JM: Did you have regular access to telephones? Henry: We had regular access to four phones in the
dorm. However it wasn't uncommon to have 2 or 3
of the phones down or disconnected at any given
time. Sound quality going in and out on the line
was always ridiculously bad, and calls were
often dropped. This is all inexcusable
considering they were all heavy duty, pay phone
style, landline telephones. Bob: We had three telephones in our dorm. The
telephones were generally on when we were out of
our cells (8am to 6pm). Cory: Not regular access, but once a day yes.
JM: What types of charges applied for calling people? How much money would you guess the average inmate spends per week on phone calls? Henry: Phone calls cost $2.50 for 15-20 minute calls.
Time on the call could always be disputed, being
the whole phone program was an obvious sham. Bob: It was two dollars for twenty minutes. Collect
calls (no third party calls), only. Cory: It was a collect call to whoever would take it. My
mom paid for the calls
JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out? Henry: There was no need to buy phone cards. All calls
out were charged to the receiving party on the
other end of the call. Bob: No phone cards were necessary. Cory: Call cards were for calling cells phones that cant
take collect calls.
JM: Did the jail screen your calls? Henry: The jail did screen calls, and made clear note
of it all. Bob: I believe that they did screen our calls. An
automated announcement was played prior to the
call going through which indicated that the call
was being recorded and monitored. Cory: It was never confirmed, but that was a rumor.