By: Greg Eash, Chief Operating Officer
Trying to keep track of inmate management with clipboards, Post-it Notes, and spreadsheets is difficult, inefficient, stressful, and risky. But the thought of switching systems can be overwhelming: How will your staff react? Will data be automatically transferred? Will your facility experience any downtime? Although a software shift can seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. If you are thinking about switching to a more streamlined custody management system, below are three primary things to consider.
-
Ease of use
Consider how easy the custody management system you are vetting will be to use. Create a list of essential functions your staff uses the software for currently—and how those functions are executed. Then, ensure the system you are considering can do this – and do it better. The software should never be a hindrance to key activities. Staff need the capability to make fast and easy entries so that they can continue with the important responsibilities they are tasked with each day. Even let some key staff members try the software to help you vet it. Buy-in at all levels will help your overall transition should you decide to move forward.
-
Data
Will you be able to pull a variety of important data points quickly and easily to help guide strategic decisions? A short time ago, data from the custody management inside a jail was an overlooked commodity. The treasure trove of information contained within these systems can be vital in numerous aspects of the criminal justice process. Ensure that by managing custody through the system you are vetting, you will be able to draw myriad reports and develop insights into everyday operations.
In addition, the system must be able to retrieve data easily and holistically to assist staff and management in making more reasonable, transparent, and fair decisions. Ask about data related to all pieces of custody connected in a single solution. If this is the case, decisions about an inmate’s path can occur quickly and in an informed way. This allows for more timely and effective treatment, case management, and more – improving the quality of life and results for every inmate – and the safety and sanity of your overworked staff.
-
Implementation, ongoing support, and enhancements
Ask about implementation, support, and enhancements for the software system you are considering. How will the company help you during implementation? Are there assigned project managers? How does support work? Are there people on the support team who have also been practitioners? How often is the software updated? How are the updates implemented? Having a team of former practitioners at your side through the implementation as well as their ongoing support is vital to your success. Our team at equivant Corrections has over 80 years of experience working in correctional facilities and is available if your team needs help. With three annual releases, our software is routinely enhanced and improved to bring our partners the best-in-class Custody Management Software on the market.
Information is your best ally when making a custody management software decision. You want a solution that integrates all the vital information around decisions relating to your inmates into a single, easy-to-use system and delivers the core management features your facility needs to oversee inmate populations. You also need a company that will walk beside you throughout the transition and make the change as easy as possible for you and your staff. Ask the right questions to make better decisions. And, if you’d like to schedule a demo of equivant Corrections’ Custody Management solution, powered by Northpointe, click here.
