The Complete Guide to
Mobile Video Solutions for Corrections

Mobile Video Solutions for Corrections

Mobile video solutions are becoming more commonplace in the corrections industry. While the interactions within the corrections industry differ slightly from those in law enforcement, the reasons for implementing a mobile video solution are fairly similar.
Corrections officers may have to defuse an altercation between inmates just like a police officer may have to defuse an interaction between civilians. The significant difference is prison systems generally don’t have the budgets that city or state police departments do in implementing a mobile video solution.
However, today’s technological advances mean there is a solution out there that can fit any budget.
Simply put, a mobile video solution is a set of cameras and DVRs (digital video recorders) implemented to record around moving objects, whether it’s a side, rear, and forward-facing camera on a vehicle or a body-worn camera on an officer. This differs from CCTV, which is stationary and only records one specific area. Body-worn cameras, typically mounted on the officer’s upper chest, are designed to closely replicate the officer’s point of view. Some body-worn cameras can be attached to sunglasses or the brim of a baseball cap, but those cameras can be easily removed during an altercation, so depending on the environment, they may not be the best option.
Corrections officers deal with inmate altercations and need a camera that cannot be easily removed. The last thing an officer needs to worry about is whether the camera that was forcibly removed recorded the incident at hand.

Prisoner Transport Cameras

In addition to body-worn cameras, corrections facilities could opt to install cameras on prisoner vans or transport vehicles. These cameras, which record on each exterior side as well as the interior of a vehicle, monitor inmates as they enter, exit, and ride the vehicle.
Continuous recording can be set up to record as soon as the ignition switch is on and stay on for a set number of minutes after the ignition is off, meaning you won’t miss a crucial event.
Though not as common in the corrections industry, some mobile video solutions also include a monitor in the cab of the vehicle so the driver can see their blind spots for maneuvers such as reversing or making tight turns.

“The whole Pro-Vison system itself is great. The charging is great. You don’t have to worry about it; it downloads everything. The video is great. Our Lieutenant and Captain seemed to be pleased with the system as a whole.”
“I think it definitely makes the (the inmates) think twice about what’s going on. The body cameras are very visual.”
– Chris Abernathy, Wyoming Honor Farm

Why Consider Mobile Video Solution?
The reasons for considering a mobile video solution are similar to the reasons the corrections industry already invests in CCTV systems.

Safety

The biggest reason to implement a mobile video solution is to keep everyone safe — not just the corrections officers but also the inmates. A 2014 study by the
 New Zealand Corrections Journal found during a six-month trial there were nine recorded events where a prisoner de-escalated a situation when in the presence of
a body-worn camera or stated they would have struck an officer if the camera was not there.
Additionally, a 2018-19 study by the Body-Worn Camera Training & Technical Assistance program compared incidents at a correctional facility in Florida from August 2017-January 2018, prior to the pilot that implemented body-worn cameras and stun guns, to August 2018-January 2019 when the weapons/cameras were introduced. The pilot found a 42% reduction in staff assaults. The fact is cameras often deter individuals from making poor choices.
Identifying contraband is another reason a body camera is useful. CCTVs have limitations, so extra mobile cameras help spot illegal substances.

Exonerate Officers

As prisons become increasingly overcrowded, corrections officers can’t monitor everyone. Because of the high inmate-to-officer ratio, if an altercation wasn’t captured on CCTV, it’s often a case of he said, she said between inmates and officers. With body-worn cameras, officers can capture an incident and the footage can be reviewed, exonerating an officer from any wrongdoing. The Florida study found a 70% reduction in allegations of excessive force after implementing body-worn cameras.
Body-worn cameras also mean the onus isn’t on the officer to remember every single detail. Incidents happen quickly, and it can be difficult for corrections officers to recall the events exactly as they happened while trying to de-escalate a situation.

Tell the Whole Story

Everyone wants to know the truth, and body-worn cameras show exactly what happened. If there are several officers involved in a single incident, that means there are multiple points of view involved, making it easier to figure out how an incident took place.
CCTVs are stationary and only cover a small section of the prison. They have blind spots, and crucial actions could be missed if solely relying on CCTVs.

Accountability

Corrections facilities not only want to hold their inmates accountable but also its officers. The presence of body cameras means there is no denying how an incident unfolded. And should an officer cross the line regarding inmate care, then the accountability falls on the corrections facility in disciplining the officer appropriately.
The body-worn camera pilot in Florida found a 51% reduction in reactionary use-of force-incidents.

“We like the simplicity of the body cameras. A lot of the cameras on the market have a bunch of different buttons and settings. The Pro-Vision product allowed us to use them without people changing settings.”
“I like the quality and the wide angle of the (body camera) video.”
– Casey Mruzek, Wyoming State Penitentiary

Stats About Body Cameras

As noted earlier, there was a 2014 study done in two New Zealand prisons studying the effects of body-worn cameras within those facilities. The study found no serious assaults were recorded during the six-month trial, and there was a reduction in the severity of incidents.
Compared to the 12 months before the six-month trial, there was a 15%-20% overall reduction in incidents thanks to the presence of body cameras.

What Features Does a Mobile Video Solution Offer?
Whether your mobile video solution just includes body-worn cameras or also includes vehicle cameras, there are several features to consider.

Field of View
Where the body camera is located will determine the video that is captured. Place the camera too low on the chest, and you could be recording the ground and missing the action. It is recommended to place the camera on the outside of a breast pocket to offer the best view. Pro-Vision offers several mounting options, including a magnet mount, garment clip, epaulet mount, and more.
The field of view also is an important factor in determining which camera to purchase. The bigger the field of view, the more activity can be recorded. Most body-worn cameras provide anywhere from 95- to 170-degree field of view.

Enhanced Video Stability
Because the body-worn camera is attached to a mobile person, the field of view is constantly moving. And if a corrections officer is chasing an inmate or involved in an altercation, it can be hard to see what is happening. Pro- Vision’s BODYCAM® 4 body-worn camera features electronic image stabilization technology, which substantially reduces erratic movement in your videos.
Durability
Because of the environment, a corrections officer works in, body cameras must be durable. Pro-Vision’s BODYCAM® 4 cameras are IP68 waterproof rated and meet military specifications, meaning it’s designed for rough environments.

Continuous Recording
BODYCAM® 4 cameras offer continuous recording, which means every facet of a corrections officer’s shift can be captured — even without hitting record. Coupled with automatic activation and pre-event recording, you won’t miss a crucial event.
Battery Life
Battery life can make or break a body-worn camera. Corrections officers will need a camera that can last throughout the entirety of their shift. BODYCAM® 4 body-worn cameras feature a 14-hour battery life, meaning there will be no low-battery interruptions throughout the day. As an added bonus, Pro-Vision’s body camera docking stations not only charge the device but automatically upload video footage to be reviewed.

RFID Technology
As mentioned earlier, prison systems don’t have the budgets that city and state police departments do, meaning it might be fiscally impossible to purchase a body camera for every corrections officer. However, BODYCAM® 4 features RFID Login, which allows body cameras to be easily assigned to officers with a scan. Just pick a camera, scan and you’re ready to begin. Plus, there’s no need to designate a certain camera for each officer, as the RFID Login allows any officer to swap cameras from shift to shift.

Proximity Activation
Proximity Activation allows body cameras to be automatically activated when within a 30-foot range of another body camera, keeping the focus on the situation at hand. Sometimes an altercation escalates quickly, and the last thing a corrections officer needs to worry about in a life-or-death situation is whether their body camera is on.

Data Management
Once you start using your body-worn cameras and prisoner transport-mounted cameras to record footage, you’re going to need a way to access and maintain that video footage. Video files can be stored in one of three ways: on a local computer, on a department’s network or on the cloud. The cloud is the safest of the three, as files stored on a cloud server are encrypted, making it harder for hackers to access or tamper with the files.
With hours and hours of video footage, it’s essential that your data management software makes it easy to locate files so you don’t have to dig through complicated folder structures to find the video you want. Additionally, you may want to be able to organize your data with customizable categories and specify viewing privileges, ensuring only the proper people are viewing your footage. Pro-Vision’s optional evidence management program, SecuraMax, is a CJIS-compliant solution that simplifies the data management process and saves time.

State Mandates Becoming More Common

As is the case with body-worn cameras for state police departments, state mandates within the corrections industry are becoming more popular. Generally, the mandates will come with an opportunity to apply for grants to help offset some of the costs associated with implementing these mobile video solutions. No matter the size of your correctional facility, Pro-Vision has a scalable and versatile hardware solution to fit your needs.

About Pro-Vision

Founded in 2003, Pro-Vision is a leading video technology solutions provider trusted by thousands of organizations in 58 countries. Pro-Vision solutions include vehicle video recording systems, body-worn cameras, data management, and cloud-based storage solutions. Pro-Vision’s transit, law enforcement, and commercial partners utilize these solutions to enhance safety, increase productivity and protect critical assets.

Make Safety a Priority
A Pro-Vision mobile video solution offers unbeatable value with an unrivaled combination of features at an affordable price, allowing you to increase safety and reduce altercations at your facility. Let us schedule an in-person or virtual demonstration personalized for you and your needs. Contact us today.

014 | rev 06/2022

PRO•VISION VIDEO SYSTEMS
8625 Byron Commerce Dr. SW • Byron Center, MI 49315 • USA
p: 616.583.1520 • marketing@provisionusa.com
Learn more at provisionusa.com

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