Pressures Rise Over Costly Inmate Phone Calls

Sen Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is urging the Federal Communications Commission to "immediately call on telecommunications providers serving law enforcement facilities across the nation to provide free phone calls & video visitations to better enable families to communicate with incarcerated loved ones during the #COVID19 pandemic.” Although the Federal Bureau of Prisons has made these calls and video visits free during the outbreak, state and local facilities may still charge exorbitant amounts for such communications services. “Finally some action,” said Human Rights Watch’s Laura Pitter following that federal move. “Now we need the states to follow and to make this permanent, should not be limited to pandemic.”