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Telephones

Interview with Mish, Sally, Pace, Baby, Jamie, Gerard, Jessica, Manuel, Raella, LKai, Josie, George, Terry, Pebbles and Miles

JM: Did you have regular access to telephones?
Mish: About an hour three times a day
Sally: ONLY 2 HOURS OUT OF THE DAY AND IT ALWAYS CHANGED THE TIMES YOU USED IT... IT KIND OF STINKS BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAD TO BE PREPAID BY CREDIT CARD... AND IT STINKS.
Pace: as regular as the sheriffs wanted that day
Baby: NO they are broken or they keep them shut off when they did work you where lucky you could get 5 mins
Jamie: whn the day room was opened
Gerard: We had one hour of yard time a day unless there's some problem that would cause the deputies to take away our privilege. 2 barracks get yard at the same time. There are roughly 30 pay phones that can be shared. Get to the phone as quickly as you can if you want to call someone. The lines can get really busy. You can only make collect calls with the phones and ONLY to landlines and you can't leave a message on an answering machine. When you call, hopefully someone will actually pick up on the other end. Unfortunately for me the only phone numbers I know are cell numbers and those don't work at all. That's why no one knew I was in jail for so long - because I couldn't get in touch with anyone.
Jessica: Only when the dayrooms were opened.
Manuel: sometimes
Raella: Only during day room once I got housed. 2 hours a day, but always different times.
LKai: Yes. That was due to being in the worker's tank. I wasn't a worker, but they put me there any way. There were 4 phones in total, and you were allowed to use them any time, as long as the party you're calling has a prepaid account setup.
Josie: only when the dayroom is open
George: Yes. Since it was a worker's dorm, we could use the phones 24 hours.
Terry: THERE IS REGULAR ACCESS TO PHONES IN SOME OF THE FACILITIES.
Pebbles: Yes we could use it morning lunch or dinner.
Miles: Yes, they were in the yard.

JM: What types of charges applied for calling people? How much money would you guess the average inmate spends per week on phone calls?
Mish: Collect call charges
Sally: CREDIT TO ALL OF MY PEOPLE
Pace: Outrageous. Federal prison at least allows you to purchase calling cards so you don't stick someone with the bill. Plus you can contact anyone you need to contact.
Baby: I could not get through to no body ever! only bail bondsman Said I needed a special access never did figure it out.
Jamie: collect
Manuel: collect call they charge like $5 dollars the first minute
Raella: cost my Mom $25 for 3 phone calls no longer than 2 minutes each.
LKai: I believe it was $2-4 dollars every call, and very cheap for every minute after.
Josie: collect calls to cell phones are $10 per 15min call. pre-paid calls to cellphones were $2.50 to connect and about 20 cents per min after that. land line calls were at least $4.50 to connect plus a per min charge.
George: My wife and I spent about $25 per week, and that was only a call a day (and sometimes an extra call.) I think I was slightly above average.
Terry: WHILE I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CHARGES PER PHONE CALL MADE. I DO KNOW WHO EVER YOU CALL HAS TO HAVE PRE PAID SERVICE TO ANSWER, WITH AT LEAST $15 A WEEK.
Pebbles: We had to call through global tel link. My sister would put $25 dollars , they take a 5 fee. Then after that you only get 4 forty five minutes.
Miles: I don't know because I just wrote letters and got visits on the weekend instead of calling, I do know it wasn't cheap.

JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out?
Mish: No you can only call collect
Sally: NO YOU CANT DO THAT
Pace: See above
Baby: There is no phone card to call out
Jamie: collect calls only
Gerard: No one had phone cards as far as I know.
Jessica: No, you have to call collect
Manuel: they dont sell any
Raella: No
LKai: No, but the party you are calling, needs to setup an account.
Josie: that would be nice. but they dont offer them. so if no one accepts collect calls you're just screwed.
George: No. There was an automated service that required my wife to make payment.
Terry: PHONE CARDS ARE NOT NEEDED TO CALL OUT HERE.
Pebbles: No we weren't allowed to buy them.
Miles: Not that I recall, although like I said phones were never a option for me.

JM: Did the jail screen your calls?
Mish: Yes
Sally: IT SAYS THIS CALL MAY BE RECORDED OR MONITERED AND THERE WERE ALSO SIIGNS THAT SAID THAT ALSO.
Pace: absolutely
Baby: Hell if I know did care I never did anything to even be in there or go back
Jamie: yes
Gerard: It wasn't implied anywhere but that's a good assumption to have.
Jessica: They say that they do
Manuel: yes
Raella: Yes
LKai: I'm pretty sure all jails do.
Josie: of course...they record all of the calls...
George: We weren't told they did, but I'm sure they did.
Terry: MOST DEFINITELY THE JAIL IS SCREENING AND RECORDING ALL CALLS.
Pebbles: Yes they record and listen to your calls.
Miles: "Yes they would screen calls

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