TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Old Bus Provides New Way Of Visiting Pinellas Inmates

News Channel 8 photo by WALLY PATANOW

The vehicle is equipped with five laptop computers capable of video conferencing between the jail and family and friends.

ADVERTISEMENT

By PETER BERNARD

pbernard@wfla.com

Published: December 19, 2008

CLEARWATER - Video visitation for inmates at the Pinellas County Jail is nothing new. What is new, though, is how this service will be provided in the next few weeks.

In addition to the 52 booths set up for visits near the jail on 49th Street, the sheriff's office has purchased an old bus from the Jacksonville area. The vehicle is equipped with five laptop computers capable of video conferencing between the jail and family and friends who can now see and hear them from a remote location.

Those in charge of the jail look forward to the new video visitation bus cutting down congestion at their main facility while keeping inmates in check as they serve their sentences.

"This will give us some relief and at the same time provide a service to the community to those who can't afford to drive all the way out here or don't have transportation" said Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats, who says waits for a video visit can last three to four weeks.

The $24,000 cost of the bus is being paid for from money collected from the federal government for housing federal inmates. No local taxes were used to get the mobile video visitation bus in operation.

Like food and commissary privileges, deputies say, visitation is used as a tool to keep a lid on bad inmate behavior.

"That's definitely gonna make 'em act the right way cuz, I think in my opinion video visitation is one thing that keeps me thinking positive" said Nicholas Oster, serving an 11-month sentence for possession of a concealed weapon.

Oster is counting the days toward his April 2009 release. He says video visits will help families who cannot make the trip to the jail.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT