Information Technology and Telecommunication
Brenda Sims
Information Technology Manager
Management Services
Address: 22880 Whelan Lane, Boyds, Maryland 20841 | Telephone: (240) 777-9984
Directions | Bus Schedule
The Information Technology and Telecommunication, a section of Director's Office (DO), provides technical oversight for the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation and is responsible for the development and administration of the Department IT Strategic Plan and the governance of all IT services and related budget requests across the Department.
The Section provides the technical liaison between the functional users in the Department, the software vendors that promote IT solutions, and the central Department of Technology Services (DTS) to ensure consistency with enterprise infrastructure standards and to facilitate the implementation of fully integrated software solutions within the Department.
This Section strives to bring technology process, and Department staff together to develop innovative ways to improve the process.
DOCR Technology Projects
Inmate Specific
- Inmate Kiosk - Fifteen Self-Service Kiosks were installed in the housing Pods at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) in Boyds, Maryland. The Kiosks are connected to the facilities' Keefe commissary system and allow inmates to order from commissary and check their account information real-time. This system has reduced the use of paper for commissary ordering, improved order accuracy and reduce inmate request for account information.
- Inmate Phone System - In August 2008, a new inmate phone system was implemented at Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) and Montgomery County Detention Center (MCDC) by GTL. This new system provides the inmates with a flat rate for all domestic calls and provides the two facilities with a single web-based system for administration and reporting.
- Jail-Based One-Stop Career Center - A computer lab consisting of eight PCs was set up at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) to provide the inmates with the following services:
Labor Market Research, Self-Assessment, Work on resumes, cover letters, and applicants, Job Search, and Travel information for job locations. The computers in the lab are running on an isolated network using static IP addresses to ensure inmate access is limited to specific job training sites and is monitored by MCCF staff at all times. - Pre-Release and Reentry Services Division (PRRS) Career Center - A computer lab consisting of ten PCs was set up at the Pre-Release and Reentry Services Division (PRRS) to provide the residents with the following services: Labor Market Research, Self-Assessment, Work on resumes, cover letters, and applicants, Job Search, and Travel information for job locations. The computers in the lab are running on an isolated network and internet access is controlled by a software filtering system. Daily access reports by PC, Time, and User ID are produced and reviewed by the PRRS Work Release Coordinators.
Department Staff Specific
- Correction and Rehabilitation Information Management System (CRIMS) - The Department is currently in the process of replacing a mainframe Jail Management System, which is over twenty years old, with a new web-based Jail Management System called CRIMS. The project is divided into the following three Phases:
Phase I - Booking Implementation
Phase II - Jail Management Information
Phase III - Medical, Inmate Trust Fund Accounting, Food Services
The Syscon Justice Systems, Inc. commercial off the shelf (COTS) Elite System was selected as the product that could met the majority of the 1600+ requirements contained in the Department's requirements document. A Technical Proof of Concept was conducted with this product to verify that it could run as described by the vendor in the County's enterprise infrastructure and to identify any technical issues before committing to the product. Based on the results of this test, the County approved the product and contract negotiations are in the final stages.