Keep Families Connected Act (SB1008) Needs Governor Newsom's Signature

Incarcerated persons rely on phone calls to stay in touch with their families and friends. Simply talking on the phone for a few minutes allows them to briefly escape the often lonely and tiresome day to day events of a life behind bars. Additionally, a study from Prison Policy Initiative indicates that the more that incarcerated persons maintain contact with their families and friends while serving their time, their chances of integrating successfully back in the community on release improves.

So why make that process so hard in terms of financial hardship?

For some who are serving sentences, the average cost nationally of a meager one minute of phone time is $14. Because people serving sentences come from disproportionately low-income families, the inflated rates that private prison phone call companies charge per minute target people who are poor the most, and this is before considering the cost of traveling for in-person visits, with the price of gas, a hotel room, and any food or gifts brought to a visit. A study from the Ella Baker Center explains that 1 of 3 families of incarcerated persons takes on debt to the tune of $13,000 on average as a result of these costs adding up just to maintain contact.

SB1008, The Keep Families Connected Act, sponsored by State Senator Josh Becker (District 13), would make all prison calls free. To implement SB1008 would cost the state an estimated 12 million dollar a year. It's a cost to consider but only represents about 0.1% of California’s $14 billion dollar prison budget, and the benefits toward reducing recidivism long-term makes this a worthwhile investment.

The bill passed both the California State Senate and Assembly and awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature.

There is momentum for reform in California. All calls coming from San Francisco jails are now free. The San Francisco sheriff testified in support of SB1008, saying that moving to free calls was easy to implement and had a “calming effect on the environment in the jail.” Calls are also free from San Diego jails, and the California Public Utilities Commission has at least capped the top price carceral facilities and communications companies can charge for calls at 7 cents a minute. (The statewide average before the cap was 31 cents a minute.) The state prison system has made some calls free during the pandemic too, but that program is expected to expire.

Private prison telecommunications companies have been abusing the system for far too long. Families shouldn’t have to choose between talking to their loved ones or paying medical bills.

Ring ring, Governor.