Morse Watchmans key control boosts LCDC security

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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The Lubbock County Detention Center (LCDC) is one of the largest direct supervision county detention facilities in Texas with a current capacity of 1500 beds.

Since its opening in 2010, the facility has utilised the Morse Watchmans key control system, along with other state of the art electronic security and access control systems, to increase the safety and security of both inmates and staff.

Maintaining a secure environment

According to Captain Malcolm Chambliss, Day Shift Captain and Detention Response Team Commander with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the new LCDC facility was planned with the use of advanced technology as a high priority. He says the Morse Watchmans automated key control system, introduced to the planning committee by the architect, was a perfect match for LCDC’s objective of more effectively and safely operating the facility through the use of high end security technology.

“Tracking keys from one shift to another is an essential procedure for maintaining a secure environment and the Morse Watchmans system provides that capability for us in an automated, easy to use way,” said Captain Chambliss.

SmartKey locking mechanism

The KeyWatcher® system in place at LCDC enables the sought after accountability through its innovative engineering. In order for a LCDC guard or other authorised user to access a key, they must enter their pre-programmed PIN code on the cabinet’s built-in keypad.

If the criteria entered matches the information stored in the system database, the key cabinet will unlock and the approved key can be removed or returned. Each individual key is secured to a SmartKey locking mechanism with built-in memory chip and this unique feature ensures that every time a key is taken from or returned to the Morse Watchmans key cabinet, the activity is recorded.

Improving security procedures

Captain Chambliss notes that the combination of electronically restricted access and the monitoring of key usage add another layer of security to the key control system. “The system is extremely secure and has helped to improve our security procedures,” he says.

The LCDC has a total of four KeyWatcher key cabinets, each of which is network connected to allow online monitoring, updating and reporting. At any time, Captain Chambliss can view who currently has which keys out and when they are scheduled to be returned; or who has had keys out, for what areas and when.

Key control system

When keys are not returned as scheduled, e-mail alerts are sent to supervisors to allow quicker action. Activity reports for each key in the system can also be generated, or recorded information can be rolled into standardised databases and spreadsheets for further analysis.

“The Morse Watchmans key control system was a good decision and has proven to be a valuable technology solution,” adds Captain Chambliss. “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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