The Cost Of Calls From Jail- Unaffordable To Nearly Everyone
Undoubtedly, people who have gotten a sentence committed serious crimes and they are dangerous for all of us- the other people. After all, that is why they are isolated from the others, right? However, is just one mistake enough to make us treat the prisoners like they were no humans? You are wondering what I am talking about? Well, you will figure it out in a while…
I would understand everyone who claims that they do not believe me. Anyway, there are plenty of examples which could be given so as to prove what I claim. Perhaps, the cost of calls made from jail is what will give you the most vivid idea of how the US correct institutions seem to develop. Being allowed to keep in touch with your friends and relatives is a sacred right and nobody can take it away from you no matter whether you are a prisoner or a president.
Unfortunately, that is hardly possible since the US correct institutions restricted the inmates’ rights severely. Yes, US seem to be a very democratic country but obviously, when it comes down to prisoners’ rights and desires, the situation changes a little bit. Thousands of words like these can be said or written but they mean nothing unless specific examples are given.
There is no second opinion that one of the most unacceptable and undemocratic restriction which has been is the one concerning the calls from jail. Did you know that the inmates are not allowed to make any calls? Yes, that’s right! They can only receive calls but if they wish to contact with any member of the family, they must have made pre-payment. However, the paradox is that the offenders cannot even make a payment/pre-payment- it should have been made by their relatives. So, the conclusion is that if a prisoner wants to make a call, he needs to have made a pre-payment which he is not allowed to make! Great logic and consideration of prisoners’ rights, don’t you think so?
Anyway, I am sure that most of you will not believe it until they are given information exactly what the rate of costs is for making a phone call from jail. Trust me, the rate of costs is definitely not good affordable, especially for an inmate. Just read carefully. If a prisoner wants to make a phone call directed into a location inside the prison’s state there is a flat rate of $3.50. But if you an inmate wants to call to somebody who is outside the jail’s state, then he will be charged $5.00 as a flat rate plus $0.89 per minute. Pretty affordable for a person in jail, don’t you think so? Let’s make a simple calculation: the inmate’s family is outside the state and he wants to speak to them 5 minutes every day- this makes 150 minutes per month. So the inmate will need $150 (30×5) for the flat rate and $133.5 (150 minutes x $0.89). What is the conclusion? Nearly $300 per month is needed for communicating with your relatives! But even if a person in jail had the money, he would not be able to communicate so often. Why, you may ask? Because there is a limit of the internal and external phone calls: this limit is usually 20 minutes. So, a woman’s voice will gently remind you that your conversation will be ended automatically when the limit is reached.