John, contact your legislators about prison phone justice right now.
Dear John,
Incarcerated people and their loved ones deserve to stay connected. Period. But that's impossible for too many families — and here's why:
- Prison telecom corporations like Securus and GTL price gouge and charge as much as $16 for a 15-minute phone call
- This extracts wealth from Black families with incarcerated loved ones who simply want to stay connected
- We need federal regulation to put a cap on prison phone rates!
In March, the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act moved forward in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. That means we’re one step closer to getting a vote on the Senate floor. Also last month, The Washington Post editorial board1 urged Congress to quickly pass this legislation:
“Picking up the phone and placing a call in the United States today requires little planning, and not much thought — unless you’re in prison or jail, in which case the simple action becomes a tremendous undertaking. Congress now has an opportunity to reduce this burden.”
And it also means we need to get as many members of the House to sign on to this legislation. With a few months left before midterm elections and so many families already struggling to stay connected, the time to act is NOW. John, click here to fax your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act.
So, why faxes? Faxes may not be very commonly used in 2022, but faxes CAN be very effective in getting Congress’ attention about this legislation. By sending these faxes, their Congressional offices are receiving your notes directly to their printers. And the best thing is you don’t need a fax machine — we do that work for you.
TELL CONGRESS TO KEEP FAMILIES CONNECTED
Families shouldn’t have to choose between being able to speak to their incarcerated loved one or paying bills. But that is the harsh reality that too many families are facing — thanks to predatory prison telecom companies and a lack of regulation. By taking action now, you help more parents stay in touch with their incarcerated children.
Thank you for joining this fight.
Until Justice is Real,
The Color Of Change Criminal Justice & Democracy Team
References
1. The cost of prison phone calls is staggering. Congress has a chance to change that. The Washington Post. 26, March 2022.
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