Moms Behind Bars To Get Free Calls On Mother's Day

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI — Mothers currently serving time behind bars in Milwaukee County will get a little more attention this Mother’s Day after Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Women’s March Wisconsin worked with the Office of the Sheriff and their phone vendor, CenturyLink, to ensure that the people incarcerated in the County Jail and House of Corrections are able to call home.

Sarah Pearson, State Co-Chair of Women’s March Wisconsin said in a prepared statement, “Women are the fastest growing segment of the prison population, and the majority of women in prison have a child under the age of eighteen. At Women’s March Wisconsin, we believe the struggle for women’s rights absolutely includes incarcerated women’s rights. All mothers should be able to call their loved ones on Mother’s Day free of charge.”

Sheriff's officials said that CenturyLink has offered one free five-minute phone call for every inmate. Citizen Action of Wisconsin organizers in Milwaukee recently reached out to request free calls.

Sheriff Schmidt said, “Inmates calling their mothers or a close family member on a special holiday such as Mother’s Day is a wonderful way for them to stay connected to their family support network. I thank CenturyLink for bearing the cost of the calls to make this possible.”

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