Prison phone call pricing - a rip-off

Let's say that you happen to be an inmate in an Illinois prison. Well, if you are reading this, you're not. But you might know someone who is. Or you might know someone who knows someone who is.

Prisoners are a captive audience; right? They can't use cell phones and they can't shop for fairly-priced phone calls. They are stuck with what is "approved". Take a look at what is approved...

Phone call prices "... can be as high as 26 cents per minute plus a surcharge (commonly referred to as a connection fee) of up to $2.50 per call. Out-of-state rates are 89 cents per minute with a $3.95 surcharge (connection fee)."

So how much might a 10-minute in-state call cost? $5.10 (10 x $0.26 = $2.60 + $2.50)

And a 10-minute out-of-state call? $12.85!!! (10 x $0.89 = $8.90 + $3.95)

And the cost of an international call? More, of course!

If you believe, as many families of prisoners do, that this prices are exorbitant, take a minute to read and sign an online petition

These families are asking only for fair pricing of telephone calls.

By the way, the McHenry County Jail has a similar "deal", but with a different telecommunications company. The rates are grossly over-priced and unfair, plus there is an outrageous fee imposed on family and friends of inmates who wish to deposit funds into an inmate's commissary account, so that he can purchase a Phone Card and then pay outrageous rates to make a phone call.

Your County Sheriff, Keith Nygren, and his pals have made that deal. Remember to "thank" his friends and him at the next election.