IDOC's telephone policy Challenged

[Still love my son]

I am talking about the TAX that we were allowed to claim on our Federal income TAXES.
That consolidated is still charging some of us.

Not sure which one that is called would have to go look.
There are too many to keep track of.

[colorblind]

I read that case last year, they compare the phone rates to the higher rates you would pay for food at the airport, but that is a false analogy, we can always put a sandwich in our bag to eat and are not forced to buy only their food, unlike inmates that are forced to use only that one service.  And they say "a monolply of force, that is, by definition, the government."  I thought a government was "by the people and for the people" NOT a monopoly of force.  That's what our current court system considers themselves, that's why we need to vote and pay attention to politics and who is elected to judge positions.

[dancer]

A person could say,  that air travel is not required if you are poor.   I don't think talking to ones family should be a luxury. 

[Schrader42]

I don't recall who made the comment but during the 1999 court appeal, it was said that inmates don't have to call home and burden the families with high phone costs when postage stamps are a cheaper way of communication.  I still think the courts could have ruled that the company waive the connection fee which is about $2.95 per call.  That's outrageous!

[Dazzler]

From what I understand about the 1999 lawsuit, it was a class action suit in Federal Court for a Civil Rights violation.  It was not the same basis as the recent ruling in New York.  That 1999 ruling is on our forum somewhere, I remember posting it last year.

[colorblind]

We've all had a taste of how the legal system works and the 1999 case was brought as a civil rights violation, but there are other angles to try, like saying it is collusion, which means, I think, kinda like price fixing, which is illegal in certain circumstances.  The fee paid by the phone companies to the different prison systems seem like an illegal kickback, I don't know the legal term for that, but someone will oneday argue on one of those other topics and win.  I don't think it's a civil rights issue, really, that's why the 1999 case lost.  But everyone can see it's wrong, so one day it will be corrected as long as we keep pushing the issue to everyones attention.

[colorblind]

I was looking around for info on Consolidated and found a couple of things.  At http://sec.edgar-online.com/2005/04/22/0000950123-05-004876/Sections18.asp  there is a financial statement showing the company losing money, but profitable in one area, the public sector, where they had just renewed it's ILDOC contract.   And a copy of the ICC Tariff is at www.consolidated.com/docs/illinois.pdf  It seems to show that Cons. has a calling card system that is cheaper, but maybe the DOC doesn't want to use it???

[Dazzler]

Yes, colorblind, Consolidated does have a debit card system fo use with the company...however, it can't be used with the IDOC.  Consolidated was just some little rural Central Illinois phone company until our state cut this lucrative contract with them.  It still makes me think there is some connection with the company to someone/s in our State government.  I'd like to know who else bid on this contract, hmm?

The civil rights angle didn't fly.  But there might  be a questions as to a monopoly or illegal awarding of the phone contract.

Regardless of the legal basis for a telephone campaign, the state's moral compass is in question.  They know they are ripping off inmate families.  They know they are making gobs of money from us.  They like the profits.  It's just another backdoor tax like so many others in this state.  They keep balancing the budget by whacking the little guy.  Illinois is big on 'sin taxes'...and it appears this is another 'sin tax'.....we are paying for the sins of our loved ones.   In a way, the state is saying we deserve this...we deserve to pay through the nose to talk to 'convicts'. 

I call it GREED.   The Greed of Consolidated to keeps its puni little company afloat and the collusion with the IDOC to kickback our money for a reward.  The DOC is so mismanaged it needs whatever revenue it can suck out of us to float their boat also....