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<font size=3>Editorial<br>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/opinion/27fri4.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin" eudora="autourl">
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/opinion/27fri4.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin<br>
</a></font><h1><b>Fixing the Scam on Collect Calls
</b></h1><font size=3>Published: July 27, 2007<br><br>
New York’s Gov. Eliot Spitzer set an important example earlier this year
when he abandoned the longstanding practice of charging prisoners
bankrupting fees for collect calls. Telephone rates in New York have
since dropped by about half. Those rates are likely to fall further now
that Mr. Spitzer has signed a bill requiring the state to consider the
cost of inmate phone calls when it negotiates the next contract for
prison telephone services. <br><br>
That’s a far cry from how business is done elsewhere. In most states,
contracts are awarded to the company that pays the state the largest
“commission” for such calls essentially a legalized kickback. The
states and the companies both rack up the cash because inmates are only
allowed to make collect calls while the person who accepts the call is
charged a massive premium, sometimes as much as six times the going rate
for regular calls. <br><br>
This amounts to a hidden tax on inmates’ families, who tend to be among
the country’s poorest. It also weakens family ties, making it harder for
inmates to make successful transitions to outside life. <br><br>
Even at a reduced price, the collect-call-only approach is not the only
option. The federal prison system uses a more affordable debit calling
system, in which inmates use money from computer-controlled accounts. New
York and other states should adopt the debit system. No families should
have to choose between putting food on the table or accepting a collect
call from a loved one behind bars. <br>
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</font><font face="Courier New, Courier" size=6><b>constitutional</b>
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</font><font face="Courier New, Courier" size=6><b>rights</b></font>
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</font><font face="Verdana" size=2>I’m writing you today to share an
important and exciting CCR victory on behalf of New York State prison
inmates and their families and to let you know about
<a href="http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DbJuA3S4asGGUR%2F1uOsJRjGO1hY8nW1D">
today’s New York Times editorial on our success</a>.<br><br>
Since 1999, CCR has been fighting in the courts and on the ground to end
the exploitative telephone contract between the New York State Department
of Correctional Services and MCI/Verizon.
<a href="http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tx2M7P96rw9q9dDd82w7QjGO1hY8nW1D">
This year, we won</a>.<br><br>
For families to stay in touch with their loved ones in prison, they must
accept collect calls from a monopoly provider that until recently cost
630 percent more than regular consumer rates. For ten years, New York
State took a 57.5 percent kickback commission on the profits.<br><br>
All the research shows that staying in touch with family and community is
the single most important factor in a prisoner’s successful reentry when
they get out. Yet more than forty states have a similar policy gouging
prison families for profit and, as a result, keeping families apart.
After our amazing success this year, New York State will no longer be
among them, and we’ll be working to end the practice across the
country.</font><font size=3> <br><br>
</font><font face="Verdana" size=2>We launched the
<a href="http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tBPyow8hCpXlSFRSzDVXvjGO1hY8nW1D">
New York Campaign for Telephone Justice</a> in 2004 after we began to
hear from families that they were being forced to choose between putting
food on the table and speaking to their loved ones due to monthly phone
bills in the hundreds of dollars. Working with prison family
organizations like Prison Families of New York, Inc. and Prison Families
Community Forum, we coordinated an extensive campaign that involved
grassroots organizing, numerous lawsuits, media outreach, and legislative
advocacy. <br><br>
<a href="http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2lDkQ3EVkMIHSgMTFdarTTGO1hY8nW1D">
And after three years of tireless work, we won</a>!<br><br>
In January 2007, newly-elected New York Governor Eliot Spitzer agreed to
eliminate the State’s 57.5 percent kickback commission and reduce the
prison telephone rates by 50 percent; more savings are due in
September.</font><font size=3> <br><br>
</font><font face="Verdana" size=2>In June 2007, the New York State
Legislature passed our Family Connections Bill and made it law that the
State will not profit from any future prison telephone contract and that
any future contract instead must “prioritize the lowest cost to the
consumer.” (Previous contracts were awarded based on which bid would
provide the highest commission for the State.) Last week, Governor
Spitzer signed the bill into law.<br><br>
We’re not finished yet – we continue to fight the legal battle with our
case
<a href="http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=oV5J5m8avqzMdbWYfB57ETGO1hY8nW1D">
<i>Walton v. NYSDOCS and MCI</a></i>, which seeks a court judgment that
the State’s commission is an illegal and unconstitutional tax. A victory
in the case would prevent future legislatures from creating similar
contracts and would compensate affected families for the years that
they’ve overpaid to remain connected to their loved ones. We argued the
most recent round in June and are awaiting a decision.<br><br>
Due to overwhelming positive response from organizers and prison families
in other states, CCR plans to work with grassroots groups across the
country to make the Campaign for Telephone Justice a national effort so
that all families and inmates receive fair rates and can remain in touch
with their loved ones. Stay tuned for more on this exciting new campaign.
<br><br>
Sincerely,<br><br>
Annette Warren Dickerson<br>
Director of Education and Outreach<br><br>
<br><br>
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