Podcast Summary
Prison phone call costs: The high cost of prison phone calls can force families to make sacrifices to afford them, potentially leading to hardships in essential areas like food and electricity.
The high cost of prison phone calls places a significant financial burden on incarcerated individuals and their families. Diane Lewis, a mother featured in the podcast, shared her experience of having to make sacrifices to afford daily calls with her son in prison. The cost of these calls often forced her to choose between essentials like food and electricity. This issue has gained attention as a growing concern, and there are movements to make prison phone calls free. Rachel Martin, the host of the podcast, emphasizes the importance of staying connected in such situations and introduced a new podcast, Wild Card, to explore what gives life meaning.
Prison phone calls industry: Despite technological advancements leading to cost reductions in communication outside of prisons, the prison phone call industry continues to charge exorbitant prices due to a lack of competition.
While technological advancements have led to significant cost reductions in communication outside of prisons, the prison phone call industry has moved in the opposite direction due to a lack of competition. This issue was discussed on the Embedded Podcast episode "Supermajority" and All Songs Considered's review of the best songs of 2024. In the 1980s, the cost of prison phone calls was comparable to those on the outside due to AT&T's monopoly, but as technology advanced and communication costs decreased, the prison phone call industry did not follow suit. Instead, it became a niche industry that took advantage of the lack of competition to charge exorbitant prices. Bianca Tylik, head of Worth Rises, a group that advocates for criminal justice issues, explained how the breakup of AT&T's monopoly led to more competition and lower costs in the broader telecom industry, but this did not happen in the prison space. The prison phone call industry continues to charge high prices, making communication with incarcerated individuals expensive and burdensome. This situation highlights the need for greater competition and regulation in the prison phone call industry to make communication more accessible and affordable.
Prison call duopoly: Two companies, Securus and Viapath, dominate the prison call industry due to private equity investments and consolidation, with prisons and families of prisoners as captive customers, and high call costs due to added security and surveillance services
The prison call industry is dominated by a duopoly of two companies, Securus and Viapath, due to private equity investments and consolidation. Prisons and jails, which often receive a cut of the profits, have little incentive to negotiate for lower prices. Families of prisoners, who pay for these calls, are a captive customer base with no competition. Additionally, these companies have layered on expensive security and surveillance services, which they blame for high call costs. Private equity firms have purchased prison telecom companies with heavy debt, aiming to grow and acquire competitors, leading to this industry structure.
Prison call market monopoly: Two companies control 80% of the prison and jail call market, leading to high prices. Prison calls cost between $3 and $6 for a 15-minute call, significantly more than cell phone plans. Advocacy groups push for making these calls more affordable, and some states have already made them free for prisoners and their families.
Two companies, Securus and Viopath, control approximately 80% of the prison and jail call market, leading to high prices. The Prison Policy Initiative found that a 15-minute call costs between $3 and $6, which is significantly more than a cell phone plan with unlimited minutes. Both companies argue that their high prices are justified due to the need for specialized technology. However, there's a growing movement to make these calls more affordable. The Federal Bureau of Prisons made prison calls free as a COVID safety measure, and the Federal Communications Commission is expected to announce national price caps soon. Advocacy groups like Worth Rises have been pushing for change at the state level, and at least five states have passed laws making prison calls free for prisoners and their families. These laws, which are funded by taxpayers, aim to improve reentry outcomes by keeping prisoners in touch with their families, leading to better housing, employment, and reduced recidivism.
Prison phone call costs: Government intervention can cut prison phone call costs by up to two-thirds, enabling families to maintain communication with inmates and support their rehabilitation
Government intervention can significantly reduce the cost of prison phone calls for families, leading to improved communication and better outcomes for inmates. Before Connecticut passed a law to cover these costs, families were paying millions of dollars annually. After the law, the number of calls doubled, but the cost was reduced by two-thirds. This example is personal for Diane Lewis, whose son Javan was able to maintain a connection to the outside world through daily calls while in prison. These connections helped Javan stay grounded and focused on rebuilding his life after release. Today, he runs a successful clothing business in Washington, D.C. Lawmakers in over a dozen states have introduced similar legislation, and this trend towards reducing the financial burden on families is expected to continue. Overall, this issue highlights the importance of government intervention to address social issues and improve the lives of those affected.
Racial Harmony in Baseball: During the racially charged 1950s, a baseball field in Birmingham, Alabama, served as a unique haven for racial harmony, showcasing the power of community and shared interests in bridging divides.
The baseball field at Rick Woodfield in Birmingham, Alabama, served as a unique haven for racial harmony amidst the racial tensions of the 1950s. This was the oldest baseball field in the U.S. where comedian Roy Wood Jr. spent his childhood. Despite the prevalent racism during that time, the baseball field managed to bring people of different races together. Meanwhile, during the same era, the country was gripped by paranoia over the presence of homosexuals in government agencies and their supposed threat to national security. Surprisingly, there was little opposition to these baseless accusations. This discussion from the latest episode of NPR's Up First Podcast highlights the power of community and shared interests in bridging racial divides, even during times of great societal unrest.