VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS IN DETENTION ENVIRONMENTS

Methods for providing a video communication with a detention environment are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a first user to initiate a video communication with a second user. The video communication uses a shared communications terminal located in a detention environment. The method further includes determining, based on a schedule of the second user, whether the second user is currently available for participating. The method also includes sending a notification to the second user to accept the request when the determination indicates the second user is currently available, and receiving a response to the notification to accept the request. The method further includes initiating the video communication when the response indicates the second user has accepted the request. Either of the users is detained in the detention environment. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.