ICE Provides Guidance on Unmonitored Phone Calls and Video Teleconference Meetings at Stewart Detention Center
ICE provided a legal notice on SPLC v. DHS, et al. regarding unmonitored phone calls and video teleconference meetings at Stewart Detention Center. Notice also includes information on unmonitored legal phone calls and faxing legal documents.
SPLC v. DHS, et al (No. 18-0760) – Stewart Detention Center
Unmonitored Phone Calls and Video Teleconference Meetings
All legal representative communication requests will be responded to and placed on the communication schedule within forty-eight (48) hours of the request.
Unmonitored calls and video teleconference meetings with legal representatives can occur in the following ways:
By Facilitated Telephone Call
Legal representatives may schedule facilitated telephone calls by emailing StewartLegalPhoneVisit@corecivic.com. Emails are checked daily between the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday by the facility receptionist and on weekends and holidays by the appointed Case Manager. Phone calls are scheduled Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in thirty (30) minute increments.
The following information must be in included in the email:
- Legal Representative’s Full Name
- Legal Representative’s Contact Information which includes phone number and email addresses
- Name and A# of the detained individual
- Requested date and time of the appointment, including alternate times if the first choice is not available
In addition to providing their general government-issued identification, legal representatives will also be required to provide appropriate identification or documentation reflecting their status as an active legal representative, such as a state bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or other similar legal status. Additionally, a requested time for the call must be provided. Credential verification documents shall be attached to the email or faxed to (229) 838-6816, to the attention of the receptionist.
The call will be scheduled and the Unit Management Team staff will be notified of the time of the call. At the appointed time, facility staff will bring the detainee to a private room and place the detainee on the phone call. After the call is connected, the staff member will leave the room but will remain within eyeshot, but out of earshot. Phone calls shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes. The assigned staff member will advise the detainee that the call is scheduled to conclude, ten (10) minutes prior to the conclusion of the call. Additional time may be requested for verified urgent situations and may be granted if available.
Legal representatives should note the name of the staff member facilitating the call. To report or troubleshoot issues, such as connection or quality issues, to assist with or relay information regarding issues with calls, or for scheduling issues, the legal representative should call the facility receptionist at (229) 838-5000 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and speak to the appropriate point of contact. For connection and quality issues the point of contact is the Chief of Unit Management. For issues with scheduling and maintaining the schedule, the points of contact are the facility receptionist and the appointed Case Manger(s). To report issues on Saturday, Sunday, holidays and after hours (between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.), the legal representative should call the facility at (229) 838-5000, which is monitored 24/7 by the Central Control Operator and ask to speak with the appointed Case Manager. If the Case Manager is unavailable, the on-duty shift Captain will be the point of contact.
By Video Teleconference
Legal representatives who wish to request video teleconference (VTC) appointments with their clients or potential clients must submit a request at least 24-hours prior to the requested meeting time by sending an email to StewartVTC@corecivic.com. The following information must be in included in the email:
- Legal Representative’s Full Name
- Legal Representative’s Contact Information which includes phone number and email addresses
- Name and A# of the detained individual
- Requested date and time of the appointment, including alternate times if the first choice is not available
Video teleconference meetings are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are scheduled in 60-minute increments. Legal representatives are not limited on the number of VTC appointments they can request, but no legal representative is permitted more than one 60-minute appointment with a detainee in a single day. Legal representatives who anticipate a need for a longer consultation, are permitted to schedule video teleconferences with a single detainee on consecutive days. The officer will knock on the door and advise the detainee when the 60-minute time limit has expired.
Legal representatives should note the name of the staff member facilitating the video teleconference. To report or troubleshoot issues, such as connection or quality issues, and to assist with or relay information regarding issues with video teleconferences, the legal representative should call the facility receptionist at (229) 838-5000 and ask the receptionist to alert the Chief of Unit Management of the problem.
Any additional questions or concerns about VTC calls may be emailed to StewartVTC@corecivic.com.
By Detainee Telephone System (DTS)
Unmonitored legal phone calls can also be made by detainees through the detainee telephone system (DTS), which is located in facility housing areas, from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven (7) days a week. Unmonitored calls placed through the DTS are not subject to standard cut off times. However, calls may be disconnected after 60 minutes. Detainees can make back-to-back calls. In addition, detainees will not be permitted to use the telephone system during scheduled facility counts, and after lights out.
Detainee calls made through the DTS pro bono platform are not monitored or recorded.
Legal representatives not already on the DTS pro bono platform can set up an account for unmonitored calls by sending a request to the Chief of Unit Management via facsimile ([229] 838-6816). The request should include the phone number(s) to which unmonitored calls may be made, government-issued identification, and appropriate identification or documentation reflecting their status as an active legal representative, such as a state bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or other similar legal status. The numbers will be checked and approved by Stewart Detention Center (SDC) staff. SDC will notify the legal representative when the numbers are approved. After approval, the legal representative wishing to have a prepaid account may do so at https://www.globaltel.net (when signing up, select "Georgia" and "Stewart Det. Center – CCA (ICE)" from the dropdown lists) or by calling Talton Communications at 1-866-348-6321. If a legal representative changes their phone number(s), they should contact the facility to provide the updated phone number(s) for unmonitored calls.
Legal representatives who wish to confirm that their number is not monitored may email ICESupport@Talton.com and advise ICE's contracted telephone provider that their number is an attorney number. Talton can confirm that it will not be recorded or monitored. If legal representatives have technical or other difficulties with the detainee telephone system, they may contact the facility Investigator at (229) 838-5014.
Any additional questions or concerns regarding detainee legal communications may be directed to the facility operator (receptionist) at (229) 838-5000.
Faxing Legal Documents
Detainees housed at SDC may exchange legal documents with legal representatives via an electronic fax machine in the facility Law Library during normal hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday – Friday.
Documents Sent by Detainees to Legal Representatives
- Detainees wishing to send faxes to legal representatives must submit a Detainee Information Request to the Law Library Supervisor. The Law Library Supervisor will schedule all requests on a first-come, first-served basis. When scheduled, the detainee will bring to the Law Library the legal documents to be sent, along with the following information: the name of the legal representative, the name of the Law Firm (if applicable), the Law Firm's (or legal representative's) address, and office telephone and fax numbers. The detainee will complete a fax cover sheet provided at the time of transmission. The Law Library Officer will fax the documents in the presence of the detainee and return the original documents to the detainee. In the event a detainee is unable to go to the Law Library, arrangements will be made with the Law Library Officer.
- Consistent with PBNDS 2011 Section 5.1 and 5.7, facility staff will inspect the outgoing documents for contraband in the presence of the detainee; the documents will not be read. After transmission, facility staff will return the documents and provide the fax confirmation to the detainee. For detainees who are unable to go to the law library and for whom special arrangements have been made to fax, the documents will be faxed by the Law Library Officer and then placed in an envelope with the detainee's name and A# along with the fax confirmation and returned to the detainee.
Documents Sent by Legal Representatives to Detainees
- The following fax number may be used to receive and transmit legal paperwork: (229) 838-5038.
- Legal representatives transmitting documents must include a cover sheet containing the detainee's name, A#, and total number of pages being sent.
- Incoming faxes will be placed in an envelope with the detainee's name and A# written on the outside. The Law Library Officer will notify a Unit Team member who will have the detainee sent to the Law Library to get the faxed documents. If a detainee is unable to pick up the documents, they will be delivered in the envelope to the detainee. Consistent with PBNDS 2011 Section 5.1 and 5.7, facility staff will inspect the incoming documents for contraband in the presence of the detainee; the documents will not be read.
Technical Difficulties
If a legal representative has difficulty in faxing or receiving legal documents to/from the above fax number, the Chief of Unit Management may be reached at (229) 838-5000.