The Cost of Prison Phone Calls Prevents Family Communication, Especially During Covid

Phone calls from incarcerated persons to their families has always been expensive but what many don't realize is that the pandemic has made it even worse. Back in March when much of the nation shut down to prevent the spread of Covid-19 the nations correctional facilities closed as well. Families could not longer visit their loved ones. There have been times when phone calls were also stopped because of the transmission possible through sharing phones and just having people out of their cells. But once phone calls were allowed families faced a new crisis, being able to afford the phone calls. Fees for phone calls from an incarcerated person are charged to the recipient of the call or to the prisoners personal account and cost a lot per minute. With so many people out of work due to the pandemic families are faced with the decision to speak with their incarcerated loved one or buy groceries or pay the rent. This article shares the story of one mother and the impossible decision she is faced with every time her phone displays a call from her incarcerated husband.

September 26, 2020

Worth Rises

Jovan Bates

Chris Twing

HSE

Arizona State University

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http://web.archive.org/web/20200926201452/https://twitter.com/WorthRises/status/1309869446941605888

http://web.archive.org/web/20201003213945/https://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-bates-prison-phone-calls-0926-20200926-vhfyxovf35enja2id5xjyz5faa-story.html

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