Praise for CT in the Washington Post

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December 2, 2021
If you recall, last session I worked tirelessly to pass the "Prison Phone Calls Bill" which provides free phone calls, video calls and emails to loved ones while incarcerated. The legislation passed with bipartisan support and sent a resounding message that Connecticut would not allow private companies to profit off of working families who are struggling to afford a connection with their loved ones.

Connecticut is now leading the nation as many other state's see the importance of this legislation.

The Washington Post recently published a column by

Katrina vanden Heuvel, who broke down how vital this legislation is for families as we approach the holidays while also still battling the pandemic.

In one section Katrina writes,

"All told, the correctional telecom industry rakes in more than $1.4 billion annually from prisoner phone calls. That cost is generally passed on to the families of incarcerated people — who are disproportionately low-income, and disproportionately people of color. More than one-third of families with incarcerated relatives go into debt to cover the cost of staying in touch."

The column is an informative read I highly recommend you take a look at, our state's legislation is even mentioned. Please click the button below to access the full article.

Access Washington Post Column