BEDFORD – Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day reported the inmates will receive a new communication provider.
The current contract with Securus Technologies will end in October.
“Our inmate communication provider needs to change,” said Sheriff Day. “We have had all kinds of problems with our current service provider. Families pay for inmate visits, and those videos are being dropped during the visit. It has become a huge headache for us, the families, and the inmates.”
Combine Public Communications will provide the new service.
“There is no increase in price to inmates or families,” said Sheriff Day. “It is a much better service. Our other service charged families 20 cents per minute for a 20-minute session with no refund if you didn’t use the whole time frame. This new service charges per minute.”
Inmates will also have a device to text or “chirp” with family members and a tablet to play games or watch movies they pay for.
“I received good feedback from other facilities using this service,” added Sheriff Day. “It will save families and inmates money.”
Combine Communications also provided inmates with free educational services.
They can study for the GED and do practice tests,” added Sheriff Day.
Sheriff Day reported 85 inmates in the jail this morning. Of those, 68 were males, 17 were females, nine were Department of Correction holds, three were parole holds, and three were Level 6 felons.
Sheriff Day was also permitted to apply for a COPS Hiring Grant. If approved, it could help fund an additional school resource officer.
