Summary: InnoCaption has launched InnoCaption Connect, a new FCC-compliant service providing real-time captioned phone calls for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in correctional facilities, improving access to communication and meeting new federal requirements.
Takeaways:
- Innovative Service Launch: InnoCaption Connect offers real-time captioning for phone calls in correctional facilities across ten states, ensuring accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing inmates.
- FCC Compliance: The service aligns with updated FCC rules mandating telecommunications access for facilities housing 50 or more inmates in areas with high-speed internet.
- Addressing Hearing Loss in Prisons: Approximately 9.5% of state and federal prisoners report hearing loss; this service enhances communication, reducing barriers to family, legal, and healthcare access.
InnoCaption, an FCC-certified provider of real-time captioning of phone calls for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, announced the successful launch of InnoCaption Connect, a new service aimed at expanding telecommunications access to the deaf and hard-of-hearing incarcerated population. The program was officially launched after months of close collaboration between InnoCaption and multiple telecommunication provider partners who participated in successful pilot tests demonstrating secure access to communication services, according to the company.
Phone Captioning Service for the Incarcerated
This new service allows correctional facilities to provide inmates with real-time captions of phone calls through direct integration with InnoCaption’s FCC-certified real-time captioning technology. Telecommunication providers are deploying this new service through their own captioned telephone mobile apps on Android tablets or through a customized Android app provided by InnoCaption. Strict oversight and security are built into the service.
Calls are tracked and monitored by the correctional facilities with the same restrictions that currently apply to other phone calls. This new accessible communication service has been rolled out to county jails and state Department of Corrections facilities across ten states.
“Bringing improved access to telecommunication through InnoCaption’s real-time captioning helps level the playing field for incarcerated individuals with hearing loss,” says Cristina Duarte, sr. director of regulatory affairs at InnoCaption. “Our goal is to help break the cycle of incarceration through transformative technology and services for these individuals and their support network. People with hearing loss often face unique communication barriers, and by partnering with InnoCaption, correctional facilities can ensure deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who are incarcerated have the same opportunities to stay connected through phone calls as their hearing peers.”
Hearing Loss Among State and Federal Prisoners
The most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Justice estimates that approximately 9.5% of state and federal prisoners report hearing loss.(1) This number is expected to increase with an aging prison population. Undiagnosed hearing loss can lead to frustrations among both inmates and guards as instructions are missed or misinterpreted. Additionally, lack of captioning accessibility for phone calls can limit communication with family, healthcare providers, educational services and legal contacts.
Further Reading
“At InnoCaption, we are committed to creating innovative and empowering solutions that help break down telecommunication barriers. We are excited to extend our captioning service to an underserved population within the prison system and improve access through our new partnerships,” says Paul Lee, chief operating officer, InnoCaption.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently expanded rules governing access to telecommunications services for deaf and hard-of-hearing incarcerated individuals. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, a provider serving correctional facilities with an average daily population of 50 or more incarcerated persons must provide access to all relay services eligible for Telecommunications Relay Services fund support in any correctional facility that is located where high-speed internet service is available and has not been prohibited by the correctional authority overseeing the facility. InnoCaption’s new solution helps facilities meet these new rules.
Photo: InnoCaption
References:
- Maruschak L, Bronson J, Alper M. Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 Disabilities Reported by Prisoners. Bureau of Justice Statistics. March 2021, NCJ 252642.
