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Telephones

Interview with Hugh, Cameron, Sarah, Roy and Janicki

JM: Did you have regular access to telephones?
Hugh: Yes. There are two pay telephones on each block.
Cameron: There was one on the wall, if you had someone who would accept their ridiculously over-priced collect calls.
Sarah: No. You pay dearly to use phone. Low to ground by the deputy station and the TV. Everyone can hear your conversation cause the tables were also there. Very noisy, can hardly hear. If you don't have money you can't use them. They are hard to understand how to use but you can usually find another experienced inmate who would help. Also need to see the social worker before using the phone and list all approved phone numbers. Social worker only came once a week for about 10 minutes. If you missed the social worker when new, which I did, you can't call for at least two weeks, assuming you have money. Most don't. The social worker passes out forms and the social worker can make a call for you. However, we realized the social workers hardly tried on your behalf and you just got the form back saying a message was left. One can truly get lost in this jail if they don't have someone on the outside trying to reach them. Commissary will give you a one stamped envelope, 2 pieces of paper and a pencil to write a letter even if you don't have money if you ask. When you first enter the jail there are phones you can use, if the are working, to make collect calls and a 1 minute call to a cell phone. But you are only in the holding cell for a short period and may not have someone to answer the phone to accept collect charges. Note: Many people have cell phones with programed numbers and don't commit many numbers to memory. (They take your cell phone from you) I had this problem. Only one or two numbers had I committed to memory. This also limited access to phone.
Roy: yes we did,everything was collect,our quaratine cell on floor 14 had a pay phone in it and someone broeke it,so they walked us down once a day to a cell about 30 seconds from my own to make our calls.i called my father
: My first time at Wayne County, the phone was broken for 6 weeks. I don't really use the phone when I'm in jail. If I get picked up on something my probation officer will typically notify my parents.

JM: What types of charges applied for calling people? How much money would you guess the average inmate spends per week on phone calls?
Hugh: You can put money on a debit card and call numbers on your phone list or you can call collect. But you can't call collect to a cell phone. $2 a call from the debit card.
Cameron: I did not make calls. Some guys talked all day. They called someone with what was referred to as a "burnout phone". It was in someone's name, but the bill would never be paid.
Sarah: I think it was $3 or 4$ dollars to make connection the $1 a minute. Had to buy credit from commissary commissary only comes during the weekdays ever other day (3x one week and 2x then next week). You could easily spend $20, $50, $100 if you need to make calls. You need access in the early days and that is when it is the hardest to get to the phone.
Roy: all the calls i made were collect and to my father and place of work
: I'm not really sure because I never really used the phone. I know the girls would buy phone cards from commissary. I know it's expensive and that's about it.

JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out?
Hugh: No, see above.
Cameron: They did not have the phone cards back in the 90's when I went through.
Sarah: Yes, from commissary. You need money on your account.
Roy: no we did not,never not once
: Yes. But you could also make collect calls.

JM: Did the jail screen your calls?
Hugh: Yes, they listen to your calls except with your attorney. Especially if they are still investigating you.
Cameron: They certainly said they were. How can you tell for sure?
Sarah: Yes. You cannot use the Phone until you submit a list of numbers to the social worker and then they put them in the phone system. This could take two weeks to accomplish. You have to enter your jail id number, then the code for the phone card. And they listened to your calls. It could take two weeks before you are allowed to make calles.
Roy: i cant say for sure,but they had a recording saying that they did so
: Yes. There was the voice prompt that notified you that "all calls are recorded and monitored."

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