100 signatures reached
To: Tom Gores, Founder of Platinum Equity
Help incarcerated people & their families stay connected during COVID-19
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Many people in jail or prison have to pay exorbitant fees just for a phone call or a video chat with their loved ones. And especially now -- when the COVID-19 pandemic has indefinitely suspended in-person visits -- these virtual conversations with friends and family are a matter of civil rights and public health.
That’s why we’re calling on Tom Gores, Founder of Platinum Equity (the parent company of Securus) to provide free telephone and video calls to people in contracted facilities for a minimum of 60 days -- and waive all added fees associated with these calls.
That’s why we’re calling on Tom Gores, Founder of Platinum Equity (the parent company of Securus) to provide free telephone and video calls to people in contracted facilities for a minimum of 60 days -- and waive all added fees associated with these calls.
Why is this important?
Right now, Platinum Equity Founder Tom Gores can help keep incarcerated people and their families connected -- when they’re facing more difficulties than ever before.
The COVID-19 crisis has completely isolated some people in jails and prisons from their loved ones, putting their mental wellbeing and physical health at risk. In-person visits have been indefinitely halted -- and the inflated cost of phone calls and video chats are often prohibitive.
And these nearly 2.3 million incarcerated people -- who are disproportionately Black and Latinx due to America’s racist mass incarceration system -- are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. Over 72,000 incarcerated people and staff have contracted COVID-19 to date, which is more infections than in 36 states.
Overcrowding and a lack of hygiene products in prisons put them at a higher risk of infection. And when communications are limited -- incarcerated people may be unable to tell anyone about the dangerous crowding or their lack of access to medical care.
But there’s a simple solution: make it affordable for incarcerated people to keep in touch with their family, friends, and legal counsel by telephone or video visitation. Rates from prisons can run over $1/minute -- and on average, an in-state phone call from a jail costs three times as much as one from prison.
These excessive rates pose significant barriers for many families -- and as more people lose their jobs due to the pandemic, they’re being forced to make an unthinkable choice: put food on the table, or have regular contact with their loved ones.
That’s why we’re calling on Platinum Equity and its subsidiary Securus to provide free telephone and video calls to people in contracted facilities for a minimum of 60 days -- and waive all added fees associated with these calls.
Several former FCC Commissioners have sent Gores a letter demanding action -- but Platinum Equity will only respond if thousands of everyday Americans follow up, making it clear that prison phone justice is critical to our democracy, civil rights, and public health.
If you agree that everyone has a right to stay connected during this pandemic, add your name now.
The COVID-19 crisis has completely isolated some people in jails and prisons from their loved ones, putting their mental wellbeing and physical health at risk. In-person visits have been indefinitely halted -- and the inflated cost of phone calls and video chats are often prohibitive.
And these nearly 2.3 million incarcerated people -- who are disproportionately Black and Latinx due to America’s racist mass incarceration system -- are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. Over 72,000 incarcerated people and staff have contracted COVID-19 to date, which is more infections than in 36 states.
Overcrowding and a lack of hygiene products in prisons put them at a higher risk of infection. And when communications are limited -- incarcerated people may be unable to tell anyone about the dangerous crowding or their lack of access to medical care.
But there’s a simple solution: make it affordable for incarcerated people to keep in touch with their family, friends, and legal counsel by telephone or video visitation. Rates from prisons can run over $1/minute -- and on average, an in-state phone call from a jail costs three times as much as one from prison.
These excessive rates pose significant barriers for many families -- and as more people lose their jobs due to the pandemic, they’re being forced to make an unthinkable choice: put food on the table, or have regular contact with their loved ones.
That’s why we’re calling on Platinum Equity and its subsidiary Securus to provide free telephone and video calls to people in contracted facilities for a minimum of 60 days -- and waive all added fees associated with these calls.
Several former FCC Commissioners have sent Gores a letter demanding action -- but Platinum Equity will only respond if thousands of everyday Americans follow up, making it clear that prison phone justice is critical to our democracy, civil rights, and public health.
If you agree that everyone has a right to stay connected during this pandemic, add your name now.