US EditionNew York to make phone calls free in its state prisons
NEW YORK STATE PRISONS, JUL 22 – The New York Department of Corrections will remove phone call fees to support family connections and reduce prison tensions, following a model adopted by Connecticut and others.
- Starting August 1, 2025, inmates throughout New York State will be able to make phone calls without charge, as announced by the state corrections authority.
- This change follows the Martha Wright-Reed Act, passed in 2023, which mandates rate reductions and consumer protections for inmate communication.
- Currently, inmates get three free 15-minute calls weekly, with calls after costing 2.4 cents per minute, and New York joins several states providing free phone service funded by its operating budget.
- Commissioner Daniel Martuscello emphasized that recognizing the importance of maintaining family connections during incarceration plays a vital role in providing emotional support, lowering tension within facilities, and enhancing rehabilitation efforts that contribute to successful reentry into society.
- The policy aims to remove communication barriers, strengthen family connections, promote public safety, and support successful reentry after incarceration statewide.
25 Articles
25 Articles
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(The Center Square) — New York has become the latest Democratic-led state to authorize free phone calls for inmates in state prisons and correctional facilities with a policy change touted by state officials to improve conditions in the facilities.
U.S. Bishops Call on FCC to Reduce Prison Costs
Bishop William Byrne, seen here delivering a homily in 2021, has requested to the FCC that they make sure it’s affordable for those incarcerated to communicate with loved ones. (Photo: CNS/Mary Jeanne Tash) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called on the Federal Communications Commission to reverse course on delaying the implementation of a law that makes it more affordable for those incarcerated to communicate with their fami…
‘Finally, Relief Is on Its Way’: NY to End Prison Phone Fees
In a sweeping shift years in the making, people locked up in state prisons will soon be able to make free phone calls to family members and loved ones, the state prison system announced Tuesday. People behind bars can use their tablets or facility phones without any fees starting on Aug. 1, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The move follows the lead of New York City, which in 2019 became the first juri…
Associated Press News
New York to make phone calls free in its state prisons
New York will soon make phone calls free in its state prisons. People who are incarcerated in the state’s prisons currently receive three free, 15-minute phone calls a week.
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