WebCitz started working with this client in 2022
- Client: Inside Out Network
- Platform: Laravel
- Industry: Government / Community
- Services: Maintenance / Support, Web Hosting
The Challenge
The Inside Out Network provides a digital bridge for incarcerated individuals and returning citizens. The technical hurdles are significant:
- Prison System Compliance: To be used on tablets inside prisons (like those provided by GTL or Securus), an app must be “verified.” This requires meeting strict security protocols, zero-access to the open web, and extremely efficient data usage.
- Complex User Roles: The system manages data for various stakeholders, including incarcerated individuals, service providers (housing, employment, medical), and community members, each requiring different access levels and privacy controls.
- Scalability: As a national network, the database must handle thousands of connections and resource listings without performance lag.
The WebCitz Solution
We have acted as the primary architects for their digital platform, focusing on robust code and secure connectivity:
- Laravel Web Application Management: Since 2022, we have maintained and significantly expanded the core Laravel application. We’ve optimized the database architecture and streamlined the backend logic to ensure the platform remains fast and reliable as it grows.
- Verified Mobile App Development: We performed the heavy lifting required to get their mobile app ready for use in prison systems. This involved:
- Strict Security Hardening: Ensuring the app cannot be used as a gateway to unauthorized content.
- Optimization for Limited Hardware: Tailoring the app performance to run smoothly on the restricted tablets used by incarcerated individuals.
- Verification Support: Working through the technical requirements necessary to be cleared as a “verified app” within state and federal correctional systems.
- Feature Innovation & Custom Logic: We have added hundreds of hours of new functionality, including:
- Advanced Resource Mapping: Helping users find local service providers based on specific reentry needs.
- Secure Messaging & Networking: Developing tools that allow for safe, monitored communication between users and support networks.
- Profile & Document Management: Helping returning citizens store and manage the vital records needed for life after release.
- Technical Troubleshooting & Maintenance: Given the mission-critical nature of the site, we provide rapid-response support to ensure the system stays online and secure for the thousands of people who depend on it daily.
The Result
The Inside Out Network has evolved into a robust, enterprise-grade platform that is literally changing lives. By transforming the application into a verified tool for use inside prisons, we have helped bridge the “digital divide” that often leads to recidivism. Our ongoing development work ensures that ION has the technical capacity to continue expanding its reach, providing a lifeline to returning citizens across the country.
