The last weeks of December brought new hope to families and inmates. On December 22nd, the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022 was passed by the House of Representatives and is headed to the President’s desk. This legislation gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the authority to establish maximum service rates in prisons for communication providers. The change will allow incarcerated individuals to stay in contact with family and loved ones, without paying exorbitant fees and is seen as a step toward ending carceral profiteering, once and for all. Prison-telecommunications services generates $1.4 billion annually.
Beginning January 1st, people serving in California prisons will be able to make phone calls for free in 2023 thanks to the Keep Families Connected Act. All calls to and from inmates will be at no charge.
