Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit challenging a new Federal Communications Commission order that caps the rate companies who operate prison phone systems can charge the families of prisoners. 

Last fall, the FCC capped the rate companies can charge at 11 cents a minute and put limits on other ancillary fees. Previously, in some states’ jails and prisons, calls could cost families as much as $14 per minute. This was because of the unique (exploitative) nature of the prison phone industry, where companies had exclusive contracts with correctional facilities, which received hefty kickbacks (“commissions”) based on phone use by prisoners. To make up for that loss of revenue, the phone companies tacked on significant connection fees. So the interests of the companies and prisons were aligned against the consumer — the often cash-strapped family members of inmates. 

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In a release, the attorney general’s office says it’s seeking to join the federal suit challenging the FCC’s rules because without the kickbacks, jails and prisons will not have sufficient funds to monitor calls.

“Since this order from the FCC was finalized in October, I have spoken with numerous sheriffs, the Arkansas Department of Correction and other agencies about the loss of revenue this order would impose on local communities,” Rutledge said in the release. “Increased financial strain is not something local jails or prisons can handle at this time. 

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This echoes a line the Arkansas Department of Correction gave to David Koon in 2014 when he reported on a push to reduce the fees. But critics of the high fees have pointed out that having an active support network — which for most people includes phone calls — is critical to a prisoner successfully reintegrating with society. 

I’ve asked ADC for information on current charges inmates face. I’ll update the post when I hear back. 

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These were the rates in 2014:

Under the ADC’s current inmate phone contract, signed with Alabama firm Global Tel-Link in February 2012, prisoners paid a $3.95 connection fee on every state-to-state call, then 45 cents a minute, meaning that a 15-minute call to another state would have cost an Arkansas inmate $10.70 before the FCC order. For in-state calls, the ADC phone provider currently bills a $3 connection fee on every call, then 12 cents a minute, meaning that a 15-minute in-state call by an inmate would be $4.80. Inmate calls to private parties are limited to 15 minutes, while calls to an inmate’s attorney are limited to 30 minutes.

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