Prisoners Plead for Reasonable Phone Rates

摘要

Don Lewis has spent 23 years as prisoner number 1049536, held by the Virginia Department ofnCorrections. Phone calls used to be inexpensive, Lewis wrote in careful cursive to the FCC. Not anymore.nLewis has watched as the price of calls increased to $7 for just 20 minutes, beset by a bevy of feesnand surcharges. Given the current state of technology, why can’t inmates Skype with family members, henwonders? Why can’t they text? “The state should be encouraging stronger family ties, instead of focusingnon the money they make from the misfortunes of others,” he said. “It’s not a lesson you’d want to teachnyour children.”