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The Cost of Staying Connected: Why Are Families Paying So Much to Communicate with Their Incarcerated Loved Ones?


When a loved one is incarcerated, staying connected becomes not just a matter of emotional support but also a financial burden. The price of simply talking, texting, or sending a message to someone inside the system is outrageous, and the financial weight of it all falls squarely on the shoulders of the families who are already suffering. We’ve all heard the phrase “doing time,” but what we rarely talk about is how much it costs for families to stay connected while our loved ones are locked away.

Let’s break it down:

  • Phone Calls: If your loved one is in county jail, it costs $0.23 per minute to talk to them. That means a 15-minute call costs $3.45. Move them to prison, and the rate drops to $0.06 per minute, but don’t forget that every time you purchase minutes, you’re hit with fees and taxes that add an extra $3.50 or more to each transaction. So even though the rate per minute may seem affordable, the fees quickly add up.

  • Text Messages: The tablets inmates use might look like a great way for them to communicate with their families. Some inmates thought texting was free. Nope. For every message we send and every reply they send back, it’s $0.10 per message. And again, when you load funds to purchase texts, you’re charged that extra $3.50 per transaction in fees and taxes. Over time, these costs add up fast, and families are left footing the bill for basic communication.

  • E-Messages: If you want to send a longer message via email, it’s $0.25 per stamp. But don’t think you can attach a family photo without an extra cost—every picture you attach to an e-message costs an additional stamp. Sending a message with a couple of photos? You could easily be paying $0.50 or more just for one email. And yes, you guessed it—fees and taxes are added to every transaction where you buy stamps, tacking on an extra $3.50.

  • Video Visits: Think a video call might be a more affordable option? Think again. A 20-minute video visit costs $5.00. Once again, that doesn’t include the extra fees and taxes that can push the cost higher.

These are just the costs to talk, text, or visit. Then there’s the commissary. We put money on our loved one’s accounts so they can purchase basic necessities. Why? Because the food they’re served in prison often comes in boxes that are labeled “Not for Human Consumption.” Yes, you read that right. Many of us send money so our loved ones can buy food that won’t make them sick. And it’s not cheap.

  • Commissary Charges: Beyond food, inmates need to buy extra clothing if they want more than the bare minimum provided. Yet, despite paying for these items, they don’t get to keep them when they leave. To add insult to injury, in some prisons, inmates are even charged “utility fees” to cover the costs of electricity and water they use while incarcerated. This, despite the fact that taxpayers already pay to keep these facilities running. So, we’re left wondering—why are families being double-charged?

Why Are We Paying for a Broken System?

It’s important to ask: What exactly are we paying for? The prison system claims to offer rehabilitation, but the reality is far from it. Instead of rehabilitation, what we see are:

  • Drugs and Cell Phones Being Smuggled In by Staff: Drugs and illegal cell phones are more readily available inside than they often are on the outside. And who’s bringing them in? In many cases, it’s the very staff responsible for “rehabilitating” the inmates. Some staff members are making deals with the inmates, blackmailing them, or contributing to a system of corruption.

  • Mistreatment of Inmates: The stories of inmates being mistreated, blackmailed, and ignored by staff are all too common. Those who are supposed to ensure their well-being are, in some cases, the ones perpetuating abuse and creating a hostile environment.

  • No Real Rehabilitation: Instead of focusing on rehabilitation programs that could actually help inmates reintegrate into society, the system is more interested in perpetuating a cycle of punishment, control, and exploitation. We are paying an arm and a leg for our loved ones to endure this system, and yet, they aren’t being helped. They aren’t receiving the education, treatment, or rehabilitation they deserve.

We already pay taxes to fund these prisons, yet we’re asked to bear the financial burden of keeping in contact with our loved ones. And on top of that, our loved ones are left with little more than a broken system, designed to exploit both inmates and their families. The charges, fees, and the treatment of those inside make us wonder: What is this system truly about, and who is it really serving?

A Call for Change

It’s time we start asking these questions and demanding answers. Why should families suffer financially just to stay connected with their loved ones? Why should we be paying for basic communication and access to necessities in a system that’s supposed to be funded by taxpayers? And more importantly, why isn’t the system doing what it’s supposed to—helping our loved ones become better, not worse?

We need real reform, transparency, and accountability. Families like mine, and so many others, are tired of paying the price—financially, emotionally, and mentally—for a system that isn’t working.

#PrisonReform #EndExploitation #InmateAdvocacy #StopTheCycle #EppersonEmpowerment #StandUpForFamilies #PrisonSystemFailures #EndMassIncarceration #FightForChange #JusticeForInmates #StopTheGreed



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