Families to Proceed with Lawsuit Against High Phone Rates in Prisons

[Joanne98]

Families to Proceed with Lawsuit Against High Phone Rates in Prisons
WNYC News

NEW YORK, NY February 20, 2007 —Families that were forced to pay high phone rates to talk to loved ones in state prison can proceed with a lawsuit seeking refunds. The decision today from New York State’s highest court reverses two lower courts that ruled the lawsuit was not filed on time.

In a 4-2 decision, the Court of Appeals sent the case back to trial court in Albany. Relatives of inmates claim the state illegally collected millions of dollars through exclusive prison telephone service contracts with private carriers. For years, families paid $3 per call plus 16 cents per minute.

Governor Spitzer last month ordered that the three dollar surcharge on collect calls made by prisoners be eliminated as of April 1st. Families will be charged only the market cost of the call.
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/73963

[etherealtruth]

1. years ago My son mistakenly accepted a phone call from someone in prison ...

He had misunderstood the caller, and believed them to say "will you accept a call from 'your dad in prison'?" ... (he thought, that perhaps, his father had been sent to prison on his way to work:eyes: ... he was young).

As I recall, the phone call was very expensive. The cost of these phone calls must surely dim the connection between the incarcerated and their families ... the very people that we (as a society) hope for them to be connected to when they are released and expected to integrate back into society.

[Joanne98]

2. Private companies run the phones. They are charging 3.00 a min.

It's an outrage.

[etherealtruth]

3. Exactly!