The Logan County Jail is changing how inmates communicate with family and friends, moving to video visitation and a new mail-processing system.
In-person inmate visitation is no longer available.
Instead, visits will be conducted by video seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The jail provides a kiosk where visitors can have free video visits with an incarcerated family member or significant other.
Visitors can also conduct video visits from their phones, but those visits come with a fee.
Jail officials say the change is expected to make visitation more convenient for families while also improving safety and efficiency inside the facility.
Under the new system, inmates no longer have to be moved to and from visitation areas.
Officials say that eliminates a significant amount of inmate movement, particularly when 15 or 20 inmates are being moved for visitation at the same time.
The jail has also implemented an incentive-based tablet program.
Inmates can earn data by participating in programming classes on the tablets.
That data can then be used to communicate with family members, listen to music, and watch movies.
Access to the tablets is a privilege and can be taken away if an inmate violates jail rules.
Jail Administrator Lieutenant Tim Klingelhofer talks about the tablets, how they came to Logan County, and their role inside the jail.
The tablets operate on a closed system provided by NCIC Correctional Services.
Inmates do not have access to the open internet or social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
Messages sent through the system are also subject to multiple layers of security.
An artificial intelligence system will initially screen messages before they are reviewed by a supervisor.
The jail says the system was provided at no cost to the facility.
The Logan County Jail has also changed its inmate mail policy in an effort to improve security and reduce the chance of contraband entering the facility.
The new mail policy took effect September 8.
Under the new system, letters and other non-legal mail are no longer delivered directly to the jail in Bellefontaine.
Instead, non-legal mail must be sent to NCIC Correctional Services at a processing center in Longview, Texas.
NCIC scans the incoming mail and electronically delivers it to inmates through the jail’s communication system.
Once scanned, inmates can view the mail electronically on their tablets and kiosks.
There are several requirements for non-legal mail.
Each envelope must include the inmate’s name, inmate number, and a return address.
Mail is limited to five pages, and only the front side of each page will be scanned.
Inmates may also receive one photograph per mailing.
Magazines, newspapers, books, and bulk mailings should not be sent to the Texas processing center.
Legal and medical mail must still be sent directly to the Logan County Jail at:
Logan County Jail
284 County Road 32 South
Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
Non-legal mail should be addressed:
Inmate Name
Inmate Number
Logan County Jail, Ohio
P.O. Box 591
Longview, Texas 75606
The jail warns that mail sent to the Texas processing center will not be returned.
After it is scanned and delivered electronically, the original mail will be destroyed.
The NCIC system also allows friends and family members to send electronic messages, photographs, and approved documents to inmates.
