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Telephones

Interview with Tim, Bob, Peter, Iris, Pat, Elsie, Kathleen, George and Amber

JM: Did you have regular access to telephones?
Tim: I was given one phone call, but I wouldn't say that we had regular access. They let us use the phone right before we were released to arrange transportation and pick-up for ourselves.
Bob: yes during dayroom hours
Peter: yes. but i didnt use them.
Iris: Yes since I had money on my phone time
Pat: we were allowed out of our cells for about 4 hours a day and during that time we could use the phone
Elsie: It depended upon where you were housed and at times, who the cop on duty was because they could at anytime refuse to turn the phones on though this was exclusive to few notorious and sadistic officers.
Kathleen: yes. periodically thruout the day
George: We did have access to phones as long as we had phone time.
Amber: THERE WERE CERTAIN HRS TO USE THE PHONE

JM: What types of charges applied for calling people? How much money would you guess the average inmate spends per week on phone calls?
Tim: It actually was quite ridiculous. They only let you make a collect call and none of my friends take collect calls. Luckily, I got through when the answering machine clicked and the operator spilled over on to the message and my friend figured out where I was.
Bob: It can be pretty expensive
Peter: i think they had to pay. but im not sure how you get charged. i think inmates pay between five to ten dollars a week to make calls.
Iris: Phones were available all day but with the cost if it calls are short I spent $30 in just a few days
Pat: each collect call costs $9.00 for a ten minute phone call. you can also buy phone cards from the jail commissary but I can't remember the cost per minute for those cards. some people I knew spent over 200 a week on the phones but they were on them every minute possible.
Elsie: Certainly calling collect is costly no matter but the jail in the last couple of years instituted a program whereby you could have money on your account and use that to make your calls. Calls were always expensive but important despite the cost for many.
Kathleen: you can buy phone time.there are 5,10 and 20 dollar cards. 20 dollars i think got you about an hour. you could also call people collect. 15 dollars will get you about 10 minutes of talk time that way.
George: We used phone cards to make phone calls,at least $40, it is pricey but worth it to hear loved ones voices when you feel so alone.
Amber: FROM WHAT I RECALL IT WAS ABOUT $5 JUST TO CONNECT SO IF YOU GET SOMEONES VOICEMAIL YOUR $5 CARD WAS WIPED OUT

JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out?
Tim: Not at the time. They let us use and regular old pay phone that would only let you call the operator. The operator then would make your collect call.
Bob: Yes, but it is much cheaper if you call only one person on the outside for that person to call and set up a pre-paid collect account.
Peter: maybe. im not sure how that works.
Iris: Yes or someone would have to buy it for me
Pat: no you can call collect
Elsie: For the process that I just illustrated, yes but there was no "card" but rather your account number with the funds loaded on it.
Kathleen: yes. unless collect or your attorny of bail bondsmen
George: We were able to buy phone time if we had money on our books, or if family purchased phone time for us through the online commissary.
Amber: YES YOU HAD TO HAVE A PHONE CARD . THE ONLY TIME FREE LOCAL CALLS WERE AVAILABLE WAS AT THE TIME YOU FIRST GOT TO THE JAIL AND IN THE RELEASE TANK.

JM: Did the jail screen your calls?
Tim: Not that I know of, but it was possible. I would assume that if they were going to screen my calls they would have to tell me, but no one ever made such an announcement. I guess, they could have and not told us.
Bob: There is a sign saying calls are all recorded and an automated voice message plays every minute or so reminding you during phone conversations.
Peter: i wouldnt know how that works.
Iris: I believe they did so .
Pat: yes they listen to all outgoing calls and they are also recorded and can be used against you in court.
Elsie: Allegedly. There was a recording that said that one should have no illusions of privacy when using the phone and I had cops tell me of getting wind of drugs coming in by way of these phone calls.
Kathleen: yes. all calls are monitored
George: Yes, there were be a recording stating so when calling out.
Amber: I DO BELIEVE THAT I SAW A SIGN THAT SAID ALL CALLS WERE MONITERED. I WASNT LIKE YOU HAD TO TELL THE DEPUTY WHO YOU WERE CALLING YOU JUST PURCHASED A PHONE CARD TO MAKE CALLS

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