In the News

For decades communications companies have profited from the misfortune of families by charging upwards of $8 for as little as a 15 minute phone call from jail or prison. As a result of these predatory rates, one in three families with an incarcerated loved one spirals into debt trying to stay in touch. 

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously to dramatically reduce rates for phone and video calls and eliminate all ancillary fees, like deposit fees. The Pennsylvania Prison Society has been a proud partner of the coalition working to address unconscionable prison phone rates. We celebrate this victory along with Worth Rises and the Connecting Families Coalition. 

Although the FCC does not have the authority to make prison and jail communication free, its new rules reduce the existing per-minute rate caps for all prison and jail phone calls across the country by over half. It also sets rate caps for video calls, making this the first time that the FCC has regulated prison communication beyond phone calls. The new rules go into effect in early 2025. 

Currently in Pennsylvania county jails, people pay on average $3 for a 15 minute phone call, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. New caps would slash rates in all Pennsylvania county facilities by at least half. State facilities, though, already charge rates in line with the FCC recommendations, so changes will likely not be seen at State Correctional Institutions.

The new rate caps will increase connection for incarcerated people and save American families at least $500 million per year. The new rules also prevent telecom providers from paying kickbacks to prisons or jails or passing through the cost of surveillance to incarcerated people and their families, both common practices today. 

The Pennsylvania Prison Society has long advocated for strong family connection as an important means of maintaining health, safety, and dignity during incarceration. We believe that fostering these connections not only supports people during their time in prison but also plays a critical role in successful reintegration upon release, reducing recidivism.

This victory marks a significant step towards keeping PA families connected.