Integrated Internal Information and Communication System

Baltimore City Jail

Baltimore City Jail is a unique community with an especially intensive

set of needs in the realms of information and communication. The needs
are an outcome of a major growth of treatment and rehabilitation
programs in an institution whose physical structure and security needs
seriously impede the effective flow of information and communication.

Recent technological developments in the rapidly growing fields of

cable television and computer systems provide the capabilities for an
integrated system that can make a major inroad into meeting the
information and communication needs of Baltimore City Jail. The
component parts of the system -- cable television serving educational
and information needs of the resident population and in-service
training for staff; two-way video permitting live or pre-recorded
news and information bulletins from top administrative staff; a medium
for dialog, communication, and conflict-resolution between different
interest groups in the Jail; an integrated records system, permitting
greatly increased access, with the necessary controls, to composite
records of residents; a computer updated information and referral
directory; and a telephone system -- can all utilize the same basic
format of two-way cables in conjunction with television and telephone
and/or typewriter console, console and a central mini-computer.

While some of the component parts of the system can be developed

independently of each other, there will be substantial advantages in
planning a system in which each of the above components are compatible
with each other. For example, if two-way cable is used for the
initial installation of a cable television system rather than the
slightly less expensive one-way cable, it would become a relatively
simple matter to convert television monitors into multi-purpose
information centers at a later point.

Cable television provides an extremely efficient, and relatively

inexpensive, means for delivery of educational programs, information,
and in-service training for staff to any location in the Jail. Arizona
State Prison recently installed a cable television system with the
capacity of providing service to every cell in the Jail. By the use of
scrambling devices, certain channels (out of a normal capacity of
twenty) could be reserved for broadcasting for staff and security
purposes, with the reminder for use by residents.

Programming for the cable television system could be drawn from

pre-existing instructional television programs or created on-site with
the establishment of a small studio, portable video equipment, and
editing capabilities. An extensive cable system in use at Perry Point
Veterans' Administration Hospital uses almost exclusively videotapes
produced by in-house staff, and it has been found in that context that
material produced in-house has very substantial advantages over
pre-recorded materials.
Two-way video would provide the capability of broadcasting live
addresses either from the studio or from key locations into the cable
system. These broadcasts, for example, daily information bulletins, or
emergency broadcasts in the case of an escape or disturbance, could be
broadcast over either the resident or the security systems. Input from
video monitors covering the Jail perimeter (and other key security
locations) could also be accessible through key security channels of
the cable system.

Medium for dialog and conflict resolution: There have been a number of
creative developments in the use of video as a medium for dialog and
conflict resolution; these uses range from simply using video as a
means of observing dialog and communication, so as to gain insight
into breakdowns of communication; role playing, in which participants
assume each other's roles, or act out interactions such as between
staff and resident, supervisor and subordinate, and security and
support staff in order to gain greater understanding of the different
roles and of means for effective communication; communication between
different parties or groups through the preparation of videotapes
(allowing clearer communication, without the interference that
frequently accompanies direct communication between conflicting
groups); and dialog with self, as a means for increasing awareness of,
and improving, presentation of self. Used for the above purposes,
video could have a substantial impact in improving the effectiveness
of interpersonal communications within the Jail.

Integrated records system; with the increase of therapeutic programs,

conditional release, and educational programs, it is becoming
increasingly important for key staff to have access to the overall
profile of records on members of the resident population, including
legal, social work, medical, psychological, disciplinary, and
educational records. Effective access to these records is essential to
provide a thorough basis for both the treatment and security
components of decision-making, as well as for evaluating the
effectiveness of rehabilitative programs. In addition, centralization
and co-ordination of these records would make these records accessible
to the Parole board, so as to provide a basis for sound decisions in
that area.

A system such as the Viewdata system (see attached article) provides

the means for access with a television/telephone hook-up to a central
records bank. Security of the records in such a system could be
maintained either by the use of controlled access codes, or with
relatively minor modifications to the system, by credit card style of
magnetically encoded card. Input to the system would be by typewriter
consoles. With an integrated system such as this, escort requests could
be entered into the system (numeric coding of destination, resident's
ID, and requestor ID) via the telephone hook-up, with the central
mini-computer then able to generate accurate updated escort lists. By
keeping information such as this on records, systematic evaluation of
the use of services could be maintained.
Information and referral system; the same system as used for the
integrated records system could also serve for a computer updated
information and referral service, providing readily accessible and
accurate information to satisfy the numerous demands faced by social
work staff and others, and relieving them of much of that function, so
that more of their time could be used for activities for which their
professional qualifications better suit them.

Telephone system: Recent developments in cable systems allow for the

utilization of video cable for telephone services. One available system
allows the user to plug his own portable telephone into a socket on
any of the television monitors so that he can place or receive calls on
his own extension. Used in conjunction with a beeper system, the
integration of telephone services with the television cable system
would be a major factor in providing ready telephone access to key
staff and administration personnel, many of whom must spend much of
their time outside their office, and can be notoriously hard to
contact when needed.

Implementation: The overall system outlined above would represent a

major undertaking, and might call for a three to five year
implementation period. Some components could be installed and
developed much more rapidly than others, with the cable television
system the obvious first stage of implementation. The cable television
system itself could be implemented in stages, by the initial
installation of mini-systems each using a 3/4" videocassette player
serving three to five monitors, with for example, one mini system
based in the library, one in P.S.740, one in Eager Village, and one
for security and training. The mini-systems could then be linked up to
each other at a later time (the advantages of an integrated system
over several mini-systems include improved control of and security of
equipment, increased access to the overall videotape library, and
increased co-ordination, however, from the standpoint of initial
implementation, there are some advantages in setting up one or more
mini-systems initially, and the linking of the separate mini-systems
poses no technical problems.
With the establishment of studio capabilities, the second two stages
of the system would be the next logical steps in the installation of
the system, providing two-way capabilities (initially only from the
studio) and the means for using video for dialog and conflict
resolution. Two-way capabilities can be expanded as needed.

The last three components, integrated records system, information and

referral system, and the telephone hook-up, are a natural grouping.
These components involve a higher degree of technology, and would
require a thorough and comprehensive planning and needs assessment
period, in conjunction with a thorough review of the technology
involved, and may call for some technological innovations to meet the
specific needs of the Jail.
Funding: The innovative nature of the proposed system, in conjunction
with the fact that it involves an area of pioneering technology would
make the system a prime candidate for funding. The technological
aspects of the system, and the fact that the system could serve as a
demonstration model for a marketable integrated information system
suggest that private sources of funds may well be available, e.g. Ford
Foundation, IBM, Texas Instruments, Control Data.

Future developments: In addition to the components of the system

described above, there are a number of further areas along which such
a system could be developed, including computerized learning systems,
for example. The pace of technology in the information and
communication fields promises to open up additional avenues for
utilization of the above system.

Submitted by
Robert Pollard, Librarian
Baltimore City Jail
September 9, 1977