Putting a paywall between an incarcerated person and their ability to communicate with anyone, especially when the ability for the inmate to earn income to overcome that paywall is extremely limited, is at least predatory, and arguably cruel.

Edit @5↑: And to be clear, there would absolutely be situations where an inmate's ability to communicate with specific people should be restricted. The blanket restriction on communication with anyone is where the problem is.

In many places, either they or the one contacting has to pay. And the prices and fees are outrageous.

$5 to load money on, even if you’re only loading on $20. The calls are charged by the 15 minute and range in cost all the way up to over $14.

It is absolutely insane.

That's how it used to be until the capitalists realized there was money to be made

Nope, the phones that prisoners can use to call their lawyer, family, etc are run by whatever company wins the contract to provide the service, and they're allowed to charge whatever they want.

Even emails cost tokens. I've added money to accounts of people I went to school with and said hi. It's a fuckin' racket.

No