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Telephones

Interview with Sam, Ron, Scott, Michael and Bruce

JM: Did you have regular access to telephones?
Sam: Yes, you have access to phone all the time but you do not have access to a phone in the holding cell.
Ron: Yes. There were 3 phones on R pod and it wasnt hard to get some time on them. Not like Cook where you practically have to knock someone out to get a phone call. They are expensive as hell though to whoever you call so if you want to be considerate of them get a phone card from commissary.
Scott: Yes you have access to telephones within each cell house. Beware, initially when I called home my family never received a phone bill from all my calls. Once I was transferred to another facility is when my family received an exorbitant phone bill. Like $1,000 for about 3 hours worth of calls. They never mention that to inmates. Don't use the phone unless absolutely necessary.
Michael: If i had money i think i could have bought a phone card, i know they have phones that work on phone cards, i didn't need to call anybody.
Bruce: yes you can use the phones unless one is broke

JM: What types of charges applied for calling people? How much money would you guess the average inmate spends per week on phone calls?
Sam: I really don't know because I did not pay the bill. I know you can buy a calling card at the jail.
Ron: Ridiculous rates. When you are in jail they will stick their hands into the pockets of you and anyone else they can, including your loved ones.
Scott: They put all types of extra charges on phone bills even if your calling withing the city and state. Phone system is a scam. You want to talk with loved ones, I prefer they doing it on visiting day Sundays. Average inmate spends about 30 minutes a week on the phone. Some people just don't have anybody to call because they family and friends disowned them.
Michael: regular phone card rates i think, on average an inmate may spend 5-7 dollars on phone calls/week i would guess.
Bruce: 20 to 30 dollars a week 50 to a dollar to connect 20 cents a min

JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out?
Sam: You do not need them but you can purchase them if you wanted to.
Ron: No but its a lot more considerate to use a phone card than to stick your friends and family with those huge fees.
Scott: Phone cards are not allowed.
Michael: I would have needed to buy a phone card to call out.
Bruce: ye you have to buy a phone card

JM: Did the jail screen your calls?
Sam: Oh, I am sure they did.
Ron: Oh yeah. Every time you make a call it tells you that the calls are screened. I was told that they dont just sit and listen to every call but that certain key words would trigger a recording device for later screening by security. Seems plausible as thats basically what the FBI and homeland security do to regular citizens.
Scott: I don't believe they screened calls but they did screen your conversations during visiting hours.
Michael: I believe they do, i didn't make any calls.
Bruce: yea you could hear the clicking on the phone

Read about how inmates pass the time in the DuPage County Jail