San Francisco Mayor London Breed has approved for all phone calls be made free for county jails. This will be effective immediately. The new contract will have the City pay a fixed monthly rate per phone device and will also include free video calls. Commissary fees will also be reduced:
- Reading glasses were $8.00, and now cost $4.55, a reduction of 43%
- Shoes were $30, and now cost $19, a reduction of 37%
- Deodorant was $3.50, and now costs $2.20, a reduction of $37%
- Refried beans were $3.00, and now cost $1.30, a reduction of 57%
- Top Ramen was $1.08, and is now costs $.50, a difference of 54%
- Tuna was $3.10 and is now costs $1.10, a difference of 65%
- Sausage was $1.65 and is now costs $.75, a difference of 55%
Mayor London Breed said in a statement,
When people are in jail they need to be able to stay connected with their family without being concerned about how much it will cost them or their loved ones. Being able to stay in touch with family is always important, but it is even more critical during a health emergency like COVID-19. This change is an important continuation of our efforts to reform fines and fees that disproportionately impact low-income people and communities of color. This has truly been a team effort, and I want to thank everyone who contributed to this work for their dedication and advocacy.
You can get more information on the new service here.
Photo:GettyImages