Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond, left, and Deputy Chief Joe Fowler introduce the new commissary kiosk system in one of the booking areas at the Hamilton County Jail.Inmates at the Hamilton County Jail now will place their commissary orders, report grievances and request medical and counseling appointments through a new electronic system.
"It's a new day for us at the Hamilton County Correctional Facility, as we are upgrading some of our equipment," Sheriff Jim Hammond said. "We do realize we've got to make changes and are moving into a new electronic way of doing business in corrections and law enforcement."
Tennessee law required the jail to implement the new commissary service and other vending services through the Licensed Blind Vendors.
Hammond said the jail and the LBV have been in negotiation for years, and he called the new program a "win-win" for everyone involved.
Inside the jail, 72 electronic kiosks have been wall mounted and allow inmates to easily order commissary items on a touch screen. LBV processes all orders off-site and delivers them in clear, sealed plastic bags to inmates twice a week.
Each inmate will have his own commissary account, and the public can add money to an account through an electronic kiosk placed in the jail's lobby.
Any money remaining in an inmate's account when he is released is placed on a debit card by a kiosk hung on the wall near the jail's exit.
The new electronic system is also used by officers in the booking process, as they no longer have to hand-count and document an incoming inmate's money. Now officers place the money of those being booked into a kiosk, which counts it and prints off four receipts for documentation.
Hammond said, "It's good for us to make sure the money is secured properly and that we have a receipt trail of how that money is deposited and given back to them [the inmates]."
The Licensed Blind Vendors paid the cost of the new technology and installation and will receive a majority of the profit.
Hammond said the changes have not cost taxpayers and will reduce the officer manpower required in the jail.
Previously, profit from commissary sales went to the county general fund. Under the new LBV contract, the county general fund will receive a flat commission of $2 per commissary order placed by inmates.
Deputy Chief of Corrections Joseph Fowler called the new electronic system efficient and transparent, saying it removes the element of human error.
Fowler said the kiosks have been used by inmates since Tuesday, and that no problems have arisen.
Jail officials plan to slowly implement more technology at the facility, Fowler said.
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6592.