From a People Against Injustice Leaflet:
PHONE CALLS FROM PRISON
Contact with family and friends is very important for people in prison
and
very positive for rehabilitation. When a CT prisoner makes a phone call,
it must be paid for by the receiver of the call, and at the highest rate.
Not only is it a collect call, but there is an additional connect up fee.
Since 1993 MCI has held a monopoly on phone service to CT prisons. They
have profited at the expense of prisoners' families and friends. They
have also provided poor service by cutting off calls in the middle, and
shutting off service arbitrarily. In return for their contract, MCI pays
the State of CT a 45% commission. ($6.5 million annually!) This is an
outrageous hidden tax burden on CT families, who are often people without
money to spare.
Legislation has recently passed that allows for a pilot program using phone cards. This would be less costly and should be instituted throughout the prison system. Poor people should not be penalized for having a family member in prison and should not have to give extra money to the state!
PAI has been conducting a survey to determine the effects of the phone deal on New Haven families. Results will be posted when they're complete (this fall).