Prisoners and their families victims of a government slush fund
By
May 22, 2021
Michigan prison inmates who want to phone home must pay 16 cents per minute, a rate that far exceeds what is now considered reasonable and customary outside prisons. Some people familiar with the system say the state unfairly makes a profit from prisoners and has created a related slush fund that should be terminated.
Global Tel-Link is the company contracted by the Michigan Department of Corrections to install and maintain phone equipment in prisons. Under the contract, the firm must record and store prisoner conversations, and analyze them to ensure no illegal activity is discussed.