What Happens When Jails and Prisons Make Phone Calls Free?
15 hours ago
- #prison reform
- #criminal justice
- #family communication
- California and other jurisdictions made prison phone calls free starting 2023, allowing unlimited 15-minute calls.
- Free calls led to 600 million additional calls and saved families over $620 million, with most savings benefiting Black and brown families.
- Family contact via free calls improves relationships, mental health, and rehabilitation, and reduces stress for incarcerated individuals and staff.
- Prison phone systems are operated by private companies that historically charged high rates, often with kickbacks to facilities.
- State-level free calling policies bypass federal regulatory challenges and are more cost-effective than other rehabilitation programs.