Prisoners can harass their victims with unlimited free phone calls in California and Conneticut now

[Blunderbuss Firozabad]

Well, that's my take on things...

I'm OK with families being able to call prisoners for free, or prisoners being able to call their legal team for free, but the rest? Suck that.

"People serving time in California prisons will be able to make phone calls for free in 2023 thanks to the Keep Families Connected Act.

There will still be restrictions on phone calls, however, such as they can only be made for 15 minutes at a time during set hours. Although there is a time limit, there is no limit on how many free calls someone can make. Calls can be made both domestically and internationally for free.

The free calls, beginning Jan. 1, include those made from tablets. Families and friends will also not be charged for making calls to the prison. "

"Legislation that aims to curb the costs of phone calls behind bars is heading to President Biden's desk for his signature."

" The Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022, which was approved by Congress last month, is a major victory for the Federal Communications Commission in its yearslong fight to cap how much private companies charge incarcerated people for phone calls. "

"Two main factors contribute to expensive phone call fees:

One reason for high rates is that jails and prisons typically develop an exclusive contract with one telecommunications company. That means incarcerated people and their families are stuck with one provider even if the company charges high rates.

Another factor is site commissions — that activists call kickbacks — that county sheriffs or state corrections departments receive. Some local officials argue that site commissions are crucial to fund staff who will monitor inmate phone calls for any threats to the community.

Prison reform advocates and federal regulators have scrutinized both contributing factors. Today, states such as New York, Ohio and Rhode Island have outlawed site commissions while California and Connecticut have made prison calls free of charge. "


.

Calls to and from California prisons to be free starting in 2023

(KTXL) — People serving time in California prisons will be able to make phone calls for free in 2023 thanks to the Keep Families Connected Act, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabili…

fox40.com

 

[Turd Fergusen]

I agree it should apply to incoming calls to prisoners. In this day and age, the cost of having a dedicated land line to accept collect calls is a bit much for friends and family to take on.

 

[Sejanus]

If I were in prison I would be reluctant to call friends or family to remind them of my incarceration.
I would want to be forgotten I think

 

[cubby]

If I were in prison I would be reluctant to call friends or family to remind them of my incarceration.
I would want to be forgotten I think

I know I would. Every call would remind them what a horrible person I am to have done whatever it was that got me in prison. My family is not the kind of family that would stand behind you and believe everything you say.

 

[Turd Fergusen]

If I were in prison I would be reluctant to call friends or family to remind them of my incarceration.
I would want to be forgotten I think

I think it would depend on that the crime was.

 

[Blunderbuss Firozabad]

@cubby @Sejanus @Turd Fergusen


As a possible crime that could win support (I think about this occasionally) I came up with this...

--You're purchasing medications in the UK that are priced much lower there, then smuggling them back to the US.

You're not intending to make a profit, only help people.

You buy Cuprimine (penicillamine).

( It's for the treatment of Wilson’s Disease, "a rare genetic disorder that results from the malfunction of the pathway that removes copper from the body.")

It was approved in the U. S. in 1970, but still costs a staggering $31,426 for 120 capsules.
In the U. K. it will cost $150.84 for 120 capsules.

It's not harming anyone, it's helping, but it's still against Federal law.

Do you think you would feel OK calling home then or that you'd receive family support?

ETA: for brevity and to add that I don't think I would feel comfortable or expect approval and support...But if it were for my child...)

 

[Turd Fergusen]

So, I have direct experience with this. I've had a few childhood friends that did some time. One was a drug charge and the other got screwed with a "3 strikes you're out" deal that the last two weren't very serious, but the first (committed as a juvenile, that was only unsealed if he got in trouble again) came back to bite him in the ass. I bought a landline so I could talk to them, via collect calls. At the time Verizon offered a landline that was a "pay as you go" option that had a base of $10 per month +time used. It was discontinued, mainly used at the time, for people that didn't use a landline but needed one for their alarm systems. It's fairly expensive to set up a landline these days if you're a family that is cell only. Double edged sword to offer free calls. Good to keep people connected, but easy to take advantage of if used for harassment, etc.