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Senators Hear Constituents’ Concerns Over New Prison Telephone Rate of $1.70 per 15 Minutes
Summary
Senators heard floor reports that a new prison telephone policy limits calls to 15 minutes at $1.70 and reportedly directs half proceeds to the prison; members said the cost could harm family communications while inmates are incarcerated.
During floor business July 18, a senator reported constituent complaints about a new prison telephone policy that, the speaker said, took effect the prior day. The report said the policy allows one 15‑minute call at a cost of $1.70 and that prison staff may monitor calls. The senator said families told him they could hear guards listening in on calls and expressed concern that the high cost would impede family contact and the ability to maintain relationships while an inmate serves time.
On the floor the senator characterized the $1.70 charge as "outlandish" and said he did not believe the telephone system should be a money-making situation for the prison; he suggested pay phones could be maintained at lower cost, as in the previous 25¢ pay-phone arrangement. The speaker also reported that roughly half the proceeds were going to the prison, a detail he said contributed to the equity concern. No formal motion or binding action on the floor is recorded in the transcript; the president assigned a committee (Senator Pace, Senator Levitt, Senator Fordham) to advise the governor that the Senate had concluded its business and handle other follow-up.
The transcript does not contain a response from corrections officials or a company representative; senators asked staff to be aware of constituent contacts about this change.
