Texas prison system slashes price of inmate phone calls by 77 percent

Guccigrl · #1 08-24-2018, 03:31 PM

Starting September 1st...Omg!!! Just read this. Seems to good be true. Finally some relief.

AUSTIN - The Texas prison system on Friday voted to drastically slash the cost of inmate calls home by more than 75 percent with a new phone contract more favorable to inmates and their families.

Now, instead of paying an average of 26 cents per minute, prisoners will pay 6 cents per minute - no matter the destination of the call.

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...e-13180653.php

Guccigrl · #2 08-24-2018, 04:34 PM

The length of calls are also being extended from 20 mins to 30 mins.

dtmom2013 · #3 08-24-2018, 07:15 PM

What great news!!

Guccigrl · #4 08-24-2018, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtmom2013

What great news news!!

I actually cried a little lol!

dtmom2013 · #5 08-24-2018, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guccigrl

I actually cried a little lol!

I know! That makes a big difference!

**patchouli** · #6 08-24-2018, 11:31 PM

Wow! Is there something in the water? First NYC jails (free calling for inmates) and now Texas drastically reducing rates!! Wonderful news

**sass4221** · #7 08-25-2018, 08:46 AM

Isn't it kind of funny that Texas doesn't use Securus even though Securus is located in Texas???

CenTexLyn · #8 08-25-2018, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sass4221

Isn't it kind of funny that Texas doesn't use Securus even though Securus is located in Texas???

Securus is the backbone of the system in place.

Where it gets interesting and ironic is that I have to send my registrations to an office in North Carolina.

Rudy's Wifey · #9 08-25-2018, 07:48 PM

Hey everyone I seen this article online about tdcj Phone rates going to 0.06 cents per minute versus 0.26 cent we pay now does anyone know how accurate it because if it is that will save me a lot of money

Here the article if anyone wants to read it

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crim...nts-per-minute

Thank you for y’all time

**fbopnomore** · #10 08-27-2018, 08:56 AM

Here's a link to a Chron.com article that reports a new 7 year phone contract with CenturyLink that reduces all phone calls from Texas prisons to 6 cents/min, a 77% reduction from the current costs.
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...e-13180653.php

dtmom2013 · #11 08-27-2018, 09:25 AM

Isn't just wonderful! I talked to two offenders in TDCJ, they knew nothing about it. They were happy!

pinkydinky · #12 08-28-2018, 10:43 AM

i'll believe it when i see it.

JMR77429 · #13 08-28-2018, 12:39 PM

If Texas county jails also use Securus, will they also be under this new contract?

km85 · #14 09-01-2018, 08:27 AM

It really is .06 per minute, as i just had my first call.

I believe only tdcj prisons will be effected by this. I do know that in the county jail in Austin the calls are only .02 per minute.

nilah_2000 · #15 09-01-2018, 10:13 AM

Had my first call via Securus. It was $1.89 for 29 minutes!

JMR77429 · #16 09-01-2018, 12:21 PM

I spoke to Securus and they said if the call is in TX and goes through Securus it is the .06 price. Harris county is Securus, so must be included.

satx18 · #17 09-01-2018, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nilah_2000

Had my first call via Securus. It was $1.89 for 29 minutes!

I haven’t had my call yet but was hoping this was true! I’ve learned to be cautious about rumors until I see it happen. This will help so much!

Billys_Lady · #18 09-01-2018, 03:45 PM

I just had our first call...and all this is correct. We were able to talk for 30 min @ $1.80. This is going to make my bills a whole lot easier to meet every month!

satx18 · #19 09-01-2018, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satx18

I haven’t had my call yet but was hoping this was true! I’ve learned to be cautious about rumors until I see it happen. This will help so much!

21 minutes @ $1.37.......YEA!!

rcthomas0527 · #20 09-01-2018, 09:09 PM

The new rate and increased duration is awesome, but it has created more demand for the phones and will have a negative impact on the frequency that my husband can make calls. (that is the selfish look at it) This change has corrected an injustice that has gone on for a long time and I hope more "offenders" can afford to connect with their families.