Case Study: Shawnee County Department of Corrections achieves heightened security, faster investigations, and improved inmate behavior with Avigilon high-definition surveillance

Shawnee County Department of Corrections - Customer Case Study

Shawnee County Department of Corrections (SNDOC) in Topeka, Kansas — a facility that houses adult and juvenile detainees and a community corrections center with more than 500 inmates and 281 staff — faced more than 300 incidents of inmate misconduct annually. The department’s legacy analog surveillance couldn’t produce reliable, searchable evidence, hindering investigations, undermining staff credibility, and limiting its ability to maintain safety and secure prosecutions.

SNDOC installed an Avigilon high‑definition surveillance system managed with Avigilon Control Center (HDSM), deploying 110 HD cameras (5–16 MP, including 180°/360° domes with audio), 79 analog encoders, six NVRs with 30 days of continuous storage, and 24/7 monitoring integrated into its electronic security. The upgrade enabled investigators to find footage in minutes, tripled cases sent to the District Attorney (all successfully prosecuted), improved inmate behavior, reduced false liability claims, and significantly enhanced overall safety and staff productivity.

Shawnee County Department of Corrections

Timothy Phelps

Shawnee County Department of Corrections