By Associated Press - Wednesday, February 5, 2014

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Some private phone calls between inmates and their attorneys have been inadvertently recorded, an Alaska Department of Corrections official said.

An investigation of the recordings is underway, KTUU (https://is.gd/fAFYgF) reported.

DOC deputy director Sherrie Daigle said the problem is technical and inadvertent, and it is tied to Securus Technologies. The Dallas-based company provides phone service to Alaska’s 13 correctional facilities.

“We’re not really sure if it was an IT issue, if it was a training issue, if it was a company issue,” Daigle said.

According to the department, an unknown number of calls were recorded against department policy starting last fall. The number could be as few as 40 but possibly more.

Officials said the problem is continuing.

Daigle said substantial progress could be made in the investigation by the end of the week. The investigation involves the state Department of Law.

Anchorage defense attorney Rex Butler said questions about the fallout will linger unless there is a thorough, open investigation that includes notification for anyone whose phone call was recorded without their knowledge.

Butler said he doesn’t believe prosecutors would use the recorded phone calls.

“But that’s not the point,” he said. “I don’t want you to know my conversation with my clients or how we communicate.”

A call by The Associated Press to Securus Technologies seeking comment was not immediately returned Wednesday.

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Information from: KTUU-TV, https://www.ktuu.com

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