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Bill to provide free phone/video calls for incarcerated Rhode Islanders draws wide support
Summary
House Bill 5350 would eliminate charges for phone and electronic messaging for people in DOC custody. Advocates, families and service providers testified that free communication strengthens family ties and reduces recidivism; witnesses and a national nonprofit offered a state cost estimate and implementation precedents from other states.
House Bill 5350, introduced on behalf of Representative Felix and presented by a surrogate, would require the Department of Corrections to provide free communications — including phone and electronic messaging — for people held in state correctional facilities.
Supporters told the committee free communication reduces recidivism and relieves an acute financial burden on families. Jacqueline Kennedy Show, who identified herself as formerly incarcerated, described how hearing a family member’s voice keeps hope alive during confinement. Laura D'Orizario and other family witnesses described paying high monthly sums for limited call time — one witness told the committee she paid about $100 every two weeks for 20-minute calls.
Worth Rises, a national nonprofit, presented a fiscal estimate and implementation experience from other states. Antonia Jeffrey of Worth Rises said similar policies have passed in Connecticut and other jurisdictions; she provided a statewide annual cost estimate of about $436,000 based on vendor rates and prior state implementations.
Freedom Collective members and reentry program leaders linked free communications to improved reentry outcomes. Witnesses said family contact facilitates housing and employment planning and keeps relationships intact; Heather Gaydos, the DOC's reentry services manager, described DOC reentry work to obtain vital documents and supported measures easing reentry barriers.
The DOC has existing contracts with communications vendors and raised operational points in written testimony; multiple witnesses and advocates said an implementation plan with vendor negotiations and coordination with DOC reentry staff could limit incremental costs while achieving the policy goals.
The committee held the bill for further study under the earlier procedural motion.
