Remote Inmate Assessment Project

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The primary objective of the Remote Inmate Assessment Project is to conduct electronic and remote substance abuse and mental health assessments, of inmates court-ordered into treatment and housed at the Pre-Trial Detention Center, using video teleconferencing and electronic forms and signature devices. The project eliminates the need to transport inmates from the Pre-Trial Detention Center (PTDC) to the Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services, Central Intake Unit (CIU) or for its Rehabilitative Services Division to send CIU counselors to the PTDC. Instead, the intake and assessment interviews are conducted remotely and electronically via video teleconferencing while documents requiring inmate signatures (e.g. Consent, Notice of Privacy Practices) are signed by using an electronic signature device connected to a computer at the PTDC. Successful implementation of this project eliminates the risk of inmates escaping from CIU, increases employee safety, reduces costs associated with the transportation of inmates to CIU and potentially increase the capacity of CIU to assess more inmates. Thus, the population of focus for the Remote Inmate Assessment project consists of individuals with history of substance use disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system. The geographic catchment area where services are delivered (Miami-Dade County) is unique in Florida and the United States, because of the ethnic diversity of its population and high concentration of people living under poverty guidelines who have high rates of substance use and co-occurring disorders.