Massachusetts Enacts Free Prison Phone Calls

By Patrick Wilson

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a law on Wednesday that will make all phone calls free in jails and prisons across the state. This is the fifth time that any state has made free phone calls available to all prisons, and the first time for all jails.

The law, which was passed by the state legislature earlier this year, was supported by a coalition of advocates who argued that the high cost of prison phone calls was a barrier to communication between incarcerated people and their families. They also argued that the high cost of phone calls was a form of profiteering by the private companies that control the prison phone market.

The new law will take effect on January 1, 2024. Once it is in place, incarcerated people in Massachusetts will be able to make unlimited free phone calls to any phone number in the United States. This is a major victory for advocates for incarcerated people and their families, and it is a sign that the tide is turning against the high cost of prison phone calls.

The new law is expected to have a number of positive impacts. It will help to strengthen families by making it easier for incarcerated people to stay in touch with their loved ones. It will also help to reduce recidivism rates by providing incarcerated people with the support they need to reintegrate into society.

In addition to Massachusetts, four other states have made free prison phone calls available: Connecticut, California, Colorado, and Minnesota. It is likely that more states will follow suit in the coming years.

The passage of this law is a major step forward for incarcerated people and their families. It is a sign that states are starting to recognize the importance of communication between incarcerated people and their loved ones. 

** This piece was created with the help of ai.