Inmate Email Glitch continues

The problem with the website function for adding funds with which to send email to inmates and detainees at the McHenry County Jail continues. And it's not the fault of the jail.

On Wednesday I reported a website error to IC Solutions, which operates the Secure Inmate Email Service for "our" jail. Through this system friends and family can send email to inmates and detainees. The primary portal for this is www.icsletters.com/

To send e-mail you first must have some money in your account on that site. The way you add money is with your credit card. First you open your account; then you add funds. E-mail costs $0.50/page.

When your account runs out of money, you add more. Starting last Wednesday, the "Add Funds" button didn't work. I reported it to the jail and to the I.T. department at IC Solutions, and they haven't been able to fix it. They know what the problem is; they had changed computer servers, but they can't seem to get it fixed. (Also, the email address to "support" does not work.)

When I called Thursday, they told me they were still working on it. "The (repair) ticket is still open."

Friday they couldn't find a repair ticket. So they opened another one!

It turns out there is a "back door" for making deposits. Here it is.

Go to www.icsdeposits.com/
Under "How do I get started", click on here. (Not here; there)
If you already have your account, log into it. (My compliments to their sharp I.T. guy who programmed the cursor to move automatically to the next field after the required entries are made!)
Click on "Make Payment"
Choose the correct agency (ex., McHenry County Jail)
Click on "Continue "
Choose "ICS Letters (Inmate Email)"
Select your Payment Method and enter the amount you wish to deposit
(There is no fee associated with credit/debit card deposits)
Continue on through the menu. You'll get a receipt for your transaction.

Keep in mind that email to detainees and inmates is read by jail personnel before it is delivered to them. Read the rules for communication on the jail's webpage at www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/sheriff/Pages/Corrections.aspx

And inmates and detainees receive email only on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays, holidays excluded. Later I'll address this limited email delivery service.