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When you can only know an incarcerated family member as a voice on the phone...
Prison inmates’ ability to interact with family members through the telephone is essential to maintaining relationships. Telecommunication becomes increasingly important as corrections systems restrict outside visitation and often incarcerate offenders over 100 miles from their homes. Because strong relationships with their families considerably improves offenders’ prospects for successful reentry and reduces recidivism, prison telephone policies reach beyond those directly involved with the criminal justice system to affect entire communities.
Unfortunately, maintaining contact with family members by telephone is often extremely difficult for offenders because of exorbitant prison phone charges. State prisons often contract with a single phone company, allow that company to charge for services at rates far above the market price, and then receive substantial commissions from the company revenues. Some states use a debit system for prisoners to buy phone minutes, but collect call systems are the norm. This means that many offenders’ families must bear the financial burden of calls, which is often overwhelming for those who come from impoverished communities. Not only do these practices oppress poor families, they are also perverse public policy; the commission that state governments receive represent a regressive and highly selective tax that collectively punishes offender families.
Justice Fellowship calls for fair fees.
Justice Fellowship believes that unjust prison telephone policies must be repealed. State legislatures should pass laws that prohibit governments from receiving commissions from phone company revenues on prison calls. Legislation should also require companies to charge rates for prison calls that are comparable to rates outside of prison. In order to lower prices further, states should receive competitive bids from companies and contract with those offering the lowest charges to inmates. Adopting such policy reforms will facilitate more communication between incarcerated offenders and their families, enabling them to draw from the encouragement and accountability that relationships provide. Keeping these relationships a priority enhances offenders’ well-being and protects the well-being of their communities.
Justice eReports
Strengthening the Families of the Incarcerated
June 12, 2008, Vol. 7, No. 8
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