IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – 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, an innovative 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.
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. 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.”
–Cristina Duarte, Sr. Director of Regulatory Affairs at InnoCaption
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.
“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,” said 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 January 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.
- Maruschak L, Bronson J, Alper M. Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 Disabilities Reported by Prisoners. Bureau of Justice Statistics. March 2021, NCJ 252642.
About InnoCaption
InnoCaption is the only caption phone service to offer real-time captioning of phone calls through best-in-class automated speech recognition technology and live stenographers. The InnoCaption mobile app is available on iOS and Android devices, and the service is free of charge to anyone in the United States with hearing loss who needs captions to understand their phone calls. As an FCC-certified provider, InnoCaption receives reimbursements from the federal Telecommunication Relay Services Fund for providing call captioning services. InnoCaption is headquartered in Irvine, California, and its mission is to provide the best accessible communication technology to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. To learn more please visit www.innocaption.com.
Source: InnoCaption
