CASE STUDY: Ware County Jail

Located in Waycross, Georgia, Ware County Sheriff’s Office’s goal is to be more interactive with the people they serve, continuously seeking ways to improve the organization and to build upon relationships within their community. The jail facility houses an average of 380 inmates with a maximum capacity of 511 beds.

KEY FACILITY PARTNERS: Former Sheriff Randy Royal, Sheriff Carl James, Captain Ralph Pittman

CHALLENGES: On weekends, Ware County Jail’s on-site visitation was in such high demand that the visitor line would wrap around the building. This popularity of in-person visitation caused the facility staff to be tied up nonstop, attending specifically to in-person visitation needs. This included constant transportation of inmates throughout the facility and created a hazard in overall safety. Looking for a way to safely and securely allow inmates to communicate with their loved ones but eliminate the challenges of weekend visitation, Ware County Sheriff’s Office searched for a partner to provide the ability to have remote visitation while keeping the lobby empty. As enticing as this notion already was, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it was obvious the jail needed an inmate communication and technology solution more than ever. After a positive referral by Stewart Commissary followed by a lengthy five-hour presentation and in-depth questions between former Sheriff Randy Royal, Ware County’s leadership team, and HomeWAV’s Director of Strategic Accounts Drew Willy, the Sheriff’s Office selected HomeWAV as its video visitation provider.

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