No Room For Error: Network Video Tightens Security at Juvenile Center

Oct 1, 2006 12:00 PM

Jamie Girard knows well the importance of security at the Gary E. Miller Canadian County Children's Justice Center, a 28-bed state-of-the-art detention center in Canadian County, Okla.

“Security is fundamental to our success,” says Girard, operations manager of the center. “At all times, we must protect residents, staff and guests from both internal and external threats. To deliver the highest level of security, we adhere to precise processes and rely on extensive training and security systems — all of which have allowed us to avoid a single incident in our eight years of operation. In this environment, there's simply no room for error.”

Included in the Juvenile Justice Center are offices for the juvenile bureau, detention center, behavioral health, alternative school as well as the local agency of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs. The comprehensive center also contains a courtroom for juvenile-related hearings and trials, a Court Clerk Office, interview rooms and visitor spaces.

While confident in their security systems and processes, Girard and his team are always looking for ways to enhance security, increase efficiency and improve staff's ability to perform their jobs.

Early this year, the facility announced the opening of a new 24-bed inpatient wing. The new wing required the same level of security as the rest of the building but had more access points and larger areas that required monitoring. Girard began looking for a video monitoring solution that would give his staff increased accessibility to video. The current system required management to watch video from a central monitoring location, making it more challenging for Girard and his staff to have instant access.

After hearing Girard's goals for a solution, Security Solutions — a local security technology solution provider — recommended Wren VMS Software, a new network video solution and video management application. The Wren application enabled complete recording, viewing and management of video from any desktop and laptop, making it easy to monitor the facility from any place at any time.

From a security standpoint, the facility has a DSX access control system, which unlocks the doors with a swipe card, and entryways with two-way intercoms to allow visitors to announce themselves. In conjunction with these two systems, network video helps security personnel to verify the identity of the person using the swipe card. The ability to have a combination of access control, voice and video identification helps ensure that access control systems are being used properly at all times. In addition, this three-part system deters youths and guests from trying to trick the system.

The addition of Wren VMS Software to the juvenile justice center's security system offers a new level of convenience and accessibility. With live video now accessible on their laptops, managers can check in, view real-time video, set recording functions or review footage from any location.

One of the software features designed specifically for personnel who may be passively watching video is the SelectView Window. This feature allows users to pull up a window, streaming live video from a selected camera and resize and shrink it on the computer screen.

Once installed, the new video management system enabled Girard to see even more uses for video than he had anticipated. “By increasing the accessibility and usability of video, we immediately realized benefits of video applications beyond security,” notes Girard.

Now, the Canadian County Juvenile Center is using Wren VMS Software for operational and risk management purposes as well. For example, management monitors staff to ensure they follow protocol and carry out assigned duties, while identifying any procedural issues that need to be addressed with training.

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