New York Times Editorial -finally some national media attention?

[BoosMom]

I am completely hopeless with copying these things, so I hope the gist of this article comes through!
Editorial
The Bankrupt-Your-Family Calling Plan

 
Published: December 22, 2006
Studies of prison inmates clearly show that keeping them in contact with friends and family is vital to giving them a chance to create an honest life after jail instead of committing new crimes that land them right back behind bars. Yet the simple act of picking up the phone to call home can be bankrupting for inmates and their families.

The cruel and counterproductive system now in place around the country charges them as much as six times the going rate for collect calls placed from inside state prisons. The collect-call service providers keep a stranglehold on the business by paying the state prisons a legalized kickback called a “commission.”

These costs are borne by spouses, parents and other collect-call recipients who typically come from the country’s poorest families. Worse still, these families can be barred from receiving a prisoner’s collect call at all until they open costly accounts with the same companies that provide the prison phone service.

With bills that sometimes reach into the hundreds of dollars a month, families must often choose between talking to a jailed loved one and paying the rent. The lost contact is especially crushing for imprisoned parents, who make up more than half the national prison population and are often held in prisons hundreds of miles away from their children.

A bill that went nowhere in Congress this year would have mandated fair rates for interstate calls made from prison. The bill, introduced by Representative Bobby Rush, Democrat of Illinois, would also have required prisons to use both the collect-calling system and the less expensive debit-calling system. Used in federal prisons, debit calling lets inmates use computer-controlled accounts to pay for easily monitored calls to specified phone numbers.

The collect-call-only system is being challenged in court in a number of states, including New York, where a closely watched case is scheduled to be argued before the state’s highest court in early January. The suit rightly argues that the telephone markup is a hidden levy on families who already support the prison system through their taxes.

State prison officials say the money is used to pay for programs that benefit inmates. But it also gouges the poorest citizens — driving them deeper into poverty — to pay for prison services that the state is obligated to provide. It might be legal, but it is also counterproductive and morally indefensible.

[Dazzler]

Three for the New York Times...I'm sorry to hear Bobby Rush's bill went nowhere....we have it posted here in Legislation...it was a good bill...but it's all ABOUT THE MONEY....I'd like to know just exactly which PROGRAMS the kickbacks pay for in Illinois???

[downtownchicago]

If the plaintiffs in the New York case are successful, then I would be willing to participate in a suit here in Illinois.

[dancer]

The suit rightly argues that the telephone markup is a hidden levy on families who already support the prison system through their taxes.

The families support prisons not only through taxes but also in sending money every month to the inmate,  who also pays very high costs for basic toiletries and food.  It is a hand in hand issues,  on jacked up commissary and phone costs. 
I often wish that we would 'strike' and not take phone calls at all until they would reduce the prices. 
I can't remember exactly where I saw this,  perhaps hidden deep in IDOC audits, but I think they admit that the money is not used to benefit the inmates like it is supposed to.  Perhaps some percentage of it.   Do you recall us discussing this a year ago dazzler? 

[Lissa]

I'd like to know just exactly which PROGRAMS the kickbacks pay for in Illinois???

I have to agree with you Dazzler. Mine is in Menard's and doesn't have any programs.