Michigan phone system protest

[KConnor56]

This came my way, & I thought it would be of interest to those in Michigan.--------Ken

Dear Friend:

Your help is urgently needed to protest the monopolistic and inhumane phone system in Michigan state prisons, which denies collect phone calls to inmates whose families don't use Sprint as their long distance provider.

The phone system was described in a recent letter to the media by Robert C. Mitchell III, a black activist prisoner at the Huron Valley Correctional Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. Robert is an outspoken anti-police brutality activist and founder and CEO of the National Police Misconduct Project, a civil rights organization. Framed by police and other white racist officials for kidnapping and assaulting a white woman in Battle Creek in July, 2000, Robert was sentenced to 39 years in state prison following a kangaroo court trial.

According to Robert, the recipients of collect phone calls from
state prisoners *must* subscribe to Sprint. Once an account is
established, there must be an initial balance of at least $50.
Sprint's service providers, Correctional Billing Services and Evercom Systems Inc., will put a block on the phones of a customers whose accounts reach zero until the balance returns to $50! "To add insult to injury, the unexpected phone blocks are punitively imposed." often without the consent, request or knowledge of the collect-call recipients, Robert said in his letter.

Under the previous phone system, Robert explained, inmates were required to give officials the names of 20 people for their collect phone call list. Once the list was approved, the prisoners could make direct collect calls to the people on their list. As a result of the new phone system, 90 percent of the some 493 inmates at the Huron Valley Correctional Center cannot make collect calls, nor can the majority of state prisoners, Robert said.

The new phone system in Michigan prisons is outrageous and blatantly discriminatory. Who gave the MDOC and Sprint the right to dictate what type of phone service the families and friends of prisoners use?

The five-year *exclusive* agreement signed in July between Sprint and the MDOC highlights the corporate and business greed and corruption prevalent in the United States today. Sprint is charging excessively high rates for their service, and the MDOC is reaping huge kickbacks and profits from the deal, according to Robert. Furthermore, the phone system discriminates against inmates who come from low income families who cannot afford to pay Sprint $50 a month. The situation is worse when you consider that many inmates
rarely or perhaps never see their families because the inmates are imprisoned several hundred miles away from home. Denied collect phone calls, these prisoners are completely cut off from any verbal contact with their loved ones.

Robert, who is a trained paralegal, and fellow inmates Todd DeShawn Daniels and Charles White believe that Sprint and the MDOC have violated federal anti-trust laws. The three men are seeking attorneys to file a federal class action lawsuit against the MDOC and Sprint on behalf of all Michigan prisoners and their families.

What can you do to help?

1. E-mail or write letters of complaint to the Consumer Protection Division in the office of Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and to the Michigan Public Service Commission, which regulates state utilities. Tell them the prison phone system is unfair and ask them to conduct public investigations into the contract between Sprint and the MDOC. (See sample letter below, which includes the e-mail
addresses of key Sprint officials and officials in the Michigan
Legislature that have oversight of the MDOC.) To send an e-mail to the Consumer Protection Division, you must go to
the website, http://www.ag.state.mi.us. To send an e-mail to the Public Service Commission, go to http://www.cis.state.mi.us. Send copies of your complaint to the Michigan Department of Corrections,
http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc.

Mailing addresses: Consumer Protection Division, P.O. Box 30213-7713; Michigan Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 30221; Criminal Justice Committee, Michigan House of Representatives, NO793 House Office Building, P.O. Box 30014. Each of these letters should be mailed to Lansing, MI 48909. Letters to Sprint should be sent to Sprint World
Headquarters, 6200 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park, KS 66251.

2. If you are an attorney or a paralegal and want to help the prisoners ith their lawsuit, write to Robert C. Mitchell III, #166223, Huron Valley Men's Correctional Facility, 3201 Bemis Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, or to the National Police Misconduct Project, P.O Box 19962, Kalamazoo, MI 49019, e-mail accessjustice@hotmail.com.

Help protect the human and legal rights of Michigan prisoners and their families to communicate!

Peace,
JoNina M. Abron
Member, Interim Board of Directors
National Police Misconduct Project
************************************************** ********************
SAMPLE LETTER (Remember, to send e-mails to the Consumer Protection Division, the Michigan Public Service Commission, and the Michigan Dept. of Corrections, you must go to their web sites which are listed above.)

TO: mark.bonavia@mail.sprint.com,james.w.fisher@mail.sprint.com, travis.l.sowders@maprint.com,jfaunce@house.state.mi.us,
DKnapp@senate.state.mi.us,JAdams@senate.state.mi.us

To Whom It May Concern:

It has come to my attention that the Michigan Department of Corrections has signed an agreement with Sprint that requires the recipients of collect phone calls from prisoners to subscribe to Sprint.

According to my information, recipients of collect calls must maintain a minimum monthly balance of $50 with Sprint. If they do not, without their knowledge Sprint may disrupt their long distance service until the $50 balance is restored.

This phone system discriminates against families of prisoners who cannot afford Sprint. Furthermore, the MDOC and Sprint may be engaging in illegal business practices that violate federal anti-trust laws. The policy certainly violates the human rights of prisoners and their families to communicate.

I urge your office to conduct an immediate investigation into the contract between the MDOC and Sprint. At a time of national outcry over corporate crimes and corruption in government, such an investigation is essential in order to maintain public trust.

Sincerely,

[Jeni]

Ok, let me understand this. Being that I live in Michigan, I go throught the CBS-Correctional Billing Service, and that bill comes along with my Ameritech phone bill. My first bill to the CBS was about 150-which I paid off. Now, MCI is my long distance carrier, and Ameritech is my local, and I get the CBS bill along with those. Now, MCI is different then Sprint right? Cuz I don't know anything about having to have a minimum 50 dollar balance. Does that mean I shouldn't pay off the whole bill? I haven't had any problems as of yet, but maybe I will? I do know that my long distance was changed to MCI with out my knowledge (I am assuming something to do with Ameritech, not the CBS) But maybe I am wrong? Is MCI Sprint? LOL! Sometimes I wonder how I survive each day without getting hit by a bus or something. Maybe I should know about these things eh? LOL

[Jeni]

Once again, Michigan made over 18 million dollars in the last 2 years on prison phone systems. Where is that money?

[Isadora]

Thanks Ken for posting this! I can attest to the truth of all that the inmates are saying, as this has just happened to me! A block was put on my phone without my knowledge. I was enrolled in the Correctional Billing Services and given a $150 account limit without my knowledge! The whole thing is so punitive and unfair; I think the MDOC must have some sort of committee that just sits around and thinks up new ways to torment prisoners and their families. First they said you couldn't send money orders to their accounts any more, cashier's checks only! Now this! The MDOC makes you hate them. It's ridiculous and I will certainly be writing and e-mailing all the people and addresses listed. Thanks again Ken.

[KConnor56]

Jeni,

LOL, your ahead of me. This whole thing is a mystery to me. I never really did a lot of phone calls, & if my family had to deal with this I would have been really pissed. It's bad enough the amount they charge for the phone calls. Now you have a bunch of hoops to jump through, but you know what. They do it cause they can, & they know everyone will jump through the hoops, & everyone will pay 300.00 a month phone bills. They are making money hand over fist because everyone goes right along. People will have problems paying rent, but that phone bill will get paid. When people rise up, say enough, & come to some kind of agreement on a protest that will hit them where it hurts (The wallet), nothing will change. I guess that's just the rebel coming out, LOL.----Ken

[Jeni]

Isadora, when did they make the rule that you can't send money orders to prisoners accounts anymore? I sent one a couple of weeks ago, and he got it. But, I just sent one a couple days ago that he hasn't gotten yet. Is this something new? Ken, I hate the phone system, I hate the prisons, I hate UPS, and I hate the DOC. I had a shitty day today for some reason. I just got so angry for having to feel this way. I know it's Robert's fault that he is in, (not the DOC's) but I just got so fed up! I know it will pass, it just gets so frustrating at times! I keep tracking the book order that I sent to Robert, and from what it says on Amazon.com, the books have been sitting at some UPS office in Allen Park, Michigan, since July 18. (they told me the max delivery date would be July 31st) I emailed UPS, and their "reply" was that I would have to go fill out some form at one of their offices. Well, I really don't have the time to do that. And, since I paid to have these books sent, I think that they should be doing something to help me out. They told me that since my shipment wasn't considered a "high priority", it might get a little lost. Whatever. And, I am mad because Robert is still sitting in receptions, where he has been for the last 2 months, waiting to be classified. We don't have any idea how much time he is going to get (he talked to the board about a month ago) and there are guys that have been brought in after him, that are going out before him. I know a lot of these complaints seem petty, I am just pissed.

[Isadora]

Hi Jeni, No the cashier's check thing isn't something new, they did it last winter for a couple of months and then without warning they stopped and let you send money orders again! Go figure. It was a huge hassle so I'm glad they stopped. It made no sense whatsoever! I hear you, I had a shitty day too for some reason! Also my husband hasn't called me for nearly three weeks because of this stupid block that was on the phone and I'm getting depressed about that. My area code changed too in the midst of this so he had to put in the new request and I guess he still hasn't gotten his new phone list back yet!!! Anyway I hope you can get the books straightened out; it does seem like they should be more helpful!! Good luck!

[KConnor56]

May be it's something in the air. I have been in a pissy sorry ass mood all this week. I'm iritable & snappy, & just a plain pain in the ass, & I don't get periods. Right now I just want to hit someone. Oh well, it'll pass. ------Ken

Jeni,

I order my books (We're all doing time) from Bo & Sita & they say it takes 4-6 weeks.

[Isadora]

Oh gosh, don't do that! Must be the weather or something! I just got back from Cali and I feel like turning right around and going back out there. Michigan sucks!

[Cameo]

LOL Ken, Your post about your pissy mood, made me laugh and brightened my own 'pissy' mood! Maybe when Friday get's here, it will all be over!!

[Jeni]

Yea, I don't feel as nasty as I did yesterday, but it is still in me! I am kind of going off on people that don't deserve it! (yea, they're dumb and say stupid things, but c'mon!!)
I am thinking that it's not these people that have all of a sudden become stupid, it is me who has all of a sudden become intolerable! I am sure next week I won't be so pissed, but I swear I am having a real hard time of it right now! Anyone know of some exercises that I can do?

[Isadora]

How about going to the gym and having a really good workout? I find that an hour or so of the Treadmill, exercise bike and weights and not thinking at all is great therapy! But you are right I have been noticing there seem to be some really stupid people around - especially drivers!

[Lucrisid]

Maybeit's the weather???

I myself am in a bad mood, too. I am sooooo mad at Ernie, because he's locked up and now he put that bug in my head that there's a chance he'll be getting out. I hope he does, so that I can punch him for doing this to me!!!
I am all by myself with three hell-raising brats and I will be all by myself when I give birth to #4. I had home-birth planned- but how can I concentrate on giving birth while the other kids are fighting and killing each other?!
I'm scared that at the end of this, I'll be a total psycho!issed:

[snowdancer]

Thanks for that helpful information. My son has not yet called from prison (in Michigan) and I wonder if this could be why... we don't use SPRINT as our carrier but MCI. Being that he is new in the intake process I thought I would wait a week and if I heard nothing try to call someone at the prison. I don't understand any of this phone system business... Could someone explain the process? He has to fill out a list of phone numbers he can call? Hmmmmm.....

When he was in county he used AT & T and could actually call my cell phone collect (without any charge)... but if he called on the regular phone it was $3.00 ++ a minute... CRAZY.

Hugs,
Jodi

[tiamotzz]

not being able to receive collect calls can be the MOST frustrating of experiences and it varies from place to place. in my case i was able to email a prison advocate for oregon prisoners who was able to give me the number to call to give permission. first i had to call my local server and tell them my line was blocked. they told me there were no blocks in place. but no calls. the service number for prisons said the local carrier was blocking. finally credit dept of local service admitted there WERE blocks. 5 of them stemming back to 95 from my ex. on this tuesday they promised me to remove all blocks within 72 hours so i could get this ball rolling. as of today the order has not even gone through! i was told it would take an additional 72 hours to get it through then i have to start over again if it is. it is SO frustrating! this poor kid has been trying and so have i and it's been months since we could talk. it is very frustrating to be at the mercy of these systems especially when you ARE willing to spend your hard earned cash for there questionable service!