New Phone Rates At DOC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

For more information contact:

Katherine Sanguinetti at 719-439-5514

Colorado Department of Corrections Reduces Phone Rates for Families of the Incarcerated

(Colorado Springs, CO) – The Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) has negotiated a reduction in the cost of phone calls for offenders in state prisons in a two year contract extension with Global Tel Link (GTL). The rate reductions impact all three types of calls offenders can make: standard collect; advanced pay collect; and debit. The new rates go into effect on March 1, 2012.

The DOC requested a proposal from GTL to lower calling costs for offenders and offender family and friends. Offenders in Colorado make an average of over 162,000 calls per month. Calling trends show that currently 75% of the calls made are debit calls. Debit call rates will be reduced by 16% for local calls and 24% for out of state calls. The second highest call volume (approximately 15%) is generated by advance pay collect calls. With these calls offender’s family and friends pay the phone vendor directly and can manage the amount of money they budget for keeping in contact with the offender and enjoy a lower rate. Advance pay call rates will be reduced by 39% for in-state calls and 74% for out of state calls. Additionally standard collect call rates will drop by 22% for in-state calls and 72% for out of state calls.

A study done by the Urban Institute, published in 2004 reported that offenders with family connections are much more likely to be successful when they return to the community. “Ninety seven percent of all incarcerated offenders will be released into the community sooner or later. Maintaining pro-social communication and support with family and friends during an offender’s period of incarceration can help to promote stable behavior in prison and successful, safe transition, back into society,” said Tom Clements, Executive Director of the DOC. While offenders and their loved ones have several avenues to maintain their connection: visiting; writing letters; and phone calls; contact via telephone is very cost effective and timely.