Campaign for Prison Phone Justice

The "Campaign for Prison Phone Justice" is challenging prison phone kickbacks and the U.S. Prison Telephone Industry.
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March 12: Support Prison Phone Justice in Maryland

Mar 7, 2013 | by admin

On March 12, support prisoners and families by attending a hearing for phone justice in Maryland. Testify to lend your voice to the cause.

Support prisoners and families by attending a hearing for phone justice in Maryland. Testify to lend your voice to the cause.

WHAT: HB 952 and 1138; SB 778 — Legislation to promote affordable phone rates for prisoners and families and hold the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services accountable

WHEN: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM

WHERE: Annapolis, Maryland

Delegate Jill Carter (Baltimore) is sponsoring legislation which would ensure just and reasonable rates for people who receive telephone calls from Maryland prisoners. The bill, HB 952, would:

  • Award future prison phone contracts to the bidder that proposes the lowest cost to phone users and
  • Prohibit commissions in excess of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services’s reasonable operating cost for providing the phone services.

Delegate Carter is also sponsoring HB 1138, which would:

  • Require a portion of commissions to go into a fund for calls between prisoners and their children and
  • Promote transparency of the fund through reporting and audits.

We support Delegate Carter’s position and need you to attend the hearing and speak to how you have been impacted by the high costs of phone calls from Maryland prisons — and the benefit of making rates affordable. Increased communication, strong families, healthy communities — everybody wins!

FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE HEARING!

CONTACT:

Mr. Mike at 410-323-7200 or

Dominique Stevenson at DStevenson@afsc.org

Thanks to the American Friends Service Committee and Friend of a Friend for organizing the event.