Florida Sheriff Sells Ads on Jail Visitation Video Monitors

The Charlotte County, Fla., sheriff's office is selling ads on the video monitors that visitors to the jail use to talk to inmates. Per the Herald Tribune:

The still-frame ads will air for two-minute intervals at a cost of 60 cents per showing. The frame will repeat 24 hours per day. The cost for one looped ad for a year is $1,533.

Charlotte has done away with face-to-face visits and only allows visitors into a separate building in which they use video monitors to talk to inmates:

"The ads have potential for over 500 viewers per day from the in-custody audience and an additional 25 screens available for visitors," said Capt. Earl Goodwyne, assistant Bureau of Corrections commander. "We believe it may be a first in the nation."

The jail believes its program may be the first in the nation. It expects attorneys to be big advertisers. The ads will roll while monitors are not in use. Per WTVY:

Ads on screen now also include addiction services, public defender, jail information, and are available to other services of interest for inmates and visitors.