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Watson Coleman Supports Lower Rates for Prison Phone Calls

Statement

Date: April 10, 2015
Location: Ewing, NJ
Issues: Infrastructure Criminal Justice

Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement after the New Jersey Department of Corrections confirmed a contract with the potential to lower prison and jail phone rates:

"Many families dealing with a loved one in prison or jail already face difficult circumstances, like smaller household budgets and the mental and emotional hardship of physical separation. The exorbitant costs associated with calls from New Jersey jails and prisons place an added, unfair, and unnecessary burden on these families. I'm encouraged by the potential for lower call rates, and I'm hopeful this will be outcome.

"I fought to address this issue in the General Assembly, and I've continued those efforts at the federal level. We need a prison system in New Jersey and nationwide that focuses on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. Giving inmates the ability to stay in touch with their families is a critical element of improving the system."


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