Washington, D.C. — In response to news that the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has approved new caps on the cost of making phone calls from jails and prisons following complaints from advocates and families about fees, Todd A. Cox, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
CAP applauds the FCC’s adoption of new rules limiting the cost of inmates’ telephone calls from prison or jail. We particularly appreciate Commissioner Mignon Clyburn’s work on and commitment to this issue.
For too long, companies have charged exorbitant rates for phone calls, severely burdening the ability of inmates and families to communicate. Such high fees exacerbate the economic costs of incarceration, further erode family bonds, and hamper reunification. We hope that these new rules will enable inmates to connect and promote contact with family members, central to reunification and successful reentry into society.
CAP experts are available for comment on this topic. For more information or to speak to an expert, please contact Tanya S. Arditi at [email protected] or 202.741.6258.
###