Becker Co-Authors Bill To Eliminate Prison Communication Fees

SAN MATEO, CA — California state Sen. Josh Becker announced a bill Wednesday that would eliminate all telecommunication fees in California prisons. Senate Bill 1008, or the Keep Families Connected Act, would require county, state, and city jails to provide voice communications services free of charge to both the person initiating and the person receiving either video or phone messages. It would also require prisons to provide a minimum of two voice communication devices in each housing unit, and provide incarcerated individuals with a minimum of 120 minutes of voice communication per day, provided that does not interfere with rehabilitative, educational, or vocational programming.

A Harvard Political Review study found that the average cost of a 15-minute call from a United States prison is $5.74, which is substantial for many incarcerated individuals whose average income was $19,185 before they were incarcerated. The high costs of keeping in contact have driven 1 in 3 families with incarcerated members into debt, a pre-pandemic study determined.

In the summer of 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission imposed an interim cap of 7 cents per minute for calls at jails and prisons throughout the state. In the past few years, Connecticut, San Francisco County, San Diego County, and New York City have all already made phone calls in jails free.

Meanwhile, the nationwide jail and prison communication industry earned an estimated $1.4 billion from telecommunications fees.

Studies have shown that disconnection from family and friends creates mental health problems for the incarcerated and their families, and research shows that incarcerated people who are able to keep in regular contact are more successful re-entering society than those who cannot.

“Staying connected with family and friends is integral to the mental health and well-being of all people, but especially incarcerated Californians,” Becker (D-San Mateo) said in a statement. “Providing free communication with families through this bill can help incarcerated people remain hopeful and connect with resources that can support their re-entry, such as resources for future housing, employment and counseling. These essential connections should not be severed.”

The bill was co- authored by Senator María Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, Senator Sydney K. Kamlager, D-Los Angeles, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan, D-Los Angeles and Assemblymember Mike Fong, D-San Gabriel Valley. It is expected to be heard in a Senate policy committee in coming weeks.