Petition is successful with 280 signatures
To: U.S. Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice
BOP: Allow free, unlimited phone calls for federally incarcerated people
The Bureau of Prisons is now allowing all federally incarcerated people to have free phone calls.
The financial burden families face to stay in contact with incarcerated loved ones has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Job losses and furloughs have made it difficult for people to afford the short 15-minute phone calls that incarcerated people are allowed. It is imperative that the BOP lift this unnecessary burden and enable families to call incarcerated loved ones free of charge during this pandemic.
Why is this important?
Inmates in all 122 federal prisons across the country have had their visitation rights revoked to curb the spread of COVID-19. While many facilities have offered additional phone minutes and video calls in place of in-person visits, many families still have to pay for the extra time. In the United States, the average rate for a 15-minute phone call from a federal prison is $3.75.
As more reports detail just how vulnerable prison and jail populations are to the spread COVID-19, it is now more important than ever for families to stay connected with incarcerated loved ones. Families say they are left in the dark about facilities’ plans to contain and treat the virus, and suspended visitation means that families cannot see their loved ones for themselves to determine if they are safe and healthy.
As of April 8, the Bureau of Prisons had confirmed 253 federally incarcerated people and 85 staff members have already tested positive for COVID-19, including 8 inmate deaths. These numbers will continue to rise as prisons face shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), soap, and hand sanitizer.
Starting April 1, all federally incarcerated people will be confined to their cells for the next 14 days, effectively putting them on lockdown. Though the BOP said that “to the extent practicable” inmates should still have access to services like mental health treatment and education programs, questions still remain concerning the impact this will have on access to phone calls and other forms of communication.
Add your name to this petition to demand the Bureau of Prisons and DOJ act to allow phone calls, video calls, and other communication to be free and more accessible to incarcerated individuals.