[BRC-NEWS] The Prison Phone Project Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Thu, 27 May 1999 04:18:33 -0700 (PDT) source - MzGoldie2u@aol.com [BRC-NEWS] The Prison Phone Project STATE PRISON PHONE CONSPIRACY ALLEGED IN SUIT By Kari Lydersen (StreetWise, April 27, 1999 - Page 6) A class action suit filed on April 16 May provide relief to families of Illinois prisoners who have been prevented from keeping in touch with inmates because of exorbitant phone charges. People accepting collect calls from prisoners pay as much as FIVE TIMES (emphasis mine) the public rate for a collect call because of special rates and surcharges. They also deal with time limits and other charges for "security measure." Many families have been barred from accepting calls from prisoners or have had their phone service suspended because of their inability to pay. The suit alleges that through the state agency Central Management Services, the state of Illinois brokered exclusive contracts with AT&T, MCI, Ameritech and Consolidated Communications, giving each company a monopoly and the freedom to set rates in various prison. In return, the companies gave the state and county signing bonuses of up to $500,000 as well as a percentage of the prison revenue. In 1997, revenue from prison phone calls topped $25 million. The suite, which was filed in U.S. Federal District Court in Chicago, demands that the plaintiffs recoup money from the excessive charges; that the surcharges and high rates be terminated and replaced with the lowest rates possible; and that prisoners be offered other calling options, such as 800 numbers and phone cards. The state, Cook County and the four phone companies are names as defendants; plaintiffs include anyone in the state accepting calls from prisoners. "Its outrageous that they're taxing the poorest people to raise the money and forcing prisoners to choose between paying these exorbitant rates or not talking to their loved ones," said Michael Deutush from the Center for Constitutional Rights, an attorney handling the case. "Prisons are located far away and it is such a hardship to visit that phone communication is really the only way families keep in touch with their loved ones. Rather than facilitating a person's contract with his or her family, the state and county are intentionally conspiring with the phone companies to impose a special tax on a literally captive market." The suit alleges that the contracts constitute illegal conspiracies in violation of rights to Due Process, Equal Protection, Freedom of Association and Right to Contract under the Illinois and U.S. Constitutions. The Suit also charges violation of antitrust provisions of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Nic Howell of the Illinois Department of Corrections, said that the contracts are a state financial matter in which the DOC is not directly involved. _StreetWise_ was not able reach a spokesman at Central Management Services. "It has been proven that contact with family members is one of the essential factors helping prisoners to rehabilitate themselves," said Josh MacPhee, a member of the Prison Phone Project, "It's ironic that the State, instead of doing its duty, is rather setting up obstacles against rehabilitation." -30- ============================================= Do you get phone calls from a loved one in prison or jail? Are you tired of paying outrageous prices? THE PRISON PHONE PROJECT is FIGHTING BACK!! Come to our next meeting: Saturday, June 12 2 - 4 pm 77 W. Washington (Washington & Clark) Chicago, IL, USA Children welcomed/ Free Childcare Provided Wheelchair Accessible Contact us at: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown P.O. Box 578172 Chicago, IL 60657-8172 773.235.0070, ext. 6 Prison Action Committee 661 E. 79th Street Chicago, IL 60619 773.874.7390 [Messages on BRC-NEWS may be forwarded and cross-posted, as long as proper attribution is given to the author and originating publication (including the email address and any copyright notices), and the wording is not altered in any way, other than for formatting. As a courtesy, when you cross-post or forward, we'd appreciate it if you mention that you received the info via the BRC-NEWS list. Thank you.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRC-NEWS: Black Radical Congress - General News/Alerts/Announcements -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: Email "subscribe brc-news" to ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-05.28.99-11:24:35-16383