Senator Josh Becker Introduces Bill to Make Telecom Free for Incarcerated People Connecting with Their Families
The Keep Families Connected Act eliminates fees that help fuel a $1.4 billion prison telecom industry in the US and drive more than 1 in 3 families into debt.
SACRAMENTO — Senator Josh Becker announced a bill today to eliminate all telecommunication fees in California’s county jails and state prisons, a change that would rid incarcerated people and their families of the financial burden that results from connecting by phone, electronic messaging or video calling systems in state and local lockups.
“Staying connected with family and friends is integral to the mental health and well-being of all people, but especially incarcerated Californians,” said Senator Becker, D-Peninsula, the author of Senate Bill 1008, the Keep Families Connected Act. “Providing free communication with families through this bill can help incarcerated people remain hopeful and connect with resources that can support their re-entry, such as resources for future housing, employment and counseling. These essential connections should not be severed.”
Studies show disconnection from family and personal support systems creates mental health problems for the incarcerated and their families. Research also shows that incarcerated people who are able to keep in frequent contact with their loved ones are more successful re-entering society than those who have limited or no contact.