Interview with Ford, Miss T, Reta, Julie and Hillary
JM: Did you have regular access to telephones? Ford: The phones were available four hours a day,
varying from day to day, on your lock out period. Miss T: Yes. Reta: yes during your day room time if you had someone who had a
landline phone who'd take collect call's. if you have money on
your books you can buy a phone card. Julie: Only during feeding times and if we had a relax
hour. Besides that, the phones were off limits.
Of course during our free time it was hard to
get to use the phone considering there were
about 30 other girls in there trying to use it
as well. Hillary: yes we were able to use the phones whenever we
were out of our cells,but there would be women
running to the phones so you would have to wait
awhile
JM: What types of charges applied for calling people? How much money would you guess the average inmate spends per week on phone calls? Ford: The charges on the phones are outrageous and
inexcusable. A ten minute call could run as high
as twenty dollars. Is my understanding that a
company, who's name I forget, has a complete
monopoly on the phone bank system. An undue
burden on an already trying time. Miss T: I had a phone card and I don't remember how high
the charges were, but it was high. I got along by
only using the phone every few days for a few
minutes. Reta: outragoius. a $10.00 card would last two call's sometimes Julie: The first call was free, after that you would
have to call collect. I only called once so I'm
not sure of any charges. Hillary: i think i spent maybe 40 dollars on phone calls
but i was only there for 17 days and that was
not using the ph everyday
JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out? Ford: There are no phone cards available in Ventura
County. Strictly a collect basis policy. Lots of
phone blocks on collect calls. Miss T: Yes. Reta: just cell phones that you'd call. collect landline calls you could just
dial the a collect call and it would announce to other end it was
call from ___ and you say your name and it would say an inmate
from the Ventura county jail Julie: Not sure. Hillary: you could either make a collect call or needed a
phone card to call
JM: Did the jail screen your calls? Ford: Yes, the jail, at their discretion, would listen
to calls. Don't get caught calling that girl who
has a restraining order on you. Miss T: Yes. Reta: oh yes Julie: Probably. Hillary: yes the jail screen your calls