The Lubbock County Detention Center (LCDC), one of Texas's largest direct supervision county facilities, accommodates up to 1,500 inmates.
Since the facility opened its doors in 2010, the centre has used Morse Watchmans key control system alongside other electronic security technologies to enhance safety procedures for both staff and inmates.
Maintaining a secure facility
Captain Malcolm Chambliss, Day Shift Captain and Detention Response Team Commander with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, highlighted the importance of advanced technology in the facility's planning, citing the Morse Watchmans automated key control system as a crucial element.
This system was suggested by the planning committee’s architect to help ensure efficient and safe operations at LCDC. "Tracking keys from one shift to another is essential," stated Captain Chambliss. "The Morse Watchmans system provides an automated, easy-to-use solution for maintaining a secure environment."
Innovative key control with SmartKey technology
The KeyWatcher® system installed at LCDC enables accountability through cutting-edge design
The KeyWatcher® system installed at LCDC enables accountability through cutting-edge design. To gain access to a key, guards and authorised personnel must enter a pre-programmed PIN on the cabinet’s keypad.
The key cabinet unlocks only if the entered data corresponds to the stored database information, allowing for the use or return of an authorised key. Each key is tethered to a SmartKey locking mechanism, equipped with a memory chip, ensuring that every key transaction is recorded when keys are taken from or returned to the cabinet.
Enhancing security measures
Captain Chambliss credits the system's electronically restricted access and key usage tracking with adding a vital security layer. “The system is extremely secure and has helped to improve our security procedures,” he said. LCDC boasts four internet-connected KeyWatcher cabinets, enabling real-time online monitoring, updating, and reporting. This connection allows Captain Chambliss to know which keys are currently checked out, their return schedules, and their check-out histories.
If keys are not returned as anticipated, the system triggers email alerts to supervisors for swift action. Comprehensive activity reports for each key are accessible, allowing data to be integrated into standard databases and spreadsheets for deeper analysis. Captain Chambliss concludes, “The Morse Watchmans key control system was a good decision and has proven to be a valuable technology solution. We don’t have problems with unauthorised access or missing keys, and the paperwork takes care of itself. In fact, with less effort, we have more usable information.”
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