Committee backs sheriff—s amendment to lower inmate phone rates, citing reduced per-call fees and higher call volumes

The Budget and Finance Committee on Oct. 5 approved a resolution retroactively authorizing the Sheriff—s Department to enter into a fourth amendment to its month-to-month telephone-services contract with Global Tel*Link, reducing calling rates and eliminating fixed per-call surcharges.

Crispin Hollings, chief financial officer for the Sheriff—s Department, told the committee the amendment lowers the average cost of a local call by about 34 percent, reduces regional in-state call rates by about 41 percent, and sets interstate rates below recent Federal Communications Commission caps. "The... fourth amendment... reduces the cost of an average local call by 34%," Hollings said, and the change also "eliminates fixed per-call surcharges."

Supervisors pressed department staff on how reduced rates affect revenues that flow to the inmate welfare fund. A Sheriff—s Department representative explained that some calls are free (arrestees receive initial free calls and pro per defendants receive court-provided calls), while the department is working on programs to provide free calls to parents of children in custody. The representative said the department currently receives about $500,000 annually from the program, which goes into the inmate welfare fund and, under the penal code, is limited to use for inmate programs.

The department said the fourth amendment is currently month-to-month while the city awaits additional FCC rulings, and staff expect to return with a new three-year contract by the end of the year that would reflect the amended rates. A supervisor moved to forward the item with a positive recommendation; Supervisor Tang seconded, and the committee approved the motion without objection.

The committee—s recommendation sends the contract amendment and the department—s plan for a new contract to the full Board for final action.