to pull up just like all the other security footage," the staff member said, adding the system can produce recordings for law enforcement requests. The staff member also said users will sign a disclosure and user agreement that notes communications may be monitored.

Chair called for the motion to approve the contract with the vendor recorded in the minutes as "Subbiah and Public Communications." The motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; staff reiterated that the contract will still require commissioners' approval before taking effect.