Access Control in Correctional Facilities

Read More
All Posts

Access Control in Correctional Facilities

Whether it’s a municipal, state or federal correctional facility, providing a secure and safe environment for inmates, staff and the public is a top priority for prison security system administrators. And establishing and following proven operational procedures, including key management, is a critical step to help ensure the security of prison control systems..

Regardless of the size or type (i.e. detention center, prison, etc.) of institution, certain daily procedures such as inmate counting and movement remain as manual tasks. For others, such as key control and asset management, administrators have been able to take advantage of technology and upgrade from manual log systems to more secure and accountable electronic key cabinet and locker systems.

Key management solutions offer key control and accountability by providing electronic storage and tracking of keys. Guards and other authorized users have access to specific keys only as approved by the prison key control system administrator. For example, day shift personnel are not able to access keys outside of their regularly scheduled working hours and they do not have access to keys to which they are not authorized such as the pharmacy or medical areas. Keys must always be returned to the cabinet; they can never be exchanged between personnel, because the prison key control system will notate that a key was not returned or that it was returned by another user.

New technology has also allowed multiple keys to be stored on a single key ring. Tamper-proof locking mechanisms and unique identification systems offer the flexibility to add or remove keys without destroying the key ring. The key rings can also be conveniently stored in key control and management systems for access by authorized users with their assigned pass codes.

Storage locker cabinets operate under the same premise as the key storage systems. Available in various sizes and configurations, they are becoming more common in correctional institutions as a method of securing, controlling and tracking valuable items such as weapons, notebook-type computers, cell phones, etc.

Safe and secure key control and asset control are fundamental practices in any correctional facility, and now technology is helping to achieve that goal.

Which key control system is best for your correctional facility? Contact one of our experts for more information!

Tim Purpura
Tim Purpura
VP Global Sales & Marketing

Related Posts

Enforcing Zero Trust Security at Hotels Using Key Control

Hotels play host to priceless experiences: family vacations, million-dollar views, and once-in-a-lifetime adventures.  But as every hotel executive knows, it is the assets inside that are even more valuable: people, property, and sense of safety. Protecting hotel assets therefore requires an iron-clad approach to security, also known as zero trust. With the help of key control solutions, hotels can easily begin implementing zero trust security policies that start working on day one. 

Filling the Security Gap in Proptech for Property Management

Proptech is one of the biggest trends for security in 2022, according to the Security Industry Association’s 2022 Megatrends Report1. Proptech, or property technology – also known as real estate technology – is technology, software platforms or applications designed for the management, sale and rental of buildings. Within proptech, security technology is a fast-growing segment as building owners and managers seek the best ways to keep tenants, employees and visitors safe and secure.

How Key Control Can Assist in COVID-19 Contact Tracing

While advanced technologies grab the spotlight when folks talk about security systems, in reality key systems remain an integral part of security operations in almost every facility, providing protection for an organization’s work spaces, critical assets, and its employees and staff.