interesting new phone system

fuzzsladay · #1 10-22-2002, 10:41 AM

Here in South Dakota, there has been a lot of houpla over the surcharges on calls from the states correctional facilities. Last year, the state made around $400,000 off phone calls from inmates.

Many family members and friends of inmates pushed the issue to the state legislature and managed to get their attention. They have recently put into place a new debit type phone system. You can send money specifically earmarked for the inmates phone debit account. Inmates then have a choice. They can call using the new debit system or the old collect system. The new debit system is quite a bit cheaper, though not as cheap as a regular call. The best part about it for us and for many of my friends with loved ones on the inside is that it is not a collect call. I use a cell phone and don't have a land line. I could never recieve calls from my husband before because I couldn't accept collect calls. A friend of mine has a land line, but no long distance. She also could not accept collect calls. Still another friend has had trouble keeping the cost of collect calls under control because she just couldn't bring herself to deny her husband's calls even though she couldn't afford them. This new system allows inmates to actually see what the calls cost and how often they can afford to call.

The system operates through qwest communications in our state. It is only about a month old, but it seems to be working well so far. It also must be cost effective for the state. If it weren't, I don't think they would have gone for it.

**Ken** · #2 10-22-2002, 06:06 PM

Do you have the letters or the 'position' taken to get attention on this matter? It would be really helpful if we could find the ring leader of this crusade and understand how they did it so that other states could do the same.

I am working on getting some information from a Missouri Senator about the same thing because Missouri have low rates compared to a lot of other states and it was the work of one Seantor. I will post this when I receive it.

fuzzsladay · #3 10-24-2002, 03:55 PM

All I have right now is the breakdown of charges sent to me by my husband. As far as I know, some family members did a letter writting campaign and flooded several legislators with letters and copies of phone bills etc. I will try to get more info for you. The SD DOC tends to be pretty secretive about most everything so it may take some time. I'll do my best and get back to you as soon as possible.

**Ken** · #4 10-24-2002, 04:36 PM

Thanks, I will wait to hear back. Anything that you can find out would be great! I would like to start a letter writing campaign and am looking for any success stories so that we can leverage off of the success.

nanuu99022 · #5 11-15-2002, 11:09 AM

I like the idea of a debit system for phone calls. My man is in
the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe Washington and
has never called from there but he said he will. Phone calls are about $12.00 for 20 minutes. As far as I know we don't have a debit system.