What Cidnet does

Cidnet, a subsidiary of Omaha-based Encartele (founded 2004; Cidnet platform launched 2016), operates the first Internet Applications Provider (IAP) platform purpose-built for the U.S. corrections market. The platform is powered by cidOS, a proprietary operating system that replaces legacy inmate telephone infrastructure with a unified, internet-based data model connecting communication devices, applications, and facility systems through a single administrative portal. The company serves 450+ correctional facilities nationwide — predominantly county sheriff's offices and departments of corrections — with a 17+ app suite spanning communications (Voice, Video, Mail, Letters), operations (Forms, Content, Commissary), enrichment (Law Library, Education, Books, Cinema, Radio, Games, Talk), and infrastructure (Signage, Sensors, Data Access, CID Devices hardware).

Revenue is generated through three streams: facility subscription/platform fees on multi-year contracts (typically no upfront cost to the agency), usage-based data sales to friends and family who purchase megabytes to enable inmate communications, and hardware sales of detention-grade tablets, wallmounts, voice devices, and charging stations. Distribution is exclusively direct enterprise sales via a 'Request a Demo' funnel and Solutions Advisors; there is no channel or reseller motion. Implementation is handled in-house over a 30-60 day window by dedicated project managers, with 24/7 U.S.-based support included in the contract.

AI is embedded throughout the platform rather than positioned as a standalone product. Capabilities include automatic voice-to-text transcription of every interaction, biometric speaker identification and PIN-fraud detection, multi-party voice detection, keyword-triggered flagged alerts, video/image contraband moderation, visual link analysis for contact networks, and an AI-powered mental health chatbot (Talk App) for medical staff triage. The company also offers environmental sensors integrated with HVAC bipolar ionization for air quality monitoring.

Name

Cidnet

Legal name

Cidnet

Website

https://cidnet.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cidnet operates a proprietary internet-based inmate communications platform (cidOS) for 450+ U.S. correctional facilities, offering voice, video, messaging, AI-powered investigative tools, environmental sensors, and detention-grade hardware under subscription and usage-based pricing to county corrections agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corrections Communication Technology

NAICS

Correctional Institutions (922140)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails) (BPAIAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Correctional/Detention Facility Health Departments (HLAJAAAH)

Keywords

• Corrections communications platform
• Inmate communication software
• Correctional facility technology
• Inmate visitation services
• Corrections connectivity systems

Headquarters

HQ city

La Vista

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Communication Data Sales: Friends and family purchase data megabytes to enable talk, visit, and message services for incarcerated individuals. Data can be used across Voice, Video, and Mail applications. The model is usage-based rather than per-minute billing, charging only for actual data consumed. Families add incarcerated individuals to their account and transfer data to their balance.
2. Device/Hardware Sales: Cidnet sells purpose-built correctional hardware including handheld tablets, wall-mount devices, voice devices, charging stations (wall port and cart port), and broadcast displays. Devices are engineered for durability and security in correctional environments.
3. Platform Services to Facilities: Correctional facilities pay for access to the Cidnet platform, administrative tools, monitoring capabilities, and ongoing support. Implementation is typically at no upfront cost to the facility, suggesting a recurring subscription or service fee model. 24/7 support is included throughout the contract term at no additional cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cidnet provides a corrections connectivity platform powered by cidOS, a purpose-built operating system that replaces outdated telephone infrastructure with internet-based voice, video, and messaging applications for incarcerated individuals and their approved contacts. The platform serves correctional facilities nationwide with administrative oversight, AI-powered intelligence tools, environmental sensors, digital signage, and purpose-built detention-grade hardware including handheld tablets and wall-mount devices.

Product overview

Cidnet is a unified corrections connectivity platform powered by cidOS, an operating system built exclusively for correctional facilities. The platform delivers a comprehensive ecosystem of communication, operational, and enrichment applications integrated with purpose-built hardware. Core communication modules include Voice, Video, and Mail apps enabling secure calls, video visitation, and messaging between incarcerated individuals and approved contacts. Operational apps include Forms (Enquire), Content, Commissary, and Letters for facility management. Enrichment apps include Talk (mental health AI), Books, Cinema, Radio, Games, Education, and Law Library. The platform also includes Sensors for environmental monitoring and Signage for digital displays. CID Devices (handheld tablets, wallmounts, voice devices) provide hardware access, all managed through a single administrative portal. The system serves over 450 correctional facilities nationwide with 24/7 support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• cidOS: Purpose-built operating system for correctional facilities that powers communication, applications, and facility technology through a unified platform.

Products and services

• cidOS Purpose-built operating system for correctional facilities that replaces outdated telecom infrastructure with a secure, scalable foundation for communication, applications, and future innovation. Connects communication devices, applications, and facility systems through one secure administrative platform.
• Connectivity Platform Internet Applications Platform for correctional facilities providing secure communication devices and applications including voice calls, messaging, and video visitation between incarcerated individuals and approved contacts.
• Voice App Internet-based voice calling solution providing controlled, monitored communication without reliance on traditional phone infrastructure, with reliable call quality and full facility control.
• Video App Secure video visitation application enabling scheduled or real-time video visits over internet data, with automated scheduling, blur background privacy controls, and moderation tools.
• Mail App Secure email messaging service between inmates and approved contacts using data, with AI content moderation for picture messages and full staff oversight of conversations.
• Letters App Mail scanning solution that converts physical mail into secure digital copies for inmates to access on tablets or kiosks, available as internal or external scanning options.
• Forms App (Enquire) Digital forms submission system allowing inmates to submit grievances, medical requests, and custom jail forms with Face ID verification and staff messaging capabilities.
• Content App Content management system allowing facilities to upload and distribute documents, images, and videos to inmates with configurable availability settings and mandatory viewing requirements.
• Commissary App Digital commissary ordering system enabling inmates to browse and request commissary items through an internet-based interface, integrated with inmate accounting and banking software.
• Law Library App Digital legal database providing inmates access to state and federal case law, statutes, regulations, and constitutions with search functionality and automatic updates.
• Education App Educational and skill-building platform providing courses in life skills, job readiness, wellness, and personal development for successful reentry preparation.
• Books App Digital library providing access to approved eBooks and reading materials with 40,000+ free reading materials available, supporting literacy and personal growth.
• Cinema App Secure video entertainment system providing facility-approved movies, TV shows, and documentaries with scheduled programming or controlled on-demand access.
• Radio App Streaming audio platform providing secure music, podcasts, and internet radio with configurable access controls and programming schedules.
• Games App Single-player arcade-style and logic-based games curated for secure environments with configurable time limits and user permissions.
• Talk App AI-powered mental health support application providing secure chatbot conversations and wellness resources for behavioral health monitoring, triaging, and supporting incarcerated individuals.
• Signage (Content Broadcasting) Digital signage solution replacing paper postings with centralized, customizable messaging across housing units and common areas, powered by dedicated Broadcast Players.
• Sensors Environmental monitoring sensors tracking air quality, temperature, humidity, noise, light, pressure, VOCs, CO2, and PM levels in real time, integrated with HVAC systems.
• Intelligence and AI Dashboard Centralized intelligence platform integrating AI-powered tools including Voice-to-Text Transcription, Flagged Text Alerts, Multi-Party Detection, Biometric Speaker Identification, and Video Moderation for facility safety.
• CID Devices Purpose-built detention-grade hardware including Handheld tablets, Wallmount units, Voice devices, Wall Port charging stations, and Cart Port charging stations designed for correctional environments.
• Implementation Services Structured deployment and onboarding process including survey and verification, provisioning, network procurement, configuration, training, installation, and ongoing maintenance with dedicated project managers.
• Support Services 24/7 customer support with dedicated representatives, training and onboarding, self-service resources, and continuous enhancements for correctional facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ correctional facilities nationwide rely on Cidnet
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability10 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Jail Management System (JMS) ProviderscoreTechnology or IntegrationCidnet integrates with jail management systems to sync inmate records, bookings, releases, housing assignments, and incident data for real-time accuracy and consistency. Supports API integrations for real-time data syncing and batch/export integrations for systems without API support.
• Commissary & Finance System ProviderscoreTechnology or IntegrationCidnet integrates with commissary and finance systems to streamline ordering, payment processing, and reporting. The platform connects with third-party commissary vendors for electronic ordering and integrates with inmate trust accounting software.
• Encartele (Parent Company)coreOthersEncartele is the parent company of Cidnet. With more than two decades of experience in the corrections industry, Encartele provides secure, integrated technology through the Cidnet platform. All core support and service operations are handled under the Encartele umbrella.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Securus Technologies (Keefe Group): Largest US inmate communications provider, offering phone, video, messaging, tablets, and investigative tools to correctional facilities. Most directly comparable to Cidnet on product scope and customer base, though at much greater scale.
• ViaPath Technologies (formerly GTL): Major inmate communications, tablet, and corrections technology provider serving county, state, and federal facilities. Direct competitor on voice, video, messaging, and inmate tablets with overlapping customer profiles.
• IC Solutions: Inmate communication services provider offering phone, video visitation, messaging, and commissary technology to correctional agencies. Comparable mid-sized competitor focused on similar correctional facility customers.
• Pay Tel Communications: Provides inmate telephone, video visitation, and communication management services to county jails and state Departments of Corrections. Competes directly in Cidnet's core voice/communications vertical.
• Global Tel*Link (now ViaPath): Legacy inmate phone and communications provider rebranded under ViaPath; one of the largest incumbent providers of inmate telephone services to correctional facilities nationwide, directly comparable on voice and communications.

Emerging players

• Edovo: Corrections-focused education, rehabilitation, and communication tablet platform for incarcerated individuals. Overlaps with Cidnet's Education, Books, and Talk App modules and competes for tablet and content budget within the same facilities.
• Appriss Insights (Equifax): Corrections and justice intelligence platform offering risk, compliance, and analytics tools to correctional agencies. Overlaps with Cidnet's investigative intelligence and AI dashboard capabilities for the same investigator and law-enforcement buyer.
• Corrisoft: Community supervision and corrections case management platform serving probation, parole, and corrections agencies. Adjacent to Cidnet's Corrections Officers and Investigators segments in the same corrections vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Tyler Technologies (Corrections/JMS): Large public-sector software vendor whose Odyssey jail management system is widely deployed in US county facilities. Overlaps with Cidnet through JMS integration and competes for the corrections technology budget at the same facilities.
• Keefe Group / TKC Holdings (Corrections Commissary): Largest provider of inmate commissary, technology, and communication services to corrections. Now combined with Securus, they compete across communications, commissary, and tablets — directly overlapping with Cidnet's platform and device offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CIDNET.Public
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cid-net-software

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cidnet