Saturday, April 17, 2010

Telephone Call Extortion

Recently I have written about the exorbitant charges for telephone calls made by inmates and detainees of the McHenry County Jail. Rates are sky-high. And the Jail sucks a $10.00 commission on every $20 Phone Card purchased by a inmate or detainee.

The problem is not just in McHenry County. It's a state-wide problem. Go to www.illinoisprisontalk.com/ and then click on the icon at the bottom of the homepage for the Illinois Campaign for Telephone Justice. What will you find?

In 2006 the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) earned $5,299,992 in commissions on Phone Cards purchased by inmates of IDOC. The contract for telephone services is bid through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Ask yourself this question: Do you think the bid called for the most economical telephone services for prisoners or the highest commission to IDOC?

And what were the commissions in 2007, 2008 and 2009?

There is an online petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/IllinoisTelephoneJustice/index.html

In addition to signing it, are you willing to put a stop to the extortion right here in McHenry County?

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