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House Corrections and Institutions directs DOC study after debate over free inmate calls in H.294
Summary
The House Corrections and Institutions committee on Feb. 25 considered H.294, which would require telephone, video and other communications services for incarcerated people be provided "at no expense" to them or to their callers. Lawmakers voiced support for connections that may reduce recidivism but raised cost, cap and funding concerns and asked the Department of Corrections to produce a detailed evaluation.
The House Corrections and Institutions committee on Feb. 25 reviewed H.294, a bill that would amend Title 28 to require telephone, video and other communication services in state correctional facilities "at no expense" to incarcerated people.
John Gray of the Office of Legislative Council told the committee the bill would "change that to at no expense to the inmate," and that the same change was proposed across multiple subsections of the statute. Gray said subsection d could be used to extend the prohibition on passing charges to families and others communicating with inmates.
The bill prompted a technical-language discussion about when the entitlement would apply. Committee members and the Department of Corrections representative, Hailey, agreed that replacing the statutory phrase "upon admission" with operational wording such as "upon intake" or language that applies while a person is housed in a facility would be clearer. Hailey said booking areas typically allow one phone call during intake and that attorney lines are already provided…
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