WEBVTT
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(speaking in a foreign language)
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Good afternoon, everyone.
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And thank you so
much for taking the time
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to participate today on such a
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critical issue for us during these
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times of the importance of connectivity
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including our community
members who are in
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our incarcerated facilities or prisons
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or jails and other detention facilities.
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We've opened this rulemaking to address
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the potential unjust burden on inmates
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and their families of the
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inappropriately priced
telecommunications services.
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We are aware that given the population
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in the state this particularly
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results in a racial discrepancy
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on our population as well.
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We're working hard to really investigate
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the costs and the charges that are bore
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by our inmates and
incarcerated community
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and their families, in
order to determine what the
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appropriate course of action will be.
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I hope that you have been able to
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view recently released staff proposal.
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And I want to thank
our staff by the way,
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Amy Lau, Karo Serle, and (indistinct).
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for all of their work in getting
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this proposal out to the public.
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We certainly would like to hear
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not just your thoughts
on that interim measure,
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but more importantly, hear about
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your experiences and
your recommendations
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on how to improve the current situation.
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So with that, I look forward to today
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and tomorrow's opportunity
to hear from all of you.
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And I thank you again for your time.
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Great, thank you, Commissioner.
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Robert, if you could please
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advance to the second slide.
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The Commission is considering
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regulating the prices charged
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to make calls from prisons and jails.
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Prison phone service providers
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in California include
Global Tel Link Corporation,
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Inmate Calling
Solutions or IC Solutions,
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Legacy Inmate Communications,
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network communications
international corporation,
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or NCIC Inmate Communications,
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Pay Tel Communications Incorporated,
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and Securus technologies.
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If anyone listening today has a question
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about your bills, the prices or the
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services offered by
any of these companies,
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please contact the customer
service representative
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for these companies directly
at the following numbers
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which are also shown on the screen.
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For Global Tel Link Corporation
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877 6504249
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or 866 516 0115.
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IC Solutions 800 464 8957.
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Legacy Inmate
Communications, 888 729 4326.
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NCIC Inmate Communications 800 943 2189.
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Pay Tel Communications 800 729 8355
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and Securus Technologies 800 844 6591.
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Before we start the public comments,
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I'll provide some background on the
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California Public Utilities Commission.
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And Alison Brown from
the Commission's public
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advisor's office will speak briefly
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followed by a short
presentation from Karo Serle
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of the Commissions
communication division.
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Let's go back to slide one.
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Now some background on the California
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Public Utilities Commission.
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The Public Utilities
Commission is a state agency
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that decides the prices
companies may charge
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to make phone calls
from within prisons or jails.
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The Commission is comprised
of five Commissioners
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who are appointed by the Governor
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and confirmed by the
California state Senate.
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As the judge in this proceeding,
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I manage the day-to-day
activities of the case.
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The five Commissioners are the ones
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who will decide with a vote
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on whether and how the
Commission will regulate
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the prices of prison phone
call service companies.
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My role as a judge is
to evaluate the evidence
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in the proceeding and to write
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a proposed decision
based on that evidence.
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This proposed decision is considered
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by the five Commissioners
who decide whether
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to adopt the decision I've written
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or to adopt their own
alternate decision.
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The schedule for this
proceeding currently indicates
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that the Commission will
vote on an interim decision
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about prison phone call
prices in the summer of 2021.
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Before we start, I want to acknowledge
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the serious hardships
that COVID-19 has imposed
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particularly for the
prison and jail population.
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During this period, we as a Commission
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have transitioned to holding our
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public hearings online and by phone.
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Public engagement
remains very important to us
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and we will be paying careful attention
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to the comments and
feedback provided today.
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We have two court
reporters online today with us
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and they will be transcribing
everything that's said.
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A written transcripts
will be publicly available
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after the hearing on the
Commission's website.
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As we get started, I'll
ask speakers to speak
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slowly and clearly so that the reporters
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can capture everything that is said.
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Speakers are not required
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to provide your names or locations.
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However, if you do
provide this information
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please state and then spell your first
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and last name as you start your remarks.
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I'll now invite Alison Brown of the
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Commission's public advisor's office
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to make a few remarks,
Ms. Brown, please go ahead.
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Thank you, judge.
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My name is Alison Brown
and I'm the public advisor
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with the California Public
Utilities Commission.
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The public advisor's
office assists and advises
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the public to participate in
Commission proceedings.
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First, I want to thank
you all for joining us today.
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As the judge and Commissioner stated
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public participation
and input are essential
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to the Commission's
decision-making process.
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This hearing is your
opportunity to be heard
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to share your thoughts and
experiences on this issue
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with the Administrative Law
Judge and the Commissioners.
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If you have specific questions
about the proceedings
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please reach out to the
public advisor's office.
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That address is
public.adviser@cpc.ca.gov
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or visit the CPC or provider
websites for more information.
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Second, if you or anyone you know
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is not able to make a comment today
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there are several other
ways to become involved.
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Those interested can
provide written comments
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on today's topic to the
docket card for this proceeding.
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If you would like to
provide written comments
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please go to
cpc.ca.gov/R2010002Comments.
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Individuals are not required
to provide your name
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location, email, or phone number
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to provide written comments
but you may if you wish to.
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Comments can also be provided
by email, USPS mail, or phone.
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To date, we have received
over 115 written comments.
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If you wish to find more information
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on becoming a party,
subscribing to this proceeding,
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or submitting comments,
please go to our website
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cpc.ca.gov or email the public advisor.
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Again, that email address is
public.advisor@cpc.ca.gov.
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All of this information
is also available
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on the notice you received today
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and on the slides
during these proceeding.
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Thank you.
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Judge?
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Right, thank you, Ms. Brown.
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We'll now hear from Karo Serle,
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the Commission's communication division
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with a short overview of
prison phone call services.
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Thank you, Judge.
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Good afternoon, my name is Karo Serle.
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Am with the California
Public Utilities Commission.
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I work in the communications division
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and this is a staff proposal
for interim rate relief.
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For the purposes of a staff proposal,
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incarcerated calling services for ICS
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are defined as any and
all communication services
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provided by telephone corporations
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to incarcerated or
detained minors or adults
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held in California,
including but not limited to
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federal and state
correctional facilities,
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city County jails, detention centers,
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holding centers and camps.
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Incarcerated calling services or ICS
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are provided to over 350
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federal state prisons in the state.
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And these calls are
funded through collect calls,
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prepaid collect calls,
prepaid debit cards
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and also through
kiosks in the facilities.
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Next slide, please..
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The FTC or the Federal
Communications Commission
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is currently addressing ICS rates
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and it's compiled quite
an extensive record.
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However, to get a better understanding
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of the issues and the
ICS market in California,
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staff sent out data request to over
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800 service providers in California
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and identified six
companies that provide
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services in California.
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Staff also reached out
and met with advocates
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and stakeholders on
how ICS works in facilities
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and the impacts of these calls
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on the incarcerated,
their families, and friends.
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Next slide, please..
00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:03.470
So one of the very
first thing that we found
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in doing this project is that,
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studies have shown that
incarcerate individuals
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in regular contact with family
00:10:09.590 --> 00:10:12.540
are more likely to succeed after release
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and have lower recidivism rates.
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So in traditional utility rate-making
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the end-user usually pays the bill.
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However, for ICS, most of the costs
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are paid by families or friends
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which adds to the financial burden.
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Incarcerated calling
services are provided
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to approximately 350
facilities in California.
00:10:35.670 --> 00:10:39.520
The incarcerated have no
choice in service providers.
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The rates are not market-based
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and the terms and conditions
are set forth in contracts.
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The current rate structure
is very inconsistent
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and it fluctuates throughout the state.
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Fees for non-telecommunication services
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add to the cost of the call,
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and revenues from the
call support other programs.
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Next slide, please..
00:11:03.880 --> 00:11:07.420
So when we got our data
request back from the six providers
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this is the data that we
found and were able to look at.
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So we found that interstate rates
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range from free to 1.75 per minute.
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First-minute rates range
from free to 3.60 a minute.
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And there are also fees.
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These are the FCC fees that the FCC
00:11:26.730 --> 00:11:30.210
deemed as part of the rates,
00:11:30.210 --> 00:11:33.810
single call rates,
automated payment charges
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third-party fees, live
agent fees, paper bill fees,
00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:41.520
their office and other fees.
00:11:41.520 --> 00:11:44.380
So those are access fees account,
00:11:44.380 --> 00:11:46.690
set up fees, transfer fees,
00:11:46.690 --> 00:11:48.927
prepaid refund processing fees,
00:11:48.927 --> 00:11:50.463
and fees for bill refunds.
00:11:51.550 --> 00:11:52.550
Next slide, please..
00:11:57.300 --> 00:11:58.820
So this is the staff proposal.
00:11:58.820 --> 00:12:01.350
So the Commission
proposes immediate relief.
00:12:01.350 --> 00:12:04.650
So we're setting rate
caps at 21 cents per minute
00:12:04.650 --> 00:12:06.363
for debit and prepaid calls,
00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:09.763
25 cents per minute for collect calls,
00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:13.373
and the rate cap on the following fees,
00:12:14.510 --> 00:12:17.296
no markups on single call fees,
00:12:17.296 --> 00:12:21.920
automated payment fees $3 maximum,
00:12:21.920 --> 00:12:25.610
no markups on third-party
financial transaction fees.
00:12:25.610 --> 00:12:29.300
Live agent fees at 5.95 per transaction,
00:12:29.300 --> 00:12:31.523
and paper bill fees at $2 per statement.
00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:34.960
These fees will be capped
as part of the proposal.
00:12:37.590 --> 00:12:38.540
Next slide, please.
00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.950
There's also a provision on markups for
00:12:42.950 --> 00:12:45.423
mandatory pass-through
government taxes and fees.
00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:49.100
There will also be a
prohibition on ancillary fees
00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:51.350
that are not specified by the FCC,
00:12:51.350 --> 00:12:54.781
those five fees that
I mentioned earlier.
00:12:54.781 --> 00:12:56.530
And this rate structure
will stay in place
00:12:56.530 --> 00:12:59.840
until the Commission adopts
the proposed FCCS rates
00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.790
in a final decision in this rulemaking.
00:13:03.750 --> 00:13:04.700
Next slide, please.
00:13:07.910 --> 00:13:09.790
So in closing, I would
like to mention that
00:13:09.790 --> 00:13:12.530
besides the work the FCC
is doing at the federal level
00:13:12.530 --> 00:13:14.390
there was also a lot
of activity at the state
00:13:14.390 --> 00:13:16.140
and local level for lowering rates.
00:13:17.010 --> 00:13:19.280
I would also like to
recognize the innovative work
00:13:19.280 --> 00:13:22.870
the San Francisco Financial
Justice Project is doing
00:13:22.870 --> 00:13:25.260
as it arranged to have calls for free
00:13:25.260 --> 00:13:26.793
in San Francisco County jails.
00:13:28.250 --> 00:13:29.723
Thank you for your participation.
00:13:32.110 --> 00:13:33.567
Great, thank you, Karo.
00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:38.810
Appreciate seeing the staff
proposal presented here.
00:13:38.810 --> 00:13:41.930
And as we opened the public comment line
00:13:41.930 --> 00:13:44.450
speakers will be invited to speak
00:13:44.450 --> 00:13:46.050
to the staff proposal if you like
00:13:46.050 --> 00:13:50.150
or also to your own or
your loved one's experience
00:13:50.150 --> 00:13:55.150
with calling services
currently at jails and prisons.
00:13:56.260 --> 00:13:58.660
So with that, we'll go ahead and begin
00:13:58.660 --> 00:14:02.560
the public commentary and
if you're providing comments,
00:14:02.560 --> 00:14:05.650
please do speak slowly and clearly
00:14:05.650 --> 00:14:07.770
again so that our court reporters can
00:14:07.770 --> 00:14:10.120
accurately transcribe the comments.
00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.830
And if you could please speak directly
00:14:11.830 --> 00:14:13.190
into your phone or headset.
00:14:13.190 --> 00:14:16.020
In other words, please
don't use the speakerphone,
00:14:16.020 --> 00:14:19.960
and each speaker will have
up to two minutes to speak,
00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:21.180
and a chime will be sounded
00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:23.350
when the two minutes time is up.
00:14:23.350 --> 00:14:25.550
Finally, as a reminder,
this is a public hearing.
00:14:25.550 --> 00:14:28.240
And so callers must
use language appropriate
00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:31.100
to the setting and
must speak to the topic
00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:33.060
of the prices and services offered
00:14:33.060 --> 00:14:35.395
by prison phone call companies.
00:14:35.395 --> 00:14:37.660
Callers that do not
adhere to this guidance
00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:40.070
may have your speaking time shortened.
00:14:40.070 --> 00:14:42.590
Operator, could you please open the line
00:14:42.590 --> 00:14:44.083
for the public comments?
00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.830
Yes, thank you.
00:14:48.830 --> 00:14:51.500
The public comment line is now open.
00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:53.243
Speaker number one.
00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:59.339
You may go ahead, your
line is open, one moment.
00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.756
Okay.
00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:03.700
Hi my name is Theresa Johnson
00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:07.180
and my sister is currently at CCWF
00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.990
and she has a 13-year-old daughter
00:15:08.990 --> 00:15:11.410
that she has to try to
keep in contact with.
00:15:11.410 --> 00:15:13.960
So I'm just asking if you guys can
00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:16.220
try to keep the rates
as low as possible.
00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:18.207
That would be great for my (indistinct).
00:15:20.150 --> 00:15:22.370
And also I just want to
stress how important it is
00:15:22.370 --> 00:15:24.170
to keep the rates affordable
00:15:24.170 --> 00:15:27.820
and not pass off profit
loss to the consumer.
00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.160
I mean it's a struggle right now
00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:31.790
for us to try to keep
in contact with her
00:15:31.790 --> 00:15:33.490
especially during the COVID time
00:15:33.490 --> 00:15:36.650
where there is no visits
and limit video calls.
00:15:36.650 --> 00:15:38.720
The phone calls is the only way
00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.630
that she's able to
keep close to her family
00:15:40.630 --> 00:15:43.283
and her 13-year-old daughter, thank you.
00:15:45.150 --> 00:15:46.323
Thank you so much, caller,
00:15:46.323 --> 00:15:48.663
I appreciate your taking the time today.
00:15:49.590 --> 00:15:50.840
Thank you.
Operator!
00:15:52.430 --> 00:15:54.980
Operator could you
please call the second caller?
00:15:56.260 --> 00:15:58.853
Our next
caller is Michael Gerardo.
00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.380
You may go ahead.
00:16:01.380 --> 00:16:03.430
My name
is Michael Gerardo,
00:16:03.430 --> 00:16:06.790
formerly incarcerated
person that has spent
00:16:06.790 --> 00:16:09.310
over 35 years in California's
00:16:10.350 --> 00:16:13.113
jails and prisons and over the years,
00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:16.067
I also am a person of color
00:16:16.067 --> 00:16:19.900
and this burden fell on my mother
00:16:19.900 --> 00:16:22.100
over these decades that she had
00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:25.300
to take on two jobs just to afford
00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:27.730
not only the phone
calls with the overpricing,
00:16:27.730 --> 00:16:32.120
the commissary and the
traveling distance to come visit me.
00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:37.120
I think that it's disproportionately
affects people of color
00:16:37.810 --> 00:16:40.980
in prison settings
because majority of their
00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:43.190
support system comes from family members
00:16:43.190 --> 00:16:45.423
that are struggling themselves.
00:16:46.260 --> 00:16:48.340
I think we need to regulate these calls
00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:52.850
to keep them to the bare
minimums if possible.
00:16:52.850 --> 00:16:56.650
You know, I understand
this it is a business,
00:16:56.650 --> 00:16:58.640
but it does fall on the burdens
00:16:58.640 --> 00:17:00.737
of our family members, thank you.
00:17:02.890 --> 00:17:04.790
Thank you, caller.
00:17:04.790 --> 00:17:06.040
Appreciate your comments.
00:17:08.010 --> 00:17:10.210
Operator, would you like to call
00:17:10.210 --> 00:17:12.163
the next caller, please?
00:17:13.555 --> 00:17:15.400
The next
caller is Natasha Baker.
00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.250
You may go ahead.
00:17:17.730 --> 00:17:19.500
Hi, my name
is Natasha Baker
00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:22.660
and I am calling both
in my personal capacity
00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:26.550
as a California resident
and in my organizational
00:17:26.550 --> 00:17:30.330
capacity as a staff
attorney both with civil rights
00:17:30.330 --> 00:17:33.140
and criminal defense
role for an organization
00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:36.380
national organization called
Equal Justice Under Law,
00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:39.950
that includes representation
of incarcerated persons.
00:17:39.950 --> 00:17:42.520
And I want to first thank the Commission
00:17:42.520 --> 00:17:44.230
for taking on this issue
00:17:44.230 --> 00:17:47.160
for recognizing this
as a racial justice issue
00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.800
and for providing a toll-free number
00:17:48.800 --> 00:17:51.233
for incarcerated folks to call in.
00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:56.920
I support the recommendations
as a bare minimum
00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:00.520
of what should be done in California.
00:18:00.520 --> 00:18:01.930
As the Commission recognized these
00:18:01.930 --> 00:18:03.830
rates are not market-based,
00:18:03.830 --> 00:18:07.037
they're allowed to charge
all kinds of exorbitant fees,
00:18:07.037 --> 00:18:09.430
and it is important to remember too
00:18:09.430 --> 00:18:11.210
that people who are incarcerated are,
00:18:11.210 --> 00:18:13.150
if they are making any income
00:18:13.150 --> 00:18:16.560
are making literally cents per hour.
00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:21.140
It's also a very, not
21st-century approach
00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:24.410
to be charging people
buy minutes for phone calls.
00:18:24.410 --> 00:18:26.230
Nobody does that anymore.
00:18:26.230 --> 00:18:29.060
And there are organizations
such as Worth Rises
00:18:29.060 --> 00:18:30.400
that have worked with counties
00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:33.620
including in California to
negotiate new contracts
00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:35.960
that are not based
on a per-minute basis,
00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:38.100
but by telephone line which is how
00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:40.260
normal consumers do phones
00:18:40.260 --> 00:18:42.940
which reduces the cost overall.
00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:47.540
And also reduces the
pressure on facilities
00:18:47.540 --> 00:18:50.010
to limit how many minutes people have
00:18:50.010 --> 00:18:53.010
to communicate with their families.
00:18:53.010 --> 00:18:57.010
We fully support having
zero cost phone calls
00:18:57.010 --> 00:19:00.580
and to not allow this
form of racial capitalism
00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:05.580
that allows private companies
to essentially gouge right,
00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:10.000
a captive audience at
whatever rate they want.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:14.090
And so, again, supporting
the recommendations
00:19:14.090 --> 00:19:17.170
as a bare minimum, but
really pushing not only
00:19:17.170 --> 00:19:21.340
for zero cost phone calls
for all the reasons stated
00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:23.490
but also because it's just not how
00:19:23.490 --> 00:19:25.690
markets operate and consumers are not
00:19:25.690 --> 00:19:27.450
doing things by minutes but rather by
00:19:27.450 --> 00:19:29.296
telephone line as another option.
00:19:29.296 --> 00:19:30.720
(timer chimes)
00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.423
Thank you for your time.
00:19:33.800 --> 00:19:35.730
Thank you
very much, Ms. Baker,
00:19:35.730 --> 00:19:36.773
appreciate the call.
00:19:38.470 --> 00:19:40.970
Operator, could you call
our next speaker, please?
00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:44.990
Our next
caller is Ms. Martinez.
00:19:44.990 --> 00:19:46.790
You may go ahead, your line is open.
00:19:48.090 --> 00:19:49.610
Hello, and
thank you to the
00:19:49.610 --> 00:19:51.700
California Public Utilities Commission
00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:53.310
for holding this time today.
00:19:53.310 --> 00:19:54.960
My name is Adrian Martinez,
00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:59.960
spelled A-D-R-I-A-N M-A-R-T-I-N-E-Z.
00:20:00.090 --> 00:20:02.560
And I'm a membership
organizer with media justice.
00:20:02.560 --> 00:20:04.820
We're a national
organization leading the fight
00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:08.560
for racial, gender, and
economic equity in a digital age.
00:20:08.560 --> 00:20:10.270
We are fighting for a
world where we're more
00:20:10.270 --> 00:20:12.330
represented, connected, and free.
00:20:12.330 --> 00:20:14.110
Phone calls to incarcerated loved ones
00:20:14.110 --> 00:20:15.570
are a part of that fight.
00:20:15.570 --> 00:20:18.060
The CPUSC must ensure that families
00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:20.040
making phone calls to federal state
00:20:20.040 --> 00:20:22.010
and local facilities are safeguarded
00:20:22.010 --> 00:20:25.533
against predatory fees,
deposits, and service charges.
00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:28.990
I am on Tongva land
and I was born and raised
00:20:28.990 --> 00:20:31.480
in what folks know as
Los Angeles County.
00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:33.660
Growing up here it
felt almost inevitable
00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:35.130
that a loved one was snatched up
00:20:35.130 --> 00:20:37.180
by the California prison system.
00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:39.190
Whether it was a federal
correctional facility,
00:20:39.190 --> 00:20:41.300
a detention center or County jail,
00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:44.000
I have had so many
loved ones on the inside.
00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.730
Communicating with them was critical
00:20:45.730 --> 00:20:47.730
to keeping our family together.
00:20:47.730 --> 00:20:49.530
As a child, I would visit my family
00:20:49.530 --> 00:20:52.790
at the Los Angeles
metropolitan detention center.
00:20:52.790 --> 00:20:54.800
And later as a teenager,
I would write letters
00:20:54.800 --> 00:20:57.550
and call my loved
ones in federal facilities.
00:20:57.550 --> 00:20:59.610
As a young adult, I
would continue to advocate
00:20:59.610 --> 00:21:01.120
for incarcerated people through a number
00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:05.250
of campaigns and with
my work in media justice.
00:21:05.250 --> 00:21:07.120
I know that the US
prison system has been
00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:10.560
a humanitarian disaster
long before COVID-19.
00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:12.180
And now that it's here, it's harder
00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:15.730
and more expensive for
my family to keep in touch.
00:21:15.730 --> 00:21:17.290
If you have a loved one on the inside,
00:21:17.290 --> 00:21:18.830
many folks know that you are always
00:21:18.830 --> 00:21:21.050
kind of anxiously
waiting for a phone call
00:21:21.050 --> 00:21:22.710
with the automated voice telling you
00:21:22.710 --> 00:21:24.750
that a loved one wants to talk.
00:21:24.750 --> 00:21:27.120
Families like mine in areas most at risk
00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:29.780
for the virus are more
disconnected than ever.
00:21:29.780 --> 00:21:31.560
Sky-high rates for prison phone calls
00:21:31.560 --> 00:21:33.180
which would cost over a dollar a minute
00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:35.410
have forced families like mine to choose
00:21:35.410 --> 00:21:39.190
between needs like food
and power and regular contact.
00:21:39.190 --> 00:21:40.630
This is a burden that no family
00:21:40.630 --> 00:21:42.250
should ever have to carry.
00:21:42.250 --> 00:21:44.270
For as long as these
practices have existed
00:21:44.270 --> 00:21:46.070
families have fought back.
00:21:46.070 --> 00:21:47.960
My family isn't alone, and we know that
00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:50.570
one in three families of
incarcerated loved ones
00:21:50.570 --> 00:21:53.030
go into debt because of
the high rates of these calls
00:21:53.030 --> 00:21:55.900
and not surprisingly, most of
these families look like mine.
00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.320
There are people of color,
00:21:57.320 --> 00:21:59.120
I'm a gender non-conforming person
00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:01.240
and we tend to make lower wages.
00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:03.470
I urge the CPUC to act now.
00:22:03.470 --> 00:22:04.920
Families are still feeling the impacts
00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:08.210
of COVID-19 and it is
up to you to connect them.
00:22:08.210 --> 00:22:12.730
It's time to end these unfair,
harmful, and predatory rates.
00:22:12.730 --> 00:22:14.330
Thank you so much for your time.
00:22:17.300 --> 00:22:19.340
Right, thank you
very much, Ms. Martinez,
00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:21.640
appreciate your taking
the time to call today.
00:22:23.450 --> 00:22:26.323
Operator, would you like to
call our next caller, please?
00:22:27.685 --> 00:22:30.160
Our next
caller is Bridget Rivas.
00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.010
You may go ahead.
00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:34.910
Hi, just to speak
00:22:34.910 --> 00:22:36.893
to my own experience a little bit.
00:22:37.790 --> 00:22:40.640
My husband has been
in jail for two years
00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:43.340
over two years now
awaiting his day in court
00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:45.620
due to COVID nothing has been happening.
00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:49.010
And so I've had to
become the sole provider
00:22:49.010 --> 00:22:51.040
for our household and get him
00:22:51.040 --> 00:22:52.470
gift packs and phone minutes.
00:22:52.470 --> 00:22:56.270
And I have spent thousands
in the last couple of years
00:22:56.270 --> 00:22:57.940
just making sure that he can continue
00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:01.880
to talk to his young child and
00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:03.400
lift his spirits when he needs it
00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:05.534
while he's awaiting and
you can't do anything.
00:23:05.534 --> 00:23:09.110
And it's ridiculous what they charge
00:23:09.110 --> 00:23:10.370
for these phone minutes.
00:23:10.370 --> 00:23:13.340
And now that there's a possibility
00:23:13.340 --> 00:23:14.940
there is going to be a tap on them,
00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:18.320
I firmly feel that the justice system
00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:20.370
in San Diego County is only
00:23:20.370 --> 00:23:23.470
allowing phone calls
and not in-person visits
00:23:23.470 --> 00:23:25.430
or video chats, because they're trying
00:23:25.430 --> 00:23:27.270
to get as much money
out of the phone calls
00:23:27.270 --> 00:23:29.690
as they can before it changes.
00:23:29.690 --> 00:23:30.860
And I think that's wrong.
00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:32.790
We're in the *i and I should be able to
00:23:32.790 --> 00:23:35.670
see my loved one, but I again
00:23:35.670 --> 00:23:37.540
would like at the very minimum
00:23:37.540 --> 00:23:39.930
for the proposal to be adopted,
00:23:39.930 --> 00:23:43.610
but it would be amazing if
these phone calls were free.
00:23:43.610 --> 00:23:46.260
It is a lifeline to people that
00:23:46.260 --> 00:23:48.820
are incarcerated, guilty or not.
00:23:48.820 --> 00:23:51.513
And I thank you for your
time and I hope it helps.
00:23:54.370 --> 00:23:56.010
Thank you
very much, Ms. Rivas,
00:23:56.010 --> 00:23:57.860
appreciate your taking the time today
00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:02.840
Operator, would you like to
call our next speaker, please?
00:24:04.170 --> 00:24:06.290
Our next
caller is Carrie.
00:24:06.290 --> 00:24:07.263
Your line is open.
00:24:08.670 --> 00:24:09.503
Good afternoon.
00:24:09.503 --> 00:24:11.143
Thank you for the opportunity today.
00:24:12.024 --> 00:24:13.230
Are there are any parents on the line?
00:24:13.230 --> 00:24:16.090
I just want you to take a
moment and think about
00:24:16.090 --> 00:24:18.770
your first day back
to work or your child's
00:24:18.770 --> 00:24:21.670
first day at school and
that separation anxiety
00:24:21.670 --> 00:24:23.820
that you felt, just
feel that for a minute.
00:24:24.670 --> 00:24:26.580
We all know it was short-lived
00:24:26.580 --> 00:24:28.250
because you knew
they were in a safe place,
00:24:28.250 --> 00:24:29.670
you knew that you were
going to be with them
00:24:29.670 --> 00:24:31.750
in just a matter of a few hours.
00:24:31.750 --> 00:24:33.800
Now imagine your child having
00:24:33.800 --> 00:24:35.700
a major mental health crisis
00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:38.783
and being arrested on March 1st, 2019.
00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:42.180
And then think about
the only way that you have
00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:43.980
to connect with your child is through
00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:47.250
these very expensive
Securus phone calls.
00:24:47.250 --> 00:24:49.940
And now imagine these expensive rates,
00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:52.300
the very very poor quality and the
00:24:52.300 --> 00:24:54.970
limited access to your loved one
00:24:54.970 --> 00:24:57.850
having to make these
phone calls due to COVID
00:24:57.850 --> 00:25:00.140
and being in their cells for 23 hours.
00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:02.710
Imagine how these limited calls
00:25:02.710 --> 00:25:04.640
and the poor quality and expensive rates
00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:07.470
how it further traumatizes
your loved ones
00:25:07.470 --> 00:25:10.383
and the extra financial
burdens that it puts on us.
00:25:12.510 --> 00:25:14.590
I don't want to complain
about these phone calls
00:25:14.590 --> 00:25:16.820
because I'm very, very grateful.
00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:20.150
These three to 15-minute
calls no matter how terrible
00:25:21.270 --> 00:25:23.780
the connection is, no
matter how expensive it is
00:25:23.780 --> 00:25:25.713
it is my lifeline to my son.
00:25:25.713 --> 00:25:27.810
It's the only opportunity that I get
00:25:27.810 --> 00:25:30.123
to hear his voice to
know that he's okay.
00:25:30.974 --> 00:25:32.660
The only opportunity he has to hear
00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:34.690
from someone who loves,
respects, and honors him.
00:25:34.690 --> 00:25:36.500
And it's the only opportunity I get
00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:39.510
to let him know that
I'll never stop fighting.
00:25:39.510 --> 00:25:41.710
So I beg of you to please
do whatever you can
00:25:41.710 --> 00:25:44.890
to improve quality and to
00:25:44.890 --> 00:25:47.150
zero cost them or reduce the rate.
00:25:47.150 --> 00:25:49.430
I've had to sell everything that I own
00:25:49.430 --> 00:25:52.640
to ensure that I always have
money on my son's book.
00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:54.470
I don't ever want
there to be a time that
00:25:54.470 --> 00:25:56.510
he just needs to hear my voice,
00:25:56.510 --> 00:25:59.860
that he can't make a call
because it's too expensive.
00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:01.530
I'll never stop fighting for him.
00:26:01.530 --> 00:26:04.570
And I really appreciate this time today.
00:26:04.570 --> 00:26:06.730
And just to know that
someone else out there
00:26:06.730 --> 00:26:08.957
sees what a burden
this is to our families
00:26:08.957 --> 00:26:11.140
and to our loved ones
and how important it is
00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:12.520
for us to stay connected.
00:26:12.520 --> 00:26:13.543
Thank you so much.
00:26:16.050 --> 00:26:17.540
Thank you, caller.
00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:20.740
The very difficult experience
00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.913
you've been having sorry to hear that.
00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:26.780
Operator, would you
like to call the next caller
00:26:26.780 --> 00:26:30.890
and just a quick
reminder to our callers.
00:26:30.890 --> 00:26:34.020
If you do wish to introduce yourself,
00:26:34.020 --> 00:26:38.130
please do so by slowly stating your name
00:26:38.130 --> 00:26:41.137
and then slowly spelling
your name, thank you.
00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:47.420
And our next
caller is Margaret Dial.
00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.270
You may go ahead.
00:26:50.550 --> 00:26:52.860
Yes, my
name is Margaret,
00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:56.343
M-A-R-G-A-R-E-T Dial.
00:26:59.040 --> 00:27:00.373
I very much thank you.
00:27:03.375 --> 00:27:07.120
I don't know why I'm calling other than
00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:13.080
I've been trying to get my account
00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:18.410
for the phone account and
the video account stopped
00:27:18.410 --> 00:27:21.593
and wanted my refund that is due to me.
00:27:24.310 --> 00:27:28.780
There is a person at the
Marion County Jail that
00:27:30.148 --> 00:27:33.957
and that's in Florida, takes your call
00:27:36.302 --> 00:27:41.302
and she tries to help
out the best she can.
00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.030
And I've been trying for months
00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:46.563
to contact Securus,
00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:52.100
and all you get is extensions to pay
00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:54.380
or set up new accounts.
00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:56.090
You press the button to speak
00:27:56.090 --> 00:27:59.020
to an operator and nobody's available.
00:27:59.020 --> 00:28:04.020
I have spoken to a person three times,
00:28:05.760 --> 00:28:10.490
And the first time was
January 13th, 2021.
00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:19.203
And I called the jail
like I'm supposed to.
00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:22.053
And she did connect me.
00:28:23.575 --> 00:28:26.875
I was very grateful for
that because that's the day
00:28:26.875 --> 00:28:30.800
I heard that it was
disabled (indistinct)
00:28:30.800 --> 00:28:35.773
their chance a hundred
percent was released price gone.
00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:42.320
And I called and
spoke to the person that
00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:47.787
handles your video account first.
00:28:47.787 --> 00:28:50.684
And I didn't realize
she didn't do those.
00:28:50.684 --> 00:28:54.940
And then I was transferred
and then I explained to her
00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:58.217
that I was promised
credits on many a day
00:29:02.170 --> 00:29:07.170
since he was at the jail
for 10 and a half months
00:29:07.957 --> 00:29:09.950
but the monitors don't work,
00:29:09.950 --> 00:29:12.490
they don't get connected with you.
00:29:12.490 --> 00:29:15.320
You sit there and sit
there over 30 minutes
00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:18.170
you pay for and they do nothing.
00:29:18.170 --> 00:29:22.280
They don't want to give you your credit.
00:29:22.280 --> 00:29:24.857
They say they are, and
when they, you know,
00:29:24.857 --> 00:29:27.113
you get back with them when they answer,
00:29:28.630 --> 00:29:30.063
they don't do anything.
00:29:31.086 --> 00:29:34.060
And then when I canceled the accounts,
00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:36.720
spoke with the woman
about it and she says,
00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:38.080
well we can cancel your account
00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:40.450
but it's not going to
do any good because
00:29:40.450 --> 00:29:41.900
you paid for it (indistinct),
00:29:42.750 --> 00:29:44.530
how are we supposed to, you know,
00:29:44.530 --> 00:29:46.800
there's no way to give you credit for
00:29:46.800 --> 00:29:51.000
days that you've
missed, (timer chimes)
00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:53.060
which she never did.
00:29:53.060 --> 00:29:53.930
And...
00:29:55.830 --> 00:29:56.663
Thank you, caller.
00:29:56.663 --> 00:30:00.460
I had a credit
coming to me of 3774
00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:02.430
which I guess started this-
00:30:02.430 --> 00:30:03.730
Thank you, caller.
00:30:03.730 --> 00:30:05.109
Let me, let me Interrupt for a minute.
00:30:05.109 --> 00:30:07.580
Look at the email
because I just could never-
00:30:07.580 --> 00:30:10.080
We do have
more, there's people
00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.929
waiting on the line.
00:30:10.929 --> 00:30:13.034
And nothing was done.
00:30:13.034 --> 00:30:15.640
I'm sorry,
there's trouble, is it Margaret,
00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:17.023
can you hear us, Margaret?
00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:19.473
If I could ask that for
the operator to help.
00:30:19.473 --> 00:30:24.170
(Margaret speaking indistinctly)
00:30:24.170 --> 00:30:26.011
I'm not sure
she can hear us.
00:30:26.011 --> 00:30:28.200
Oh, okay.
00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:31.543
Just so we can get her
follow-up information if possible.
00:30:32.540 --> 00:30:33.373
Yeah, that's right.
00:30:33.373 --> 00:30:35.440
Can you
help her a few things there.
00:30:36.370 --> 00:30:38.173
Ms. Dial, can you hear us?
00:30:39.040 --> 00:30:40.190
You're time is up,
00:30:40.190 --> 00:30:42.640
Two days
later, which I found out
00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.110
two weeks later when I got
00:30:44.110 --> 00:30:46.060
the statement and I called-
00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:47.670
Operator please go ahead
00:30:47.670 --> 00:30:50.057
and mute this caller's
line if you could.
00:30:53.177 --> 00:30:54.970
I'm sorry
to have to do that.
00:30:54.970 --> 00:30:57.270
It doesn't appear that
Ms. Dial could hear us.
00:31:00.150 --> 00:31:05.050
So let's see, I would like to note
00:31:05.050 --> 00:31:07.970
that there is a phone
number for Ms. Dial
00:31:07.970 --> 00:31:10.410
to call and get some assistance
00:31:10.410 --> 00:31:12.300
from our public advisor's office.
00:31:12.300 --> 00:31:14.606
If you can hear me, Ms. Dial
00:31:14.606 --> 00:31:17.247
the phone number is 186 684 98390.
00:31:21.490 --> 00:31:24.623
Again, that number is 186 684 98390.
00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:29.890
and Ms. Dial, if you can hear me
00:31:29.890 --> 00:31:31.540
please go ahead and call that number
00:31:31.540 --> 00:31:33.920
and our public advisor's office
00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:35.963
can assist you with this issue.
00:31:39.040 --> 00:31:41.330
Thank you, and again, my apologies to
00:31:41.330 --> 00:31:43.130
cut you off but did it appear that
00:31:43.130 --> 00:31:44.410
you couldn't hear us and we do have
00:31:44.410 --> 00:31:46.783
several other callers
waiting in the queue.
00:31:48.260 --> 00:31:50.530
So operator, if you could please
00:31:50.530 --> 00:31:52.003
call the next caller, please.
00:31:54.250 --> 00:31:56.300
Our next
caller is Michael Baldwin,
00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:57.350
sir, you may go ahead
00:31:58.900 --> 00:32:01.270
Hi, thank
you first of all
00:32:01.270 --> 00:32:04.870
for an opportunity to share
on this very critical issue.
00:32:04.870 --> 00:32:07.240
Myself, I spent 26 years, seven months
00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:09.520
and 17 days incarcerated.
00:32:09.520 --> 00:32:11.560
And over that time there were many years
00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:13.510
where I could not call home to my family
00:32:13.510 --> 00:32:16.000
because they could not
afford the phone calls.
00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:20.710
The saving grace for me
was when tablet technology
00:32:20.710 --> 00:32:22.940
was introduced into the institution.
00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:25.210
My children did not make phone calls.
00:32:25.210 --> 00:32:27.090
They would text that
they would do emails
00:32:27.090 --> 00:32:30.620
that we needed to
bring the communication
00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:34.190
to the 21st century inside of
the incarcerated environment.
00:32:34.190 --> 00:32:39.190
The prices are obviously
extraordinarily high
00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:42.620
and it does extraordinarily
affect those people
00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:45.110
of color more than it
affects anyone else.
00:32:45.110 --> 00:32:47.370
I think that we have to, you know
00:32:47.370 --> 00:32:51.050
continue to expand
technology into the institutions
00:32:51.050 --> 00:32:53.370
in order for us to really be sincere
00:32:53.370 --> 00:32:55.630
about our rehabilitative
and reconnecting
00:32:55.630 --> 00:32:57.240
individuals to their families.
00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:59.740
I would not have become
the man that I am today
00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:01.420
without access to my family.
00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:04.130
There were times
where I attempted suicide
00:33:04.130 --> 00:33:07.340
because I had felt like I
was useless to my family
00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:10.960
and I was more of a burden
to them than anything else.
00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:13.870
And so bringing down the rates, I don't
00:33:13.870 --> 00:33:17.000
expect for them to be
free because you know,
00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:19.150
this is a business it
has to be a business,
00:33:19.150 --> 00:33:22.500
but we want to make
sure that that audience,
00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:25.750
that I wasn't, you
know a captive audience
00:33:25.750 --> 00:33:28.100
to where the prices were not
00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:31.800
were indiscriminately raised at any time
00:33:31.800 --> 00:33:34.040
that individuals wanted to do that.
00:33:34.040 --> 00:33:36.091
I really applaud you all for taking on
00:33:36.091 --> 00:33:39.960
this issue and for not
being bullied or pressured
00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:42.510
by those entities that
want to raise the rates.
00:33:42.510 --> 00:33:44.040
But I think that it's important for you
00:33:44.040 --> 00:33:47.067
to increase the
technology in the institutions
00:33:47.067 --> 00:33:50.220
and COVID was a blessing
to highlight these issues,
00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:51.760
because if COVID had not come,
00:33:51.760 --> 00:33:54.040
we probably wouldn't even
be having this conversation.
00:33:54.040 --> 00:33:57.340
And this has been going
on for years, lots of years.
00:33:57.340 --> 00:33:58.630
And I thank you for giving me time
00:33:58.630 --> 00:33:59.633
to express myself.
00:34:01.030 --> 00:34:02.690
And thank you
very much, Mr. Baldwin,
00:34:02.690 --> 00:34:05.293
appreciate your sharing
your perspective with us.
00:34:08.070 --> 00:34:10.683
Operator, please call the next caller.
00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:15.339
Our next
caller is Emily Bernaske.
00:34:15.339 --> 00:34:16.756
You may go ahead.
00:34:18.344 --> 00:34:19.549
Bernaske!
00:34:19.549 --> 00:34:23.190
(indistinct chatter over call)
00:34:23.190 --> 00:34:24.893
Operator,
if you could please
00:34:24.893 --> 00:34:26.893
mute that caller, again.
00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:32.500
It sounds like that caller may be
00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:34.670
speaking with someone
else in the household.
00:34:34.670 --> 00:34:36.500
So let's come back to that caller
00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:38.480
a little later if we could.
00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:41.013
And if you could please
call the next caller, please.
00:34:42.250 --> 00:34:44.763
Our next
caller is Dinorah Guzman.
00:34:45.870 --> 00:34:47.720
You make go ahead, your line is open.
00:34:49.040 --> 00:34:51.250
Hi, first of all thank you
00:34:51.250 --> 00:34:53.700
for taking the call, my name is Dinorah,
00:34:53.700 --> 00:34:58.700
D-I-N-O-R-A-H, last name
Guzman, G-U-Z-M-A-N.
00:35:02.730 --> 00:35:06.593
I guess my concern is I feel that,
00:35:08.270 --> 00:35:12.140
of course these costs
per minutes are a burden
00:35:12.140 --> 00:35:16.610
to loved ones and I feel it's shameful
00:35:16.610 --> 00:35:20.240
that they are taking
advantage of taxpayers dollars
00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:25.470
and Disney and Netflix, you know,
00:35:25.470 --> 00:35:27.890
they have like a monthly membership
00:35:27.890 --> 00:35:32.210
that cost way you know,
that are very minimal.
00:35:32.210 --> 00:35:34.240
If you think about the hours that
00:35:34.240 --> 00:35:37.850
you're able to watch
programs and I just feel that
00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:42.630
telephone calls to loved
ones is a form of therapy.
00:35:42.630 --> 00:35:45.580
And I just think it's shameful that
00:35:45.580 --> 00:35:50.550
you're not thinking about the benefits
00:35:50.550 --> 00:35:53.450
of having to be able
to have that lifeline
00:35:53.450 --> 00:35:55.750
of talking to a loved one.
00:35:55.750 --> 00:35:59.070
And you're thinking more of money.
00:35:59.070 --> 00:36:01.000
And I just think that we need to look at
00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:03.950
the bigger picture and
this is a form of therapy.
00:36:03.950 --> 00:36:07.360
And I think that we should keep the cost
00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:12.360
as low as possible and just...
00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:16.440
I guess just to, you know think about
00:36:17.560 --> 00:36:20.530
keeping it as low as possible and
00:36:20.530 --> 00:36:24.270
not taking advantage of us as taxpayers
00:36:24.270 --> 00:36:28.380
or loved ones because
we want to be able to
00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:32.940
speak to, you know our loved
ones that are incarcerated.
00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:36.700
And I guess that's all I have to say.
00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:38.610
I just think it's shameful
00:36:38.610 --> 00:36:42.173
and I hope that you will reconsider.
00:36:44.590 --> 00:36:46.280
Thank you for-
Thank you so much.
00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:47.600
Sure, thank you Ms. Guzman.
00:36:47.600 --> 00:36:50.230
Appreciate your sharing
your perspectives.
00:36:50.230 --> 00:36:52.470
We are in fact, looking into just that
00:36:52.470 --> 00:36:54.650
into regulating the prices charged
00:36:54.650 --> 00:36:56.933
for calling from prisons
and jails right now.
00:36:58.000 --> 00:37:00.050
So appreciate your
sharing your thoughts.
00:37:01.210 --> 00:37:02.490
Thank you.
Operator!
00:37:02.490 --> 00:37:04.750
Sure, operator
could you please
00:37:04.750 --> 00:37:05.853
call the next caller?
00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:09.540
Our next
caller is Frances Merron.
00:37:09.540 --> 00:37:11.340
You may go ahead, your line is open.
00:37:13.130 --> 00:37:15.820
Hi, your
honor, this is Frances,
00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:20.820
F-R-A-N-C-E-S, Merron, M-E-R-R-O-N.
00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:24.340
My son's incarcerated in the
00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:26.213
substance abuse and treatment center.
00:37:27.220 --> 00:37:30.660
My husband and I moved out to California
00:37:30.660 --> 00:37:35.570
about four and a half, five
years ago for his retirement.
00:37:35.570 --> 00:37:37.523
We were going to be out
there for two and a half years.
00:37:37.523 --> 00:37:41.000
And during that time we had our son
00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:42.950
who was having some
issues and didn't have
00:37:42.950 --> 00:37:45.710
anywhere to live in the East coast.
00:37:45.710 --> 00:37:48.170
That's where I'm from,
I live on the East coast.
00:37:48.170 --> 00:37:50.460
We brought him out there with us.
00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:53.650
He suffered mental health illnesses
00:37:53.650 --> 00:37:55.840
along with addiction.
00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:58.170
He had gotten himself incarcerated.
00:37:58.170 --> 00:38:00.080
He got in trouble out there.
00:38:00.080 --> 00:38:02.950
We struggle with this on a daily basis.
00:38:02.950 --> 00:38:05.123
I'm struggling with it every day.
00:38:06.750 --> 00:38:10.640
My only way of communication with him
00:38:10.640 --> 00:38:13.830
living so far away we moved back
00:38:13.830 --> 00:38:16.610
to the East coast two years ago.
00:38:16.610 --> 00:38:18.990
He's been incarcerated since we left.
00:38:18.990 --> 00:38:20.653
It was devastating for me.
00:38:22.970 --> 00:38:24.930
That is my only communication.
00:38:24.930 --> 00:38:27.083
I'm not able to see him every day.
00:38:28.680 --> 00:38:30.320
I flew out there last year
00:38:31.890 --> 00:38:34.140
with my husband before COVID hit.
00:38:34.140 --> 00:38:36.193
We got to see him once before.
00:38:38.730 --> 00:38:42.220
Since then, since I moved
back to the East coast,
00:38:42.220 --> 00:38:44.720
it's very expensive to fly.
00:38:44.720 --> 00:38:47.550
I'm not able to do that all the time.
00:38:47.550 --> 00:38:51.430
And since COVID hit, of
course we can't fly out there.
00:38:51.430 --> 00:38:55.160
I would do it just to see
him at least once a year.
00:38:55.160 --> 00:38:58.700
But my only communication
is through the phone
00:38:59.610 --> 00:39:02.183
or by email and it's a blessing.
00:39:03.650 --> 00:39:08.650
He struggles every day
and I, and I'm retired.
00:39:10.370 --> 00:39:13.580
My husband retired when
he was out there in San Diego.
00:39:13.580 --> 00:39:15.580
He brought his retirement back here.
00:39:15.580 --> 00:39:17.563
I am now working part-time again,
00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:20.920
in order to be able to support
00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:23.460
having communication with him.
00:39:23.460 --> 00:39:28.040
He talks to me every day, every day.
00:39:28.040 --> 00:39:31.472
There's some times he
calls me several times a day
00:39:31.472 --> 00:39:33.940
and I don't care what it costs.
00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:36.660
I want to talk to my son,
make sure he's okay.
00:39:36.660 --> 00:39:37.642
There's times when he was really sick.
00:39:37.642 --> 00:39:40.225
(timer chimes)
00:39:41.060 --> 00:39:42.780
I'm sorry, my time's up, but thank you
00:39:42.780 --> 00:39:44.330
for everything you're
trying to do for him.
00:39:44.330 --> 00:39:45.563
I really appreciate it.
00:39:46.490 --> 00:39:48.690
I pay for his children to be able to
00:39:48.690 --> 00:39:50.820
have communication with him.
00:39:50.820 --> 00:39:53.810
And anything that you could do to help
00:39:53.810 --> 00:39:56.480
would be such a great opportunity
00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:59.160
because the burden has really been hard.
00:39:59.160 --> 00:40:01.660
It's really been hard
but I'm willing to do
00:40:01.660 --> 00:40:03.440
whatever I have to do
to keep him connected
00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:05.763
with me and his children.
00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:08.419
Thank you.
00:40:08.419 --> 00:40:10.538
All right,
thank you Ms. Merron.
00:40:10.538 --> 00:40:13.730
I'm so sorry to hear
the struggles you've had.
00:40:13.730 --> 00:40:14.830
Thank you.
00:40:16.530 --> 00:40:19.393
Operator, can you
please call our next caller?
00:40:21.560 --> 00:40:23.770
Our next
caller is Theresa Stout.
00:40:23.770 --> 00:40:25.570
You may go ahead, your line is open.
00:40:26.520 --> 00:40:28.510
Thank
you, good afternoon,
00:40:28.510 --> 00:40:29.770
Judge and Commissioners.
00:40:29.770 --> 00:40:33.120
I just, first of all, want
to thank you so much
00:40:33.120 --> 00:40:35.970
for doing what you're doing right now
00:40:35.970 --> 00:40:38.670
and staff, thank you
for putting it together
00:40:38.670 --> 00:40:42.820
the (chuckles), the
picture of what it looks like
00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:45.193
with that rate structure and fees.
00:40:46.060 --> 00:40:48.910
I'm a mom and I can't help what
00:40:48.910 --> 00:40:52.890
my daughter did to get inside but
00:40:52.890 --> 00:40:56.780
I am carrying the burden
of her being in there.
00:40:56.780 --> 00:41:00.980
So, she's been in two
different locations now
00:41:00.980 --> 00:41:05.150
and they are different
companies, different fees
00:41:05.150 --> 00:41:08.560
the structures, the rates,
everything, it changes.
00:41:08.560 --> 00:41:10.450
And it changes all the time.
00:41:10.450 --> 00:41:14.080
The one very gracious
thing I do have to say
00:41:14.080 --> 00:41:19.070
is about in Placer County,
my daughter's being given
00:41:19.070 --> 00:41:23.610
one 15-minute phone call per week.
00:41:23.610 --> 00:41:26.270
It's better than nothing, but it's free
00:41:26.270 --> 00:41:31.170
so she can use it to
keep that lifeline running
00:41:31.170 --> 00:41:34.080
that we are so desperately need and
00:41:34.080 --> 00:41:38.480
that she needs in order to do better
00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:41.860
once she gets out, we
gotta keep those lines open.
00:41:41.860 --> 00:41:43.410
So thank you very much.
00:41:43.410 --> 00:41:46.960
I'm just looking for the rate structure
00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:50.460
to be consistent throughout the state.
00:41:50.460 --> 00:41:55.360
I'm looking for one free,
few minutes every week
00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:58.630
every couple of days,
whatever it is you can do for us.
00:41:58.630 --> 00:42:00.370
And then as that one gentleman asked
00:42:00.370 --> 00:42:04.570
for different types of
technology for all of us
00:42:04.570 --> 00:42:07.380
to be able to connect better out there.
00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:09.360
So thank you very much, I appreciate it.
00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:10.460
Have a good afternoon.
00:42:11.530 --> 00:42:13.923
Thank you, I
appreciate your call.
00:42:16.030 --> 00:42:18.880
Operator, would you like to
call the next caller, please?
00:42:29.470 --> 00:42:32.533
Operator or Robert, are
there any additional callers?
00:42:34.070 --> 00:42:35.600
Your honor,
this is Robert Stanford.
00:42:35.600 --> 00:42:38.063
There is an additional
caller, please stand by.
00:42:39.610 --> 00:42:40.610
Thank You.
00:42:47.227 --> 00:42:49.127
Mr. Munkelt,
you may speak.
00:42:51.630 --> 00:42:54.590
Thank you, my
name is Steven Munkelt,
00:42:54.590 --> 00:42:58.983
S-T-E-P-H-E-N, M-U-N-K-E-L-T.
00:42:59.890 --> 00:43:01.890
I'm an attorney and a certified
00:43:01.890 --> 00:43:04.020
criminal law specialist
who's been practicing
00:43:04.020 --> 00:43:06.590
in the city of California for 43 years.
00:43:06.590 --> 00:43:08.680
I'm also the executive director of the
00:43:08.680 --> 00:43:11.540
California attorneys
for criminal justice,
00:43:11.540 --> 00:43:14.540
an organization primarily of criminal
00:43:14.540 --> 00:43:17.740
defense lawyers with over 1200 members.
00:43:17.740 --> 00:43:20.360
Our membership at any
given time is representing
00:43:20.360 --> 00:43:22.630
thousands of people who are incarcerated
00:43:22.630 --> 00:43:23.980
in the state of California.
00:43:25.350 --> 00:43:29.520
I'd ask the Commission to investigate
00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:35.360
the factors of call quality,
accessibility to calls,
00:43:35.360 --> 00:43:38.050
and the cost of calls to the extent that
00:43:38.050 --> 00:43:40.200
all three of those are
within your purview.
00:43:42.410 --> 00:43:45.610
Our experience and my experience
00:43:45.610 --> 00:43:48.758
as a criminal defense lawyer is that
00:43:48.758 --> 00:43:52.060
there are very limited access to calls
00:43:52.060 --> 00:43:54.510
in many carceral situations.
00:43:54.510 --> 00:43:57.180
For example, there might
be one or two phones
00:43:57.180 --> 00:43:58.860
available for a living environment
00:43:58.860 --> 00:44:00.223
of 40 or more people.
00:44:01.160 --> 00:44:02.930
So that's one significant issue.
00:44:02.930 --> 00:44:06.810
Then these providers who basically
00:44:06.810 --> 00:44:09.280
I view as essentially
monopolistic providers
00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:14.280
with very favorable
contracts with the County
00:44:14.930 --> 00:44:19.110
or government agencies, the call quality
00:44:19.110 --> 00:44:21.340
they provide is also very substandard
00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:23.540
a great deal at a time although
00:44:23.540 --> 00:44:26.590
it also varies widely
from place to place.
00:44:26.590 --> 00:44:29.810
And finally, I understand
that your primary focus
00:44:29.810 --> 00:44:33.123
in this review has to
be on the cost of calls.
00:44:33.970 --> 00:44:37.590
And I can only reinforce what so many
00:44:37.590 --> 00:44:41.310
have already said during
the course of this hearing.
00:44:41.310 --> 00:44:43.960
And I know that it has
also been expressed
00:44:43.960 --> 00:44:48.960
in the written comments to
this Commission proceeding.
00:44:48.990 --> 00:44:53.990
And that is that the cost of the calls
00:44:54.020 --> 00:44:57.750
both in time and in fees
added for various reasons
00:44:57.750 --> 00:45:02.200
is exorbitant and a significant barrier
00:45:02.200 --> 00:45:06.050
to maintaining contact with normal life
00:45:06.050 --> 00:45:10.522
for people in carceral
situations throughout California.
00:45:10.522 --> 00:45:12.720
(timer chimes)
00:45:12.720 --> 00:45:16.970
And that is a fact which reinforces
00:45:16.970 --> 00:45:19.000
racist divisions in our society
00:45:20.670 --> 00:45:23.800
based on economy and other factors.
00:45:23.800 --> 00:45:26.530
So thank you for
undertaking this project
00:45:26.530 --> 00:45:29.900
and we certainly hope you can reach
00:45:30.901 --> 00:45:33.243
a good basis for regulation.
00:45:35.460 --> 00:45:38.520
Right, thank you,
Mr. I believe Munkelt.
00:45:38.520 --> 00:45:40.620
Appreciate you're
taking the time to call.
00:45:42.700 --> 00:45:44.373
We are looking at those issues.
00:45:45.620 --> 00:45:47.940
And operator would
you like to go ahead and
00:45:47.940 --> 00:45:49.570
call the next caller or Commissioner
00:45:49.570 --> 00:45:50.910
would you like to say something,
00:45:50.910 --> 00:45:52.480
you look like you're
about to say something,
00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:54.920
No, okay, operator if you could call
00:45:54.920 --> 00:45:56.120
the next caller, please.
00:45:57.440 --> 00:45:59.870
Our next
caller is Sarah Perez.
00:45:59.870 --> 00:46:01.770
You makes go ahead, your line is open.
00:46:03.200 --> 00:46:07.160
Yes, hello my name
is Sarah Perez, P-E-R-E-Z.
00:46:07.160 --> 00:46:10.380
And I'm basically new
to this whole process.
00:46:10.380 --> 00:46:12.720
My husband has been in the
00:46:12.720 --> 00:46:15.990
San Diego County
jail the past six months.
00:46:15.990 --> 00:46:20.990
And I would have to
say that to say the least
00:46:21.870 --> 00:46:25.070
it's a trauma to be having to deal with
00:46:25.070 --> 00:46:29.180
any legal issues on top of having to try
00:46:29.180 --> 00:46:31.580
to scramble and find the avenues
00:46:31.580 --> 00:46:34.350
as to how to communicate.
00:46:34.350 --> 00:46:39.350
I've been dealing with,
what's the company
00:46:40.420 --> 00:46:44.810
whatever company it is
here in San Diego, Securus.
00:46:44.810 --> 00:46:48.800
And first of all, when
you try to even call
00:46:48.800 --> 00:46:53.800
the first minute it's
all full of the recorder.
00:46:55.750 --> 00:46:58.920
So you're already wasting 30 cents
00:46:58.920 --> 00:47:00.760
on something that you don't need to know
00:47:00.760 --> 00:47:03.270
every day, every time they call.
00:47:03.270 --> 00:47:07.680
Additionally, I'm sure that
everybody has stated that
00:47:08.740 --> 00:47:12.400
it's an emotional
stableness for anybody in jail
00:47:12.400 --> 00:47:15.450
to be contacting their relative.
00:47:15.450 --> 00:47:18.500
I'm the only one that was left to try to
00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:22.140
keep it together with
the household, working.
00:47:22.140 --> 00:47:26.910
And I've spent an
average of $250 a month
00:47:26.910 --> 00:47:30.367
just in a 15-minute
phone call every day.
00:47:30.367 --> 00:47:34.930
$250 a month is way too
much money for anybody
00:47:34.930 --> 00:47:38.820
to be trying to communicate
to your loved one.
00:47:38.820 --> 00:47:43.610
I would suggest that
the telephone companies
00:47:43.610 --> 00:47:46.730
have at least 15-minutes
free for anybody
00:47:46.730 --> 00:47:49.230
so that they don't have
to worry about all these
00:47:49.230 --> 00:47:52.280
additional charges on top of legal fees.
00:47:52.280 --> 00:47:55.510
So it's something that
can be done for someone.
00:47:55.510 --> 00:47:57.170
I mean, I know it's a business,
00:47:57.170 --> 00:47:59.850
but they always have,
they don't have to be
00:47:59.850 --> 00:48:02.720
gouging on the pricing as well.
00:48:02.720 --> 00:48:05.530
So, that's all I have to say.
00:48:05.530 --> 00:48:08.240
It's something that
has been very traumatic
00:48:08.240 --> 00:48:11.127
and emotionally taxing for me.
00:48:11.127 --> 00:48:12.940
And I would really appreciate
00:48:12.940 --> 00:48:14.440
something to be done about it.
00:48:17.720 --> 00:48:18.800
Thank you, Ms. Perez,
00:48:18.800 --> 00:48:20.113
appreciate your calling.
00:48:22.740 --> 00:48:25.253
Operator, could you
please call our next speaker?
00:48:27.410 --> 00:48:29.420
Our next
caller is Mary Moreno.
00:48:29.420 --> 00:48:30.343
Your line is open.
00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:34.630
Yes, hi, good
afternoon everybody.
00:48:34.630 --> 00:48:36.900
First of all, let me, I
would like to thank you
00:48:36.900 --> 00:48:39.643
for this space to share our concerns.
00:48:40.500 --> 00:48:43.180
As an effected family member you know,
00:48:43.180 --> 00:48:45.210
I've been dealing with
this for 20 years now.
00:48:45.210 --> 00:48:49.250
My husband is currently
incarcerated at a state prison
00:48:49.250 --> 00:48:52.090
and it's a real burden,
00:48:52.090 --> 00:48:54.080
it's a real burden on families.
00:48:54.080 --> 00:48:56.890
Calls for the incarcerated population
00:48:56.890 --> 00:48:58.453
should be free of costs.
00:48:59.840 --> 00:49:01.030
I can really tell you that as an
00:49:01.030 --> 00:49:04.090
affected family member
the high cost of having
00:49:04.090 --> 00:49:06.740
an incarcerated loved one is heavy.
00:49:06.740 --> 00:49:09.560
And again, you know burdensome.
00:49:09.560 --> 00:49:12.520
Phone contact with families is part
00:49:12.520 --> 00:49:15.480
and should be considered
part of their rehabilitation
00:49:15.480 --> 00:49:20.480
and the cost should not fall
on the shoulders of families.
00:49:20.640 --> 00:49:24.480
Some of these families who
cannot unfortunately afford it.
00:49:24.480 --> 00:49:27.820
Every incarcerated
person should be entitled
00:49:27.820 --> 00:49:30.540
to a monthly inmate fund as part of
00:49:30.540 --> 00:49:33.690
their rehabilitation
program and you know,
00:49:33.690 --> 00:49:36.500
plan of action that
should cover this cost.
00:49:36.500 --> 00:49:38.433
I mean, there is enough funds there,
00:49:39.340 --> 00:49:40.913
for them to receive.
00:49:42.090 --> 00:49:44.780
Sort of like a monthly
stipend or a monthly
00:49:48.800 --> 00:49:53.800
fund I'm sorry, towards their
rehabilitation programming.
00:49:54.540 --> 00:49:57.560
I have always had to maintain two jobs
00:49:57.560 --> 00:50:00.890
just in order to cover all the expenses
00:50:00.890 --> 00:50:03.790
that come with having
an incarcerated loved one.
00:50:03.790 --> 00:50:05.640
And I am lucky and blessed
00:50:05.640 --> 00:50:07.750
to be able to do that but I definitely
00:50:07.750 --> 00:50:10.203
know other families and I know,
00:50:11.620 --> 00:50:16.620
other especially when it
comes to grandmothers
00:50:16.860 --> 00:50:20.290
or children, you know
that are not as lucky.
00:50:20.290 --> 00:50:22.850
And sometimes, you
know incarcerated people
00:50:22.850 --> 00:50:25.380
prefer not to call, you know
00:50:25.380 --> 00:50:29.850
just as much just
lift that burden off of
00:50:29.850 --> 00:50:32.300
the shoulders of the families.
00:50:32.300 --> 00:50:34.170
So I definitely would appreciate
00:50:34.170 --> 00:50:35.930
if you guys could consider this
00:50:35.930 --> 00:50:38.420
as an option because you know
00:50:38.420 --> 00:50:42.230
I feel that they definitely
should be entitled to.
00:50:42.230 --> 00:50:45.565
And, I also- (timer chimes)
00:50:45.565 --> 00:50:47.730
I appreciate your time,
I know my time is up
00:50:47.730 --> 00:50:49.830
so thank you very
much for hearing me out.
00:50:51.330 --> 00:50:52.163
Thank you, caller.
00:50:52.163 --> 00:50:55.743
Appreciate hearing
your ideas, very helpful.
00:50:57.370 --> 00:50:59.100
Operator, are there any more callers?
00:50:59.100 --> 00:51:02.233
If so, could you please
call your the next caller?
00:51:03.560 --> 00:51:06.130
Yes, our next
caller is Johanna Diaz.
00:51:06.130 --> 00:51:07.930
You may go ahead, your line is open.
00:51:09.090 --> 00:51:10.460
Hello, good afternoon
00:51:10.460 --> 00:51:12.280
and thank you for your time.
00:51:12.280 --> 00:51:17.280
My name is Joanna Diaz,
J-O-H-A-N-N-A, D-I-A-Z.
00:51:19.080 --> 00:51:21.320
I am calling because my only sibling,
00:51:21.320 --> 00:51:24.083
my brother has been
incarcerated for 14 years.
00:51:25.460 --> 00:51:29.110
14 years now, he was a
minor at the time of his arrest.
00:51:29.110 --> 00:51:31.430
Over those 14 years, my family and I
00:51:31.430 --> 00:51:34.460
have had to pay on prepaid
costs to speak to him.
00:51:34.460 --> 00:51:37.760
That cost over the 14
years has been substantial.
00:51:37.760 --> 00:51:40.220
Unfortunately, it's
hard to financially afford
00:51:40.220 --> 00:51:42.460
these calls at times, but times became
00:51:42.460 --> 00:51:45.040
much more difficult
when the pandemic hit.
00:51:45.040 --> 00:51:48.450
In March of 2020 last
year, in-person visiting
00:51:48.450 --> 00:51:50.830
became obsolete meaning I can no longer
00:51:50.830 --> 00:51:53.180
see my only brother
and also meaning that
00:51:53.180 --> 00:51:56.850
my daughter and him can
no longer grow a bond as well.
00:51:56.850 --> 00:51:59.610
And when the pandemic
hit, my family personally
00:51:59.610 --> 00:52:03.220
was affected when for
months work was not available.
00:52:03.220 --> 00:52:06.120
The jails give only two
five-minute phone calls
00:52:06.120 --> 00:52:08.870
once a week that was
not enough to sustain
00:52:08.870 --> 00:52:12.600
a healthy and happy
relationship or family bond.
00:52:12.600 --> 00:52:14.660
This meant that with
no family connection
00:52:14.660 --> 00:52:15.850
my brother will suffering from
00:52:15.850 --> 00:52:18.570
severe depression as well as us.
00:52:18.570 --> 00:52:20.170
Both of my family members and I
00:52:20.170 --> 00:52:23.660
typically put 30 to $50 weekly
00:52:23.660 --> 00:52:25.940
to be able to speak with my brother.
00:52:25.940 --> 00:52:29.793
But those 30 to $50 aren't, you know,
00:52:30.860 --> 00:52:33.770
put all through they take a service fee
00:52:33.770 --> 00:52:38.770
which usually it's like
$4, $5 off the amount.
00:52:38.820 --> 00:52:42.443
And sometimes a 14-minute
phone call was charged at $15.
00:52:43.530 --> 00:52:45.550
Being able to communicate
with the loved ones
00:52:45.550 --> 00:52:48.740
behind bars shouldn't be
this unfair economically.
00:52:48.740 --> 00:52:51.810
Unfortunately, mass
incarceration does affect many
00:52:51.810 --> 00:52:55.050
low income families
and many times we're left
00:52:55.050 --> 00:52:57.190
with no way of communicating
with our loved ones.
00:52:57.190 --> 00:53:00.010
I ask to please to take in consideration
00:53:00.010 --> 00:53:04.370
to get families just
rates and phone calls
00:53:04.370 --> 00:53:07.800
if possibly free and I
also do wanna say that
00:53:08.840 --> 00:53:11.410
our incarcerated loved
ones sometimes were
00:53:11.410 --> 00:53:13.310
the breadwinners for our households.
00:53:13.310 --> 00:53:17.380
And sometimes that
paycheck gets taken away
00:53:17.380 --> 00:53:18.870
leaving the burden on, you know,
00:53:18.870 --> 00:53:23.650
sometimes the moms,
the families to be able to
00:53:24.690 --> 00:53:28.010
sustain family and sometimes, you know,
00:53:28.010 --> 00:53:30.170
they do have to choose either food
00:53:30.170 --> 00:53:32.840
or being able to communicate
with their loved ones.
00:53:32.840 --> 00:53:34.853
And that's just something
that (timer chiming)
00:53:34.853 --> 00:53:36.550
we shouldn't have to put up with.
00:53:36.550 --> 00:53:39.740
Okay, thank you for your
time and consideration.
00:53:39.740 --> 00:53:41.720
Judge-
Thank you Ms. Diaz.
00:53:41.720 --> 00:53:43.150
Ms.
Diaz, I just have a
00:53:43.150 --> 00:53:44.743
clarification question.
00:53:45.600 --> 00:53:46.433
Yes
You mentioned
00:53:46.433 --> 00:53:48.083
the service fee.
00:53:48.970 --> 00:53:50.970
Did you say it was charged
00:53:50.970 --> 00:53:54.413
every time you added a 30 or $50 a week?
00:53:55.500 --> 00:53:57.530
Yes, every time we
00:53:57.530 --> 00:54:00.120
Global Tel Link, at least every time we
00:54:00.120 --> 00:54:03.663
put money, usually I
put 30 to $50 a week.
00:54:04.920 --> 00:54:08.040
They do charge a service
fee of $4 and 30 cents.
00:54:08.040 --> 00:54:11.680
I do think sometimes it goes
up if you put more money.
00:54:11.680 --> 00:54:15.740
So, but yeah, that
service fee so if I put $30,
00:54:15.740 --> 00:54:18.850
they'll take off $4
and 30 cents and then
00:54:18.850 --> 00:54:22.550
my balance will be $26 so only those $26
00:54:22.550 --> 00:54:25.423
I can use to have time
to speak to my brother.
00:54:26.530 --> 00:54:27.627
Okay,
thank you very much
00:54:27.627 --> 00:54:29.340
for the clarification.
00:54:29.340 --> 00:54:30.440
Thank you.
00:54:31.530 --> 00:54:32.450
Thank you
for your comments,
00:54:32.450 --> 00:54:34.460
Ms. Diaz, appreciate it.
00:54:34.460 --> 00:54:37.053
Operator, could you call
the next speaker, please?
00:54:39.560 --> 00:54:42.040
Our next
caller is Tiffany Williams.
00:54:42.040 --> 00:54:44.520
You may go ahead, your line is open.
00:54:44.520 --> 00:54:47.430
Hi, I'm Tiffany Williams.
00:54:47.430 --> 00:54:52.090
T-I-F-F-A-N-Y Williams
that's my last name.
00:54:52.090 --> 00:54:54.520
I'm really hoping that these proposals
00:54:54.520 --> 00:54:57.453
and requests are
implemented and followed.
00:54:58.670 --> 00:55:01.530
I'm hoping for a consistent
rate with the phone calls,
00:55:01.530 --> 00:55:03.510
maybe one free phone call a week
00:55:03.510 --> 00:55:05.433
if not just lower the rates.
00:55:06.600 --> 00:55:10.000
My husband has been
incarcerated for three plus years.
00:55:10.000 --> 00:55:12.530
It was horrible,
especially during COVID.
00:55:12.530 --> 00:55:15.060
I mean, it was just excessive.
00:55:15.060 --> 00:55:17.720
You know, the phone
call price were excessive
00:55:17.720 --> 00:55:20.130
and really difficult to meet.
00:55:20.130 --> 00:55:23.470
He was put at MCJ for a few months
00:55:23.470 --> 00:55:26.910
and I remembered the
calls are 25 cents a minute.
00:55:26.910 --> 00:55:29.738
I remember several months paying 600,
00:55:29.738 --> 00:55:33.360
$500 for a month worth of phone calls.
00:55:33.360 --> 00:55:35.330
So, you know, that's
how much it came up to
00:55:35.330 --> 00:55:38.810
when I added it up and
like the girl before me said
00:55:38.810 --> 00:55:42.440
that every time I loaded
money onto the phone,
00:55:42.440 --> 00:55:45.440
the fees will be four or $5 maybe
00:55:45.440 --> 00:55:49.420
the least I got into was $3 and 60 cents
00:55:49.420 --> 00:55:52.440
when I loaded about 40, $50 on there.
00:55:52.440 --> 00:55:55.960
So it's just, you
know, it's really difficult
00:55:55.960 --> 00:55:57.960
to pay for these phone calls.
00:55:57.960 --> 00:56:00.860
I mean, communication is essential for
00:56:00.860 --> 00:56:04.420
anybody's wellbeing and
anybody's rehabilitation.
00:56:04.420 --> 00:56:06.280
And I believe that's what these prisons
00:56:06.280 --> 00:56:09.660
are supposed to do,
rehabilitate these inmates.
00:56:09.660 --> 00:56:12.530
And you know, a lot of
people can't afford these.
00:56:12.530 --> 00:56:15.840
So these inmates are
depressed just like my husband
00:56:15.840 --> 00:56:18.070
gets depressed because
he can't talk to anybody
00:56:18.070 --> 00:56:22.500
or can't communicate
with me or his children.
00:56:22.500 --> 00:56:25.880
So like everybody who's called before,
00:56:25.880 --> 00:56:27.960
you know, I'm just asking that
00:56:27.960 --> 00:56:32.890
there be a change in
these these phone call rates.
00:56:32.890 --> 00:56:34.920
And thank you for giving
me and everyone else
00:56:34.920 --> 00:56:36.673
the opportunity to speak on this.
00:56:38.340 --> 00:56:39.530
Thank you, Tiffany.
00:56:39.530 --> 00:56:42.120
Just to follow up to you also,
00:56:42.120 --> 00:56:45.520
did I hear you correctly
that I know you and
00:56:45.520 --> 00:56:47.900
the previous caller,
Ms. Diaz mentioned that
00:56:48.930 --> 00:56:51.630
the service fee fluctuates depending on
00:56:51.630 --> 00:56:53.760
how much you put in,
00:56:53.760 --> 00:56:58.760
but did you say that during
COVID the charges went up?
00:57:00.040 --> 00:57:01.340
No, they were the same.
00:57:01.340 --> 00:57:03.610
I'm saying that it was
just difficult to meet
00:57:03.610 --> 00:57:07.470
during that time because,
you know, we had pay cuts
00:57:07.470 --> 00:57:09.550
and you know, everyone
was kind of struggling.
00:57:09.550 --> 00:57:13.052
So it was really hard
to meet those rates.
00:57:13.052 --> 00:57:15.930
Okay,
thank you so much.
00:57:15.930 --> 00:57:17.557
Mm-hmm, thank you.
00:57:19.280 --> 00:57:21.230
All right, thank
you so much, Ms. Williams
00:57:21.230 --> 00:57:24.450
for calling in appreciate hearing about
00:57:24.450 --> 00:57:27.513
your experience, very difficult.
00:57:29.370 --> 00:57:32.163
Operators could you
please call the next caller?
00:57:33.970 --> 00:57:35.770
Our next
caller is Andreya.
00:57:35.770 --> 00:57:38.060
You may go ahead, your line is open.
00:57:38.060 --> 00:57:39.440
Yes, my name is Andreya,
00:57:39.440 --> 00:57:42.480
A-N-D-R-E-Y-A in California.
00:57:42.480 --> 00:57:43.970
I'm calling in my own capacity
00:57:43.970 --> 00:57:45.590
as a formerly incarcerated person
00:57:45.590 --> 00:57:47.690
and directly impacted person through
00:57:47.690 --> 00:57:49.460
several currently
incarcerated loved ones
00:57:49.460 --> 00:57:51.550
including my husband as well as in my
00:57:51.550 --> 00:57:53.450
organizational capacity which is
00:57:53.450 --> 00:57:55.315
San Bernardino Free Them All.
00:57:55.315 --> 00:57:57.360
I'd like to thank the Commission
for holding this meeting.
00:57:57.360 --> 00:57:59.280
Although I'd like the
Commission to think about
00:57:59.280 --> 00:58:01.470
a couple of things callers are not able
00:58:01.470 --> 00:58:03.630
to view the slide you are presenting.
00:58:03.630 --> 00:58:05.300
So please make available the slide
00:58:05.300 --> 00:58:08.500
to everyone at as early as possible
00:58:08.500 --> 00:58:10.440
as well as I'd like
for you to think about
00:58:10.440 --> 00:58:13.030
incarcerated people may only have,
00:58:13.030 --> 00:58:15.250
if they're lucky one
minute to 15-minutes
00:58:15.250 --> 00:58:16.650
available for a phone call.
00:58:16.650 --> 00:58:18.300
This hearing is not realistically
00:58:18.300 --> 00:58:20.400
accommodating for incarcerated people.
00:58:20.400 --> 00:58:22.130
Several of our members
that have called in today
00:58:22.130 --> 00:58:26.040
to give a testimony have had to hang up
00:58:26.040 --> 00:58:27.660
because their time had lapsed.
00:58:27.660 --> 00:58:29.900
One of our members was
told to get off the phone
00:58:29.900 --> 00:58:32.720
after eight minutes and 33 seconds.
00:58:32.720 --> 00:58:34.550
Before COVID the high phone rates
00:58:34.550 --> 00:58:36.523
were already unmanageable for people.
00:58:37.434 --> 00:58:39.230
And that was before the pandemic hit.
00:58:39.230 --> 00:58:42.730
Many people are struggling
right now, financially.
00:58:42.730 --> 00:58:46.020
And this is during a
national or I should say
00:58:46.020 --> 00:58:48.950
world pandemic and crisis and people
00:58:48.950 --> 00:58:50.320
do not have the funds to pay these
00:58:50.320 --> 00:58:53.060
high phone rates as well
as the connection fees
00:58:53.060 --> 00:58:54.940
as other callers have mentioned.
00:58:54.940 --> 00:58:57.690
In 2018 in Los Angeles County,
00:58:57.690 --> 00:59:02.690
a monthly phone bill for rates were
00:59:02.947 --> 00:59:07.947
$800 for every month and that
was from Los Angeles County.
00:59:08.464 --> 00:59:13.464
Currently, paying
approximately $12,000 a year
00:59:14.300 --> 00:59:17.120
for phone calls for a different county.
00:59:17.120 --> 00:59:19.330
The form rates are
still very high as well as
00:59:19.330 --> 00:59:22.590
the connection fees as
other callers have mentioned.
00:59:22.590 --> 00:59:25.580
There is a cap when you
place money on an account
00:59:25.580 --> 00:59:28.940
you can only place a
maximum of $50 it's cap,
00:59:28.940 --> 00:59:30.850
but you have to pay the connection fee.
00:59:30.850 --> 00:59:33.650
So us as an organization,
every time that we place money
00:59:33.650 --> 00:59:36.610
on our account in increments of $50,
00:59:36.610 --> 00:59:40.210
we get charged a fee and
particularly with Securus,
00:59:40.210 --> 00:59:43.610
which is $3 every time you place money.
00:59:43.610 --> 00:59:47.630
If we decide to place
$30, we have to pay $3.
00:59:47.630 --> 00:59:49.673
If we come back and say we wanna put $50
00:59:49.673 --> 00:59:51.900
on a phone, there's
still another $3 fee.
00:59:51.900 --> 00:59:54.570
If we want to add another $50 the fees
00:59:54.570 --> 00:59:56.980
just add every time that
you placed the money.
00:59:56.980 --> 00:59:58.930
So we place our own
money to accept calls
00:59:58.930 --> 01:00:02.650
on behalf of our members,
which we are paying
01:00:02.650 --> 01:00:04.850
out our own money to speak with people.
01:00:04.850 --> 01:00:06.850
And many of our members are incarcerated
01:00:06.850 --> 01:00:09.460
as well as the
incarcerated community has
01:00:09.460 --> 01:00:13.540
many pretrial detention
folks who are legally innocent.
01:00:13.540 --> 01:00:15.260
And these phone calls should be free.
01:00:15.260 --> 01:00:16.990
There are a lot of free calls out there
01:00:16.990 --> 01:00:19.720
but it's only for certain facilities,
01:00:19.720 --> 01:00:22.370
it's not available to
everyone across the board.
01:00:22.370 --> 01:00:25.230
So please think about
making these phone calls
01:00:25.230 --> 01:00:27.910
more manageable for folks that are being
01:00:27.910 --> 01:00:30.070
taken advantage of
right now that are working
01:00:30.070 --> 01:00:32.580
very, very hard
collecting whatever money
01:00:32.580 --> 01:00:34.380
they can put together to keep in contact
01:00:34.380 --> 01:00:35.420
with their loved ones.
01:00:35.420 --> 01:00:36.810
And I yield the rest of my time.
01:00:36.810 --> 01:00:37.843
Thank you very much.
01:00:40.230 --> 01:00:45.230
Thank you,
Andreya, appreciate that.
01:00:45.270 --> 01:00:47.340
And we are aware.
01:00:47.340 --> 01:00:49.730
Thank you for your
comments about the slides.
01:00:49.730 --> 01:00:54.330
We will make the slides available
on our Commission website.
01:00:54.330 --> 01:00:58.663
After the, after this
meeting, this hearing.
01:00:59.860 --> 01:01:04.860
I believe our website
is CPUC prison calling,
01:01:07.050 --> 01:01:08.960
but I'll verify that in just a minute
01:01:08.960 --> 01:01:10.870
and announce the proper name.
01:01:10.870 --> 01:01:14.410
And also to re-announce, here it is
01:01:14.410 --> 01:01:19.410
the website is
www.cpuc.ca.gov/prisoncalls.
01:01:21.590 --> 01:01:25.283
Again, that's cpucca.gov/prisoncalls.
01:01:27.080 --> 01:01:29.700
And thank you for the reminder that
01:01:29.700 --> 01:01:33.060
folks on the phone cannot
see the slides right now
01:01:33.060 --> 01:01:36.880
in case there's someone
listening on the phone
01:01:36.880 --> 01:01:41.660
that would like to make a
comment please just press
01:01:42.527 --> 01:01:46.580
*1 to get in the queue
to make a comment.
01:01:46.580 --> 01:01:49.860
And also I want to
acknowledge that we did
01:01:49.860 --> 01:01:54.380
at the Commission make
a diligent efforts to ease the
01:01:55.510 --> 01:01:58.180
make it possible for
incarcerated persons
01:01:58.180 --> 01:02:01.330
to phone into this hearing from within
01:02:01.330 --> 01:02:06.330
in carceral facility, it's
quite difficult to accomplish.
01:02:06.870 --> 01:02:10.610
We know we were not able
to accomplish that perfectly.
01:02:10.610 --> 01:02:12.790
So we do extend our regrets for that,
01:02:12.790 --> 01:02:15.430
but we have there are
other ways to comment.
01:02:15.430 --> 01:02:19.210
Folks can comment online at the bottom
01:02:19.210 --> 01:02:20.960
of the slide here you can see,
01:02:20.960 --> 01:02:23.570
you can write a written
comment if you like
01:02:23.570 --> 01:02:27.720
cpuc.ca.gov/R2010002Comments.
01:02:31.310 --> 01:02:33.210
And there are other methods which
01:02:33.210 --> 01:02:37.560
we'll repeat as we end this hearing.
01:02:37.560 --> 01:02:39.052
And Commissioner, I don't know
01:02:39.052 --> 01:02:41.063
if you wanted to add anything there or?
01:02:43.840 --> 01:02:45.830
Thank you, yes
and I do wanna thank
01:02:45.830 --> 01:02:49.470
Andreya for raising the issue.
01:02:49.470 --> 01:02:53.770
I think we're also open to
hearing specific recommendations
01:02:53.770 --> 01:02:57.210
not just today but as we move forward
01:02:57.210 --> 01:03:01.580
on how to do better engagement
perhaps more targeted
01:03:01.580 --> 01:03:05.590
and easier and taking into account the
01:03:05.590 --> 01:03:08.830
time allocations that
the incarcerated have.
01:03:08.830 --> 01:03:12.080
So we completely acknowledged this
01:03:12.080 --> 01:03:14.180
traditional method doesn't work,
01:03:14.180 --> 01:03:17.880
and we are open to additional followup
01:03:17.880 --> 01:03:20.603
on how to get that
engagement, thank you.
01:03:24.690 --> 01:03:26.080
Thank you, Commissioner.
01:03:26.080 --> 01:03:27.170
Operator, could you please
01:03:27.170 --> 01:03:29.050
call in our next caller, please?
01:03:33.740 --> 01:03:36.077
Our next
caller is Milania Lafaber
01:03:37.490 --> 01:03:40.440
I'm sorry, could you
state the name again please?
01:03:40.440 --> 01:03:42.110
Her name
is Milania Lefaber,
01:03:42.110 --> 01:03:42.960
you may go ahead.
01:03:43.800 --> 01:03:45.270
Thank you.
01:03:45.270 --> 01:03:47.120
Yes, hello?
01:03:47.120 --> 01:03:48.950
Yeah, hi, we hear you.
01:03:48.950 --> 01:03:51.080
Yes, hi
everybody my name is
01:03:51.080 --> 01:03:55.430
Milania Lafaber, M-I-L-A-N-I-A
01:03:55.430 --> 01:03:59.393
last name L-A F as in Frank A-B-E-R,
01:04:00.730 --> 01:04:04.180
I feel it's unfair because
calls get cut off or short
01:04:04.180 --> 01:04:08.270
with the $3 fee on the
facility daytime hours are over
01:04:08.270 --> 01:04:11.770
they get cut off immediately
without any notice.
01:04:11.770 --> 01:04:15.583
And although we pay
for a 10-minute phone call,
01:04:16.710 --> 01:04:19.580
it's you know, a $3 fee that's charged
01:04:19.580 --> 01:04:20.900
and we're still cut off.
01:04:20.900 --> 01:04:23.700
So we're still responsible
for those charges
01:04:23.700 --> 01:04:26.310
where, you know, the individual
01:04:26.310 --> 01:04:28.403
could have been told ahead of time.
01:04:29.290 --> 01:04:32.203
The cost of commissary is very high.
01:04:33.140 --> 01:04:36.390
Ramen noodles, I can
go to the 99-cent store
01:04:36.390 --> 01:04:40.320
down the street and get
them for like 25-cents a piece
01:04:40.320 --> 01:04:45.133
but jail charges a dollar
and 19 cents per pack.
01:04:46.280 --> 01:04:47.997
So with the cost of commissary
01:04:47.997 --> 01:04:49.810
and the cost of phone calls,
01:04:49.810 --> 01:04:51.503
that makes it very expensive.
01:04:52.620 --> 01:04:54.850
I would like to see a low monthly plan
01:04:54.850 --> 01:04:58.510
like someone else I think her
name is Carrie has suggested.
01:04:58.510 --> 01:05:02.635
Netflix and all of these
online sites have it.
01:05:02.635 --> 01:05:06.820
And it'd be great if we can have it too.
01:05:06.820 --> 01:05:09.730
It's therapy for them,
we need to show them
01:05:09.730 --> 01:05:14.703
love, support, let's see
what else we have here.
01:05:15.970 --> 01:05:17.900
Also video call visits.
01:05:17.900 --> 01:05:21.690
It's very expensive to
go down to the facility
01:05:21.690 --> 01:05:24.530
to have you know, a
meet it's not convenient
01:05:24.530 --> 01:05:26.463
for everybody, we have higher costs.
01:05:27.970 --> 01:05:30.470
I have two kids where
I need to drive them
01:05:30.470 --> 01:05:34.460
to school at separate
times, pick up and drop off
01:05:34.460 --> 01:05:39.460
which cost me in time and
in gas now due to COVID,
01:05:39.480 --> 01:05:41.770
which means that I
can't spend a whole lot
01:05:41.770 --> 01:05:46.663
of gas going down to visit
in person or on phone calls.
01:05:48.410 --> 01:05:50.070
Also, you know I have a little girl
01:05:50.070 --> 01:05:54.100
who potentially might
have COVID at the moment
01:05:54.100 --> 01:05:56.070
and I'm going to have to probably pay
01:05:56.070 --> 01:05:59.253
for extra costs for her care.
01:06:01.270 --> 01:06:04.370
Me, myself, I'm having
my own health problems
01:06:04.370 --> 01:06:08.293
and I've just had
surgery about a week ago.
01:06:09.420 --> 01:06:12.710
So I feel like video
calls might be helpful
01:06:12.710 --> 01:06:15.200
because I can't seem
to make it down there
01:06:15.200 --> 01:06:16.713
and afford these calls.
01:06:19.230 --> 01:06:23.620
He also has, my
incarcerated individual also has
01:06:23.620 --> 01:06:28.620
a retired father who also has
been much help to support him.
01:06:29.010 --> 01:06:33.877
And he has spent well
over $400 in 30 days
01:06:35.490 --> 01:06:39.480
to help support him in
the event that I could not
01:06:41.230 --> 01:06:44.063
due to all of my burdens during COVID.
01:06:47.290 --> 01:06:48.323
Any questions?
01:06:54.800 --> 01:06:57.480
I do have
a question actually for you.
01:06:57.480 --> 01:07:02.360
Sorry, I'm running this longer but...
01:07:02.360 --> 01:07:04.360
You mentioned that
you would like to know
01:07:04.360 --> 01:07:07.853
ahead of time, can you
talk about what that means?
01:07:08.830 --> 01:07:11.180
Yeah, like,
you know, it's very hard
01:07:11.180 --> 01:07:14.040
in the system to see
whether your individual
01:07:14.040 --> 01:07:16.900
is ABC or D and their number of unit,
01:07:16.900 --> 01:07:19.330
what their daytime hours are or not.
01:07:19.330 --> 01:07:22.160
And I don't think some
of them know themselves.
01:07:22.160 --> 01:07:25.713
The phone is just cut off after
we're paying all those fees.
01:07:26.750 --> 01:07:29.480
And also the individual
goes and invests in that
01:07:29.480 --> 01:07:30.720
10-minute phone call.
01:07:30.720 --> 01:07:32.740
And I think that they don't know that
01:07:32.740 --> 01:07:36.270
there's a $3 fee every time
for that 10-minute phone call,
01:07:36.270 --> 01:07:40.560
because they can only purchase
up to 10-minutes per session.
01:07:40.560 --> 01:07:42.350
And that's kind of not fair.
01:07:42.350 --> 01:07:43.833
It's real expensive.
01:07:45.110 --> 01:07:47.080
And
what facility is this?
01:07:49.730 --> 01:07:54.293
Robert Presley
in Riverside, California.
01:07:56.523 --> 01:07:57.803
Is he a congressman?
01:07:59.000 --> 01:08:00.300
Hmm?
01:08:00.300 --> 01:08:04.260
Okay, and could you tell us
01:08:04.260 --> 01:08:06.813
Ms. Lefaber which phone company it is?
01:08:08.433 --> 01:08:10.170
It's Securus.
01:08:10.170 --> 01:08:12.180
It's Securus, okay.
01:08:12.180 --> 01:08:15.930
Yeah, I also haven't
been informed about any
01:08:15.930 --> 01:08:20.930
you know, other forms of
telephone user I could use.
01:08:21.400 --> 01:08:23.147
I have heard from Los Angeles
01:08:24.380 --> 01:08:27.140
County that there is Pelipost,
01:08:27.140 --> 01:08:30.480
which Robert Presley and Larry D. Smith
01:08:30.480 --> 01:08:33.480
did not accept or
have available to them.
01:08:33.480 --> 01:08:38.380
And LA County also has
video calls available to them
01:08:38.380 --> 01:08:40.473
in which Riverside County doesn't.
01:08:43.310 --> 01:08:45.160
Okay,
thank you for that
01:08:45.160 --> 01:08:47.595
information Ms. Lafaber, we'll-
01:08:47.595 --> 01:08:49.790
You're so welcome.
01:08:49.790 --> 01:08:51.800
Thank you.
Thank you.
01:08:51.800 --> 01:08:53.300
Caller,
excuse me, operator,
01:08:53.300 --> 01:08:55.150
could you call our new caller please?
01:08:56.740 --> 01:08:59.640
Yes, our next
caller is Elizabeth Isaacson.
01:08:59.640 --> 01:09:02.250
You may go ahead, your line is open.
01:09:02.250 --> 01:09:04.650
Oh, hello,
can you hear me?
01:09:04.650 --> 01:09:06.300
Yes, we can.
01:09:06.300 --> 01:09:08.550
Excellent,
so I'm going to read
01:09:08.550 --> 01:09:10.610
a line from a press release given out by
01:09:10.610 --> 01:09:13.190
the California Department of Corrections
01:09:13.190 --> 01:09:15.400
and Rehabilitation on March 1st.
01:09:15.400 --> 01:09:17.970
They say as part of a
new six-year contract
01:09:17.970 --> 01:09:20.180
with Global Tel Link corporation
01:09:20.180 --> 01:09:23.080
which is one of those
corporations you mentioned.
01:09:23.080 --> 01:09:26.550
Telephone calls nationwide from
01:09:26.550 --> 01:09:28.763
California to California will now cost
01:09:28.763 --> 01:09:32.620
2.50 cents a minute
and I'm skipping a lot,
01:09:32.620 --> 01:09:35.103
and international
telephone calls will only cost
01:09:35.103 --> 01:09:38.220
7 cents a minute that means a 15-minute
01:09:38.220 --> 01:09:39.780
phone call to anywhere in the US
01:09:39.780 --> 01:09:43.740
now costs 37.50
cents, I'm not really sure
01:09:43.740 --> 01:09:45.483
what half a cent is, but whatever.
01:09:46.400 --> 01:09:48.550
This is fantastic and a huge gain
01:09:48.550 --> 01:09:50.840
for folks in prison
but this isn't the law,
01:09:50.840 --> 01:09:53.930
this is a contract, it's
only with one company
01:09:53.930 --> 01:09:55.650
it's just been announced,
01:09:55.650 --> 01:09:58.400
after six years this
contract will expire
01:09:58.400 --> 01:10:00.593
and prison phone
rates will balloon again.
01:10:02.460 --> 01:10:05.170
The numbers that CDCR set on March 1st
01:10:05.170 --> 01:10:07.750
are big gains and they're good numbers.
01:10:07.750 --> 01:10:12.270
And honestly, I think
since this is affordable
01:10:12.270 --> 01:10:14.240
this is something that
a contract could gain.
01:10:14.240 --> 01:10:16.920
I believe you should
act to set those numbers
01:10:16.920 --> 01:10:20.243
into law or numbers
even smaller than that.
01:10:21.100 --> 01:10:23.290
But, you know, 2.50 cents a minute
01:10:23.290 --> 01:10:24.813
sounds like a good start.
01:10:25.660 --> 01:10:28.386
We already have regulations and bills.
01:10:28.386 --> 01:10:30.510
Most notably the FCC is ruling on rates
01:10:30.510 --> 01:10:33.330
for interstate and recalling services.
01:10:33.330 --> 01:10:36.780
Senator Duckworth proposed 2019
01:10:36.780 --> 01:10:38.400
Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable
01:10:38.400 --> 01:10:40.570
Communications Act which show how you
01:10:40.570 --> 01:10:42.480
enshrine rate caps like the one that
01:10:42.480 --> 01:10:46.410
the CDCR just gained into law.
01:10:46.410 --> 01:10:49.280
And I think y'all might want to take
01:10:49.280 --> 01:10:51.360
a good hard look at these rulings
01:10:51.360 --> 01:10:55.260
like the FCCS 2013 one
and Duckworth's 2019
01:10:56.360 --> 01:10:59.410
proposed bill and use
some of that language
01:10:59.410 --> 01:11:04.410
to set something like a 2.5 set rate cap
01:11:07.580 --> 01:11:11.470
like the one that the CDCR
has contracted into stone.
01:11:11.470 --> 01:11:13.920
I mean, honestly, I'd like
to get the rates even lower.
01:11:13.920 --> 01:11:15.840
I'd like for them phone calls to be free
01:11:15.840 --> 01:11:18.750
or to have you know,
at least some number
01:11:18.750 --> 01:11:21.643
of free phone calls per week.
01:11:22.490 --> 01:11:25.290
But if that's impossible,
I'd at least like
01:11:25.290 --> 01:11:28.520
to verify these very excellent gains
01:11:28.520 --> 01:11:30.383
the CDCR have won this March.
01:11:31.840 --> 01:11:33.600
Likewise, because
people have been talking
01:11:33.600 --> 01:11:35.730
about video visitation, I urge
01:11:35.730 --> 01:11:39.000
California lawmakers to
look at Senator Duckworth's
01:11:39.000 --> 01:11:41.360
Video Visitation and
Inmate Calling in Prisons Act
01:11:41.360 --> 01:11:46.110
of 2017 for a model to
follow when establishing
01:11:46.110 --> 01:11:48.610
laws and video visitation, thank you.
01:11:51.280 --> 01:11:53.480
Thank you,
caller appreciate that.
01:11:54.470 --> 01:11:57.750
We are certainly aware
of the SDCs actions
01:11:57.750 --> 01:11:59.350
and are following those closely.
01:12:00.520 --> 01:12:05.520
And also the CDC as well as
Senator Duckworth legislation.
01:12:08.100 --> 01:12:10.300
But we will definitely
give that another look
01:12:10.300 --> 01:12:13.450
as you saw, we introduced
a staff proposal or
01:12:13.450 --> 01:12:15.656
excuse me, staff introduced
his proposal earlier
01:12:15.656 --> 01:12:20.656
in this hearing and we are looking
01:12:20.900 --> 01:12:24.310
at all of these items right
now as we go forward.
01:12:24.310 --> 01:12:26.560
All right,
thank you very much.
01:12:27.760 --> 01:12:31.100
And also honestly, I'd
like to thank the CDCR
01:12:31.100 --> 01:12:34.130
for getting that contract
with Global Tel Link
01:12:34.130 --> 01:12:36.390
because those are much better rates
01:12:36.390 --> 01:12:37.740
than we've had in the past.
01:12:39.010 --> 01:12:41.983
Yeah, it is
certainly an improvement.
01:12:41.983 --> 01:12:43.440
Thank you, thank you, caller.
01:12:43.440 --> 01:12:45.943
Operator, could you
please call our next speaker.
01:12:47.970 --> 01:12:50.040
Our next
caller is Michelle Lau.
01:12:50.040 --> 01:12:51.840
You may go ahead, your line is open.
01:12:53.490 --> 01:12:54.950
Hi, my
name is Michelle Lau.
01:12:54.950 --> 01:12:58.920
That's M-I-C-H-E-L-L-E L-A-U.
01:12:58.920 --> 01:13:02.060
And I'm with the San Francisco
Financial Justice Project.
01:13:02.060 --> 01:13:03.650
We work closely with community groups
01:13:03.650 --> 01:13:05.680
and formerly incarcerated
people to uplift
01:13:05.680 --> 01:13:08.570
the needs of justice-involved
people in San Francisco.
01:13:08.570 --> 01:13:10.430
And today we're joining
many of those who have
01:13:10.430 --> 01:13:13.090
spoken already to call
them the CPC to strengthen
01:13:13.090 --> 01:13:14.790
justice-involved communities by lowering
01:13:14.790 --> 01:13:17.810
the price of phone
calls in carceral facilities.
01:13:17.810 --> 01:13:19.410
Here in San Francisco, we've worked with
01:13:19.410 --> 01:13:21.290
the Sheriff's office
and community groups
01:13:21.290 --> 01:13:23.680
to make San Francisco
the first County in California
01:13:23.680 --> 01:13:25.730
to make jail phone calls free.
01:13:25.730 --> 01:13:26.825
Prior to these reforms-
01:13:26.825 --> 01:13:28.040
Ms. Lau, if I could just
01:13:28.040 --> 01:13:29.340
interrupt for a minute if you could just
01:13:29.340 --> 01:13:31.350
speak a little slower I think that
01:13:31.350 --> 01:13:32.900
would help our court reporters.
01:13:34.350 --> 01:13:36.584
Thank you, please go ahead.
01:13:36.584 --> 01:13:38.600
Yep, so
here in San Francisco
01:13:38.600 --> 01:13:40.250
we've worked with the Sheriff's office
01:13:40.250 --> 01:13:42.247
and community groups
to make San Francisco
01:13:42.247 --> 01:13:44.240
the first County in California
01:13:44.240 --> 01:13:46.340
to make jail phone calls free.
01:13:46.340 --> 01:13:48.140
Prior to these reforms, the price of
01:13:48.140 --> 01:13:49.890
jail phone calls estranged incarcerated
01:13:49.890 --> 01:13:51.150
people's relationships with their
01:13:51.150 --> 01:13:54.090
support networks and
forced people into debt.
01:13:54.090 --> 01:13:55.840
But once phone calls became free,
01:13:55.840 --> 01:13:57.810
incarcerated people
and their support networks
01:13:57.810 --> 01:14:01.120
now spend 80% more time in communication
01:14:01.120 --> 01:14:02.710
and no longer have to choose between
01:14:02.710 --> 01:14:04.460
hearing a loved one's voice and paying
01:14:04.460 --> 01:14:07.210
for rent, groceries, and food.
01:14:07.210 --> 01:14:09.940
We recently asked people
who are currently incarcerated
01:14:09.940 --> 01:14:12.430
in San Francisco County
jails about what these
01:14:12.430 --> 01:14:14.690
free jail phone calls
have meant to them.
01:14:14.690 --> 01:14:16.120
And I wanted to share some of
01:14:16.120 --> 01:14:18.400
their responses and direct quotes.
01:14:18.400 --> 01:14:20.490
And so, for example,
we've heard that quote,
01:14:20.490 --> 01:14:22.120
being able to contact my family
01:14:22.120 --> 01:14:23.860
has made a huge difference.
01:14:23.860 --> 01:14:25.730
This access has allowed me to reconnect
01:14:25.730 --> 01:14:27.520
with family at a much-needed time.
01:14:27.520 --> 01:14:30.580
It has been great for my
physical and mental health.
01:14:30.580 --> 01:14:33.960
Someone else said I've
been able to contact my kids.
01:14:33.960 --> 01:14:35.620
It has helped to talk daily to find out
01:14:35.620 --> 01:14:38.030
what's going on with family and friends.
01:14:38.030 --> 01:14:39.740
And lastly, we also heard it helps with
01:14:39.740 --> 01:14:41.240
my depression being able to talk
01:14:41.240 --> 01:14:44.640
with my family and not
have to worry about a bill.
01:14:44.640 --> 01:14:45.940
So I just want to thank the Commission
01:14:45.940 --> 01:14:47.930
for creating space for the public and
01:14:47.930 --> 01:14:49.773
currently incarcerated
people to be heard.
01:14:49.773 --> 01:14:51.910
I think this is an
incredibly important issue
01:14:51.910 --> 01:14:53.750
that impacts hundreds of thousands of
01:14:53.750 --> 01:14:56.170
some of the most
vulnerable people in our state.
01:14:56.170 --> 01:14:57.540
And we're really excited
that the Commission
01:14:57.540 --> 01:14:59.290
is taking this issue on, thank you.
01:15:01.500 --> 01:15:03.400
Thank you, Ms. Lau.
01:15:03.400 --> 01:15:05.747
If there are no questions
from the Commissioner,
01:15:05.747 --> 01:15:08.647
I'll invite the operator to
call our next speaker, please.
01:15:13.530 --> 01:15:16.340
And our next
caller is Michelle Synan.
01:15:16.340 --> 01:15:18.140
You may go ahead, your line is open.
01:15:18.980 --> 01:15:20.600
Hello, my
name is Michelle,
01:15:20.600 --> 01:15:25.600
M-I-C-H-E-L-E and last
name Synan, S-Y-N-A-N.
01:15:26.400 --> 01:15:28.020
I have an incarcerated loved one.
01:15:28.020 --> 01:15:30.450
My husband is in Kern Valley
01:15:30.450 --> 01:15:33.963
state prison in Delano, California.
01:15:35.496 --> 01:15:38.910
I had to move from California
back to my hometown
01:15:38.910 --> 01:15:41.590
in Pennsylvania with our
eight-year-old daughter.
01:15:41.590 --> 01:15:44.540
The only way we can communicate,
01:15:44.540 --> 01:15:46.363
is either by phone or email.
01:15:47.951 --> 01:15:51.400
And I noticed with me
being in another state
01:15:51.400 --> 01:15:53.200
the phone calls are very high
01:15:54.070 --> 01:15:57.030
sending me between 200 and 300 a month.
01:15:57.030 --> 01:15:59.720
And as previous callers have stated
01:15:59.720 --> 01:16:02.070
I am also being charged the extra fee
01:16:02.070 --> 01:16:06.750
between 595 and 795
unless I agree to add
01:16:06.750 --> 01:16:09.750
the extra couple of dollars in
order to get that free money,
01:16:10.690 --> 01:16:12.530
which I think is very unfair.
01:16:12.530 --> 01:16:14.100
My daughter has a heart condition
01:16:14.100 --> 01:16:16.170
so my husband does worry about her.
01:16:16.170 --> 01:16:19.820
I worry about my husband
as he is man of color
01:16:19.820 --> 01:16:22.023
and also has a heart
condition of his own.
01:16:22.950 --> 01:16:27.590
It's bad enough we have
to email also in JPay,
01:16:27.590 --> 01:16:29.640
takes several days for
emails to get through
01:16:29.640 --> 01:16:32.610
or come through on either behalf
01:16:32.610 --> 01:16:35.560
and the bond that he should be building
01:16:35.560 --> 01:16:39.230
with his daughter is not
being able to be done
01:16:39.230 --> 01:16:40.650
because the phone
calls are so expensive.
01:16:40.650 --> 01:16:43.920
And with my daughter
having a medical issue
01:16:43.920 --> 01:16:46.890
and with the lovely COVID,
01:16:46.890 --> 01:16:48.710
I have lost my job completely.
01:16:48.710 --> 01:16:50.490
And I'm the sole provider that's why
01:16:50.490 --> 01:16:53.630
I had to move out of
California back then.
01:16:53.630 --> 01:16:57.050
And I'm just asking all across the board
01:16:57.050 --> 01:17:00.210
as previous people
stated, certain facilities
01:17:00.210 --> 01:17:01.930
are able to get a free phone call
01:17:01.930 --> 01:17:06.583
where my husband is at, they
get two free stamps a week.
01:17:07.700 --> 01:17:09.850
My husband wants to be
able to talk to his daughter
01:17:09.850 --> 01:17:11.720
when he doesn't talk to his daughter
01:17:11.720 --> 01:17:13.580
he is stressed out, worried about her
01:17:13.580 --> 01:17:16.503
and he has been very depressed.
01:17:17.750 --> 01:17:20.370
And I want to thank
everybody for the time today
01:17:20.370 --> 01:17:24.680
to be able to speak
and take this opportunity
01:17:24.680 --> 01:17:27.343
to look at our concerns,
thank you so much.
01:17:30.740 --> 01:17:33.020
Thank you Ms.
Synan, I appreciate that.
01:17:33.020 --> 01:17:35.501
And sorry to hear
about those challenges.
01:17:35.501 --> 01:17:37.450
Thank you.
01:17:37.450 --> 01:17:39.890
I would like
to ask the operator
01:17:41.060 --> 01:17:44.160
just to confirm that individuals calling
01:17:44.160 --> 01:17:47.540
from within
incarceration facilities are,
01:17:47.540 --> 01:17:49.770
if you could confirm
that they are being moved
01:17:49.770 --> 01:17:51.570
to the front of the queue, please.
01:17:52.930 --> 01:17:54.350
That is correct.
01:17:54.350 --> 01:17:55.540
Okay, thank you very much.
01:17:55.540 --> 01:17:57.070
And I think if it's all right,
01:17:57.070 --> 01:17:58.310
we'll go ahead and take the
01:17:58.310 --> 01:18:00.330
Spanish call at this time.
01:18:12.334 --> 01:18:16.584
(man speaking in foreign language)
01:18:18.916 --> 01:18:23.583
(Patricia speaking in foreign language)
01:19:47.120 --> 01:19:49.333
Hello, my
name is Patricia Hernandez.
01:19:51.580 --> 01:19:53.150
I just want, I just have a question.
01:19:53.150 --> 01:19:56.200
I just wanted to talk about the cost.
01:19:56.200 --> 01:19:57.680
They are ridiculously high.
01:19:57.680 --> 01:20:00.113
I do have a brother
that's in a state prison.
01:20:01.180 --> 01:20:02.657
I am, I just have a question.
01:20:02.657 --> 01:20:04.780
And my only question
is that I wanted to see
01:20:04.780 --> 01:20:06.943
if there's a line available for Mexico.
01:20:08.260 --> 01:20:10.420
I do have my mom and dad that would like
01:20:10.420 --> 01:20:12.410
to hear from their son.
01:20:12.410 --> 01:20:15.537
He's been in jail for 15
years here in California.
01:20:15.537 --> 01:20:18.490
It's just a position
I would like for him
01:20:18.490 --> 01:20:21.330
to speak with the parents
as well as his children
01:20:21.330 --> 01:20:24.600
because it would make my mother happy.
01:20:24.600 --> 01:20:26.360
And you know, it's just a phone call
01:20:26.360 --> 01:20:27.570
that they're waiting from him.
01:20:27.570 --> 01:20:30.070
And it's just a desire that we have
01:20:30.070 --> 01:20:33.010
from the telecommunications,
just a petition.
01:20:33.010 --> 01:20:35.453
And I thank you all for everything.
01:20:37.880 --> 01:20:39.140
Thank you, Ms. Hernandez,
01:20:39.140 --> 01:20:41.480
for that comment and question
01:20:41.480 --> 01:20:42.313
and I'm not sure of the answer of that.
01:20:42.313 --> 01:20:44.520
(interpreter speaking
in foreign language)
01:20:44.520 --> 01:20:47.530
Whether or not it's
possible for individuals
01:20:47.530 --> 01:20:51.283
to call from incarceration
facilities currently to Mexico.
01:20:52.660 --> 01:20:53.493
It's not something
01:20:53.493 --> 01:20:55.420
we've heard about yet in this rulemaking
01:20:55.420 --> 01:20:57.320
but that's something we can look into.
01:20:58.480 --> 01:21:00.683
Thanks for that comment.
01:21:03.250 --> 01:21:04.540
Operator, if we could please
01:21:04.540 --> 01:21:06.183
take the next caller then?
01:21:11.547 --> 01:21:14.500
And our next
caller is Shawn Young,
01:21:14.500 --> 01:21:16.220
Sir, you may go ahead.
01:21:16.220 --> 01:21:18.080
Hi, can you hear me?
01:21:18.080 --> 01:21:19.610
Yes, we can.
01:21:19.610 --> 01:21:21.180
Awesome,
hi, my name is Shawn,
01:21:21.180 --> 01:21:25.960
Shawn Young that's S-H-A-W-N Y-O-U-N-G.
01:21:25.960 --> 01:21:28.400
I'm with the San Francisco
Financial Justice Project,
01:21:28.400 --> 01:21:32.170
and a member of the San
Francisco Jail Justice Coalition.
01:21:32.170 --> 01:21:34.340
The San Francisco Jail Justice Coalition
01:21:34.340 --> 01:21:35.840
is comprised of community groups
01:21:35.840 --> 01:21:37.890
and formerly incarcerated people
01:21:37.890 --> 01:21:39.530
who works up with the needs of justice
01:21:39.530 --> 01:21:41.450
involved people in San Francisco.
01:21:41.450 --> 01:21:43.640
And our coalition is calling on the CPUC
01:21:43.640 --> 01:21:45.800
to strengthen
justice-involved communities
01:21:45.800 --> 01:21:48.750
by cutting the prices on
calls in carceral facilities.
01:21:48.750 --> 01:21:50.350
Our coalition worked closely with the
01:21:50.350 --> 01:21:52.320
San Francisco sheriff
to make San Francisco
01:21:52.320 --> 01:21:53.550
the first County in the country
01:21:53.550 --> 01:21:55.300
to make jail phone calls free.
01:21:55.300 --> 01:21:56.770
Prior to our reforms, the price of
01:21:56.770 --> 01:21:58.370
jail phone calls strained incarcerated
01:21:58.370 --> 01:22:00.110
people's relationships with their
01:22:00.110 --> 01:22:02.380
support networks and
forced them to debt.
01:22:02.380 --> 01:22:03.760
But once phone calls became free
01:22:03.760 --> 01:22:05.730
incarcerated people
and their support networks
01:22:05.730 --> 01:22:08.620
now spend 80% more time in communication
01:22:08.620 --> 01:22:10.110
and no longer have to choose between
01:22:10.110 --> 01:22:11.870
hearing a loved one's voice and paying
01:22:11.870 --> 01:22:13.770
for rent, groceries, and food.
01:22:13.770 --> 01:22:15.690
Our coalition recently
asked people currently
01:22:15.690 --> 01:22:17.630
incarcerated in San
Francisco County jails
01:22:17.630 --> 01:22:19.567
about what free jail phone
calls has meant to them
01:22:19.567 --> 01:22:21.220
and what they would
like to tell the Commission
01:22:21.220 --> 01:22:22.710
as it considers this rulemaking.
01:22:22.710 --> 01:22:25.060
I'd like to read some
of their responses.
01:22:25.060 --> 01:22:26.410
One current-
If I could just,
01:22:26.410 --> 01:22:28.220
Sorry, Mr. Young, if I could just
01:22:28.220 --> 01:22:30.100
ask you to slow down
just a little bit for our
01:22:30.100 --> 01:22:32.630
court reporters we'd
appreciate it, thank you.
01:22:32.630 --> 01:22:36.060
Sure, so one
currently incarcerated person
01:22:36.060 --> 01:22:40.730
said quote before reforms
here in San Francisco
01:22:40.730 --> 01:22:43.550
jail phone calls were
extremely expensive.
01:22:43.550 --> 01:22:46.960
Now free, the impact on
myself has been astronomical.
01:22:46.960 --> 01:22:49.010
When I first was
incarcerated, I would rarely
01:22:49.010 --> 01:22:50.740
use the phone due to the cost.
01:22:50.740 --> 01:22:52.640
It was either that or commissary.
01:22:52.640 --> 01:22:54.640
Not having much money I chose to use
01:22:54.640 --> 01:22:56.090
the phone once a week and order
01:22:56.090 --> 01:22:58.770
the maximum amount
of food we could afford.
01:22:58.770 --> 01:23:00.380
Free calls have made it possible
01:23:00.380 --> 01:23:02.010
that I don't have to
choose between eating
01:23:02.010 --> 01:23:04.050
or speaking with my family.
01:23:04.050 --> 01:23:05.420
They no longer have to choose between
01:23:05.420 --> 01:23:07.940
helping feed me or the
rent, I don't know how
01:23:07.940 --> 01:23:09.970
to be more straightforward to that.
01:23:09.970 --> 01:23:11.210
They also said that they would like
01:23:11.210 --> 01:23:12.680
the Commission to know that
01:23:12.680 --> 01:23:15.340
phone calls make a
world of difference to us.
01:23:15.340 --> 01:23:17.430
Most incarcerated
individuals are the people
01:23:17.430 --> 01:23:20.930
society has written off,
the unwanted and poor.
01:23:20.930 --> 01:23:23.060
Don't force them to
deal with another struggle
01:23:23.060 --> 01:23:26.390
especially when it's 2021
and calls are so cheap.
01:23:26.390 --> 01:23:29.440
Another person said that
phone calls make it easy
01:23:29.440 --> 01:23:31.280
for them to stay in
touch with their family
01:23:31.280 --> 01:23:33.650
and that it's important
now more than ever
01:23:33.650 --> 01:23:35.660
because people's
families are struggling.
01:23:35.660 --> 01:23:37.670
I'd like to thank the
Commission for creating a space
01:23:37.670 --> 01:23:39.670
for incarcerated people to be heard.
01:23:39.670 --> 01:23:41.950
And for everyone who's already testified
01:23:41.950 --> 01:23:44.690
in uplifting this issue,
this rulemaking is
01:23:44.690 --> 01:23:46.620
an opportunity to uplift and invest
01:23:46.620 --> 01:23:48.657
in the most vulnerable
people in our state.
01:23:48.657 --> 01:23:49.840
And I hope that the Commission
01:23:49.840 --> 01:23:51.540
meets the moment, thank you.
01:23:52.970 --> 01:23:55.273
Thank you,
Mr. Young, appreciate that.
01:23:56.440 --> 01:23:59.100
I understand we do have about 15 callers
01:23:59.100 --> 01:24:02.240
left in the queue so we will carry on
01:24:02.240 --> 01:24:04.370
hearing those folks if you are listening
01:24:04.370 --> 01:24:06.440
and you would like to make the comments
01:24:06.440 --> 01:24:10.057
if we haven't done so yet you may press
01:24:10.057 --> 01:24:12.690
*1 on your phone and the operator
01:24:12.690 --> 01:24:15.963
will greet you and get you in the queue.
01:24:16.930 --> 01:24:19.010
With that, operator if we could please
01:24:20.170 --> 01:24:21.970
open up the line of our next caller.
01:24:23.860 --> 01:24:25.810
Our next
caller is Bastian,
01:24:25.810 --> 01:24:26.910
you may go ahead, sir.
01:24:27.860 --> 01:24:30.780
Hi, my
name is Bastian and
01:24:30.780 --> 01:24:35.520
my father works with
a Reentry organization
01:24:35.520 --> 01:24:38.460
and it's often very hard to look to
01:24:38.460 --> 01:24:42.350
who are getting out of
prison to enter society again,
01:24:42.350 --> 01:24:45.000
to have some sort of support network
01:24:46.080 --> 01:24:47.360
and a lot of over here people send,
01:24:47.360 --> 01:24:49.040
and a lot of people go back to prison.
01:24:49.040 --> 01:24:51.120
And one of the things
that matters the most
01:24:51.120 --> 01:24:55.140
is building a support
network while you're inside
01:24:55.140 --> 01:24:57.713
and having contact with people,
01:24:58.700 --> 01:25:00.010
having contact with the outside world
01:25:00.010 --> 01:25:03.070
while you're still inside
so that you can set up
01:25:03.070 --> 01:25:05.010
some plan for what you're going to do
01:25:05.010 --> 01:25:06.950
when you finally get out.
01:25:06.950 --> 01:25:10.240
And anything that can help that sort of
01:25:10.240 --> 01:25:15.240
communication work and is
something that's really vital.
01:25:16.230 --> 01:25:19.120
I think that people should,
that the Commission should
01:25:19.120 --> 01:25:23.893
look at the total amount
of money that's paid
01:25:25.870 --> 01:25:29.090
by the prisoner for the
purpose of making phone calls,
01:25:29.090 --> 01:25:34.090
not just the specific
permanent rates that's in the bill.
01:25:37.940 --> 01:25:41.700
That's all I had to say, thank you.
01:25:41.700 --> 01:25:44.673
Thank you, caller.
01:25:44.673 --> 01:25:47.710
I appreciate that and
yes, we are definitely
01:25:47.710 --> 01:25:50.840
taking a holistic look
at the rates charged
01:25:50.840 --> 01:25:54.350
not only first minute, per
minute but all of the fees.
01:25:54.350 --> 01:25:57.450
so appreciate your
comments and those of others
01:25:57.450 --> 01:26:00.900
who've raised the issue about the cost
01:26:00.900 --> 01:26:05.860
to put money into account
and the fees charged to that.
01:26:05.860 --> 01:26:08.870
So if the Commissioner
doesn't have any question,
01:26:08.870 --> 01:26:10.240
I'll go ahead and ask the operator
01:26:10.240 --> 01:26:12.513
to call the next caller if you could.
01:26:17.900 --> 01:26:20.220
Our next
caller is Amelia Peterson.
01:26:20.220 --> 01:26:21.070
You may go ahead.
01:26:23.250 --> 01:26:26.760
Good afternoon,
my name is Amelia Peterson.
01:26:26.760 --> 01:26:31.117
My first name is spelled A-M-E-L-I-A.
01:26:31.117 --> 01:26:36.117
And my last name is spelled
Peterson, P-E-T-E-R-S-O-N.
01:26:38.710 --> 01:26:41.280
Now I want to say thank you so much
01:26:41.280 --> 01:26:46.280
for allowing us to
express our points of view
01:26:46.420 --> 01:26:50.160
and to let you know
what's going on in our world.
01:26:50.160 --> 01:26:54.030
I have a viewpoint
of two different worlds.
01:26:54.030 --> 01:26:57.550
I've had loved ones that
have been incarcerated
01:26:57.550 --> 01:26:59.620
and I've visited them in prison.
01:26:59.620 --> 01:27:03.700
And I've also worked
for three different prisons.
01:27:03.700 --> 01:27:07.270
And I want to say
that I've actually done
01:27:07.270 --> 01:27:10.403
a cost analysis a couple of times.
01:27:11.290 --> 01:27:14.980
And on in-person visits when you're
01:27:14.980 --> 01:27:16.860
thinking about going to visits,
01:27:16.860 --> 01:27:19.698
you're thinking about
the traveling costs,
01:27:19.698 --> 01:27:21.940
the gas, the food while you're there,
01:27:21.940 --> 01:27:26.400
the hotel accommodations,
it's very expensive.
01:27:26.400 --> 01:27:30.870
When the pandemic hit
and they were discontinued
01:27:30.870 --> 01:27:33.990
in terms of the visits then we had to
01:27:33.990 --> 01:27:37.020
rely a lot on technology.
01:27:37.020 --> 01:27:40.340
And technology is an
absolutely great avenue
01:27:41.390 --> 01:27:44.940
to venture down, it's priceless.
01:27:44.940 --> 01:27:49.000
It's invaluable, but
technology needs to be
01:27:50.220 --> 01:27:54.070
available to all, it should be expanded
01:27:54.070 --> 01:27:56.440
and it should be kept reasonable.
01:27:56.440 --> 01:28:00.060
So you have the phone
calls, you have the ability
01:28:00.060 --> 01:28:03.830
to acquire tablets which
are absolutely wonderful.
01:28:03.830 --> 01:28:06.620
On those tablets you can email,
01:28:06.620 --> 01:28:10.250
you can send pictures,
you can do video chats.
01:28:10.250 --> 01:28:14.280
You can send electronic card,
01:28:14.280 --> 01:28:17.130
you can even pursue your education.
01:28:17.130 --> 01:28:19.100
So again, technology is critical.
01:28:19.100 --> 01:28:21.550
It's crucial and it's key.
01:28:21.550 --> 01:28:24.010
It just needs to be kept reasonable
01:28:24.010 --> 01:28:27.670
because it truly is a
lifeline for communication
01:28:27.670 --> 01:28:31.150
to loved ones who are
experiencing trauma,
01:28:31.150 --> 01:28:34.730
mental health, depression, loneliness.
01:28:34.730 --> 01:28:36.640
And I've seen this firsthand
01:28:36.640 --> 01:28:38.830
from my own personal loved ones
01:28:38.830 --> 01:28:41.380
and from working inside of prisons.
01:28:41.380 --> 01:28:45.210
So I just want to say
that we should always
01:28:45.210 --> 01:28:47.810
keep technology and expand it,
01:28:47.810 --> 01:28:49.363
but just keep it reasonable.
01:28:52.460 --> 01:28:55.803
Thank you Ms.
Peterson for that perspective
01:28:55.803 --> 01:29:00.130
and the focus on
technologies that you added
01:29:00.130 --> 01:29:03.373
and keeping that cost
reasonable it's very helpful.
01:29:05.380 --> 01:29:09.190
You're welcome,
thank you so much.
01:29:09.190 --> 01:29:10.510
You're welcome.
01:29:10.510 --> 01:29:12.910
Operator, could you
please call our next caller?
01:29:14.630 --> 01:29:17.373
Yes, our
next caller is number 16,
01:29:18.240 --> 01:29:19.340
sir, you may go ahead.
01:29:20.580 --> 01:29:23.030
Hi, my name is Anthony,
01:29:23.030 --> 01:29:27.950
A-N-T-H-O-N-Y, Salvatierra
01:29:27.950 --> 01:29:32.950
S-A-L V as in Victor, A-T-I-E-R-R-A.
01:29:35.080 --> 01:29:39.390
I am currently incarcerated
in Madera County Jail.
01:29:39.390 --> 01:29:43.290
I've been here since December of 2017.
01:29:43.290 --> 01:29:45.600
I'm a father to three children.
01:29:45.600 --> 01:29:49.450
I'm a husband, I'm a son and this,
01:29:49.450 --> 01:29:51.400
first and foremost I'd like to thank
01:29:51.400 --> 01:29:53.120
you guys for putting this on.
01:29:53.120 --> 01:29:55.270
And I just like to be quick, obviously
01:29:55.270 --> 01:29:56.870
I know we're on a time limit but
01:29:57.710 --> 01:29:58.860
a couple of things I wanted to bring up
01:29:58.860 --> 01:30:01.280
that I haven't heard so far this day
01:30:01.280 --> 01:30:04.140
as far as the comments
that have come in,
01:30:04.140 --> 01:30:08.320
I think a big focus on
getting the rates reduced
01:30:08.320 --> 01:30:11.150
has to be on how ambiguous the law is
01:30:11.150 --> 01:30:14.303
on how jails go about
charging us things.
01:30:15.654 --> 01:30:17.920
The law really just makes jail
01:30:17.920 --> 01:30:19.460
give us a minimum standards of being
01:30:19.460 --> 01:30:22.323
reasonable access to a telephone.
01:30:23.300 --> 01:30:26.300
Now, that's obviously very
big as reasonable access
01:30:26.300 --> 01:30:28.700
that they then leave it up to the jail
01:30:28.700 --> 01:30:33.380
by stating that judiciaries
have to, you know
01:30:33.380 --> 01:30:35.800
give way to jail administrations
01:30:35.800 --> 01:30:37.750
'cause they know how
to run the jail the best.
01:30:37.750 --> 01:30:40.250
So then reasonable access is basically
01:30:40.250 --> 01:30:43.160
given up to whoever's
running the jail at that time.
01:30:43.160 --> 01:30:47.320
For us, even before
COVID, we were only getting
01:30:47.320 --> 01:30:51.640
one hour outside of our
cell with access to a phone.
01:30:51.640 --> 01:30:53.220
And that was even before COVID.
01:30:53.220 --> 01:30:56.920
So it's not really in whose
eyes is it reasonable?
01:30:56.920 --> 01:30:59.598
So I think really too is changing
01:30:59.598 --> 01:31:03.210
the wording used or at
least getting some type
01:31:03.210 --> 01:31:06.210
of ruling and definition
as to what that means.
01:31:06.210 --> 01:31:09.340
Secondly, here within
Madera County Jail,
01:31:09.340 --> 01:31:11.310
we utilize Securus.
01:31:11.310 --> 01:31:16.150
Phone calls are $15, which
obviously is very excessive.
01:31:16.150 --> 01:31:20.130
And once you make that call
and once that call is accepted
01:31:20.130 --> 01:31:22.970
no matter how long you
were on that phone call,
01:31:22.970 --> 01:31:25.630
even if it is for 90 seconds,
01:31:25.630 --> 01:31:29.123
you still pay the full $15 per...
01:31:30.230 --> 01:31:33.230
And if my line is cut
off, if the call is dropped,
01:31:33.230 --> 01:31:36.260
accidentally hung up or
anything of that nature,
01:31:36.260 --> 01:31:39.080
it is $15 and that's it.
01:31:39.080 --> 01:31:41.990
And I mean, common
sense would state that
01:31:41.990 --> 01:31:43.143
that's unfair you know.
01:31:43.990 --> 01:31:47.600
Also, specifically in the
Madera County Jail 'cause
01:31:48.530 --> 01:31:50.210
me personally have
been fighting this fight
01:31:50.210 --> 01:31:51.230
'cause I've been incarcerated
01:31:51.230 --> 01:31:52.750
almost three and a half years now
01:31:52.750 --> 01:31:55.260
and I'm only a pretrial detainee.
01:31:55.260 --> 01:31:57.070
I have not been convicted of any crime.
01:31:57.070 --> 01:31:59.130
I pled not guilty and I'm currently
01:31:59.130 --> 01:32:01.180
fighting my case
within the court system.
01:32:02.150 --> 01:32:04.530
Here specifically and I'm quoting
01:32:04.530 --> 01:32:05.910
a profit and loss statement from the
01:32:05.910 --> 01:32:08.650
Humane Welfare Fund
in the Madera County Jail,
01:32:08.650 --> 01:32:12.910
Commission that they have
profited from phones alone
01:32:12.910 --> 01:32:16.660
from the inmates is $96,861.41
01:32:16.660 --> 01:32:21.410
for that year of January
2018 to June of 2019.
01:32:21.410 --> 01:32:24.200
In one year, the jail has made
01:32:24.200 --> 01:32:27.753
a hundred thousand dollars in
profit on phone Commissions.
01:32:29.070 --> 01:32:32.890
These Commissions are
then justified by expenses.
01:32:32.890 --> 01:32:36.180
Expenses included
bottled water, over $1,000
01:32:36.180 --> 01:32:38.250
which inmates here in Madera County Jail
01:32:38.250 --> 01:32:40.290
do not receive bottled water.
01:32:40.290 --> 01:32:42.873
So, we don't see a lot of water here.
01:32:44.270 --> 01:32:47.260
Over, let's see here going down to
01:32:47.260 --> 01:32:49.260
another ridiculous expense would be like
01:32:52.900 --> 01:32:57.787
salaries $141,201.80.
01:32:59.850 --> 01:33:03.030
So over $140,000 in someone's salary
01:33:03.030 --> 01:33:05.453
that our phoning Commissions are paying.
01:33:06.510 --> 01:33:11.510
Recreation, things like
newspapers and let's see
01:33:12.040 --> 01:33:14.880
there's just several, their
cellular phone service
01:33:15.720 --> 01:33:16.840
here within Madera County jail
01:33:16.840 --> 01:33:19.320
$2,200 on cellular phones service.
01:33:19.320 --> 01:33:21.900
We don't have a cell phone, none of us
01:33:21.900 --> 01:33:23.060
have access to a cell phone.
01:33:23.060 --> 01:33:24.960
So there are things that these expenses
01:33:24.960 --> 01:33:27.680
are being justified
and they're justifying
01:33:27.680 --> 01:33:29.510
the phone money that they're taking
01:33:29.510 --> 01:33:32.240
from our phones and
charging us and our families.
01:33:32.240 --> 01:33:35.030
And they're justifying it with expenses
01:33:35.030 --> 01:33:37.287
that don't have nothing
to do with inmates.
01:33:37.287 --> 01:33:39.430
And I think that going forward here is,
01:33:39.430 --> 01:33:42.140
it's how jails can spend their money.
01:33:42.140 --> 01:33:44.350
When they try to,
obviously in this process
01:33:44.350 --> 01:33:45.850
you guys are gonna say,
hey, you're talking too much.
01:33:45.850 --> 01:33:46.683
They're going to say, hey, well
01:33:46.683 --> 01:33:48.660
it costs money to run
a jail, it costs money
01:33:48.660 --> 01:33:51.440
to put phones in and
things like that but
01:33:51.440 --> 01:33:54.060
laws that make it clear how a jail
01:33:54.060 --> 01:33:58.060
can use the money
is equally as important
01:33:58.060 --> 01:34:01.040
on how much money they charge because
01:34:01.040 --> 01:34:02.630
we can always say like,
hey, we need more money,
01:34:02.630 --> 01:34:05.020
we need more money, but
well, where's that money going?
01:34:05.020 --> 01:34:07.420
And I think that has
a lot to do with reform
01:34:07.420 --> 01:34:11.480
as far as how much
money they can charge.
01:34:11.480 --> 01:34:14.690
I also think that there's a
compelling state interest.
01:34:14.690 --> 01:34:16.550
When we look to the
future, everyone's talking
01:34:16.550 --> 01:34:18.670
about how it's been affected them now
01:34:18.670 --> 01:34:20.750
and how their families are affected now.
01:34:20.750 --> 01:34:22.160
But we really have
to look to the future.
01:34:22.160 --> 01:34:24.750
Everyone knows that if
your father is incarcerated
01:34:24.750 --> 01:34:26.800
the son has a harder time in growing.
01:34:26.800 --> 01:34:29.280
But if we can increase
the amount of time
01:34:29.280 --> 01:34:32.140
that a father can spend
schooling and teaching
01:34:32.140 --> 01:34:34.490
his son to be especially,
01:34:34.490 --> 01:34:36.523
with rehabilitation in everyone's mind.
01:34:37.500 --> 01:34:39.840
I applaud the California justice system
01:34:39.840 --> 01:34:42.300
for giving us so many access to therapy,
01:34:42.300 --> 01:34:45.830
mental health, you know,
high school diplomas,
01:34:45.830 --> 01:34:47.500
GEDS and things of that nature.
01:34:47.500 --> 01:34:50.440
I applaud that and we need those things
01:34:50.440 --> 01:34:51.870
but we also need to
be there to be able to
01:34:51.870 --> 01:34:53.530
teach our children the
things that we've learned
01:34:53.530 --> 01:34:56.003
as we're becoming better
men behind these walls.
01:34:56.860 --> 01:34:59.450
We need access to our
families to teach our sons
01:34:59.450 --> 01:35:02.870
so that they can avoid the
troubles that we've got into.
01:35:02.870 --> 01:35:06.040
And the only way to do
so is on this telephone
01:35:06.040 --> 01:35:09.540
and $15 a call and for 15-minutes,
01:35:09.540 --> 01:35:12.553
just it isn't realistic to raise a child
01:35:12.553 --> 01:35:14.920
in any circumstance I mean, obviously
01:35:14.920 --> 01:35:16.940
being incarcerated isn't a
good circumstance either
01:35:16.940 --> 01:35:19.740
but we can only make things better.
01:35:19.740 --> 01:35:22.500
So in all reality, it's kind
of like a moral-ethical
01:35:22.500 --> 01:35:26.590
and almost, you know, sympathetic cause.
01:35:26.590 --> 01:35:28.920
And there's really
interest for all of us
01:35:28.920 --> 01:35:31.620
because we're going to
choose the next generation
01:35:31.620 --> 01:35:33.230
and we might not see it here and now
01:35:33.230 --> 01:35:35.330
but you're definitely going to improve.
01:35:35.330 --> 01:35:38.680
And at the end of the
day, economically even.
01:35:38.680 --> 01:35:39.897
The less people that are incarcerated
01:35:39.897 --> 01:35:41.780
for the next five, 10, 15 years
01:35:41.780 --> 01:35:44.080
the less money you have
to spend on incarceration.
01:35:44.080 --> 01:35:45.850
And then that's enough
whole another budget
01:35:45.850 --> 01:35:47.760
that we can finally cut down because
01:35:47.760 --> 01:35:50.290
man are in their children's lives
01:35:50.290 --> 01:35:52.257
men are changing themselves,
becoming better people,
01:35:52.257 --> 01:35:53.780
and when then they're
able to communicate
01:35:53.780 --> 01:35:55.460
those better things to their children
01:35:55.460 --> 01:35:57.410
and then their children
make better choices
01:35:57.410 --> 01:35:59.860
and then we can incarcerate less people.
01:35:59.860 --> 01:36:02.040
So what you guys
are doing here is great.
01:36:02.040 --> 01:36:04.870
And there's a lot of work
to be done, obviously
01:36:04.870 --> 01:36:08.600
but it kinda, it really
needs to start with
01:36:08.600 --> 01:36:11.750
how jails are operated,
how their money is spent
01:36:11.750 --> 01:36:14.910
and where that money can be used to fund
01:36:14.910 --> 01:36:17.610
inmates rehabilitation, and you know-
01:36:17.610 --> 01:36:20.810
Right, thank you.
01:36:20.810 --> 01:36:22.290
Thank you, Mr. Salvatierra,
01:36:22.290 --> 01:36:24.860
we really appreciate that perspective
01:36:24.860 --> 01:36:27.610
and I'm glad you were
able to join us today.
01:36:27.610 --> 01:36:30.100
Commissioner, did you have a question?
01:36:30.100 --> 01:36:32.360
Yes, thank you.
01:36:32.360 --> 01:36:35.720
Of course, we have no jurisdiction
01:36:35.720 --> 01:36:38.690
on defining what
reasonable access will be
01:36:38.690 --> 01:36:43.460
but I did want to ask,
it sounded like perhaps
01:36:43.460 --> 01:36:47.820
you were reading from
something on the expenditures
01:36:47.820 --> 01:36:51.190
of where this Commission
revenue was going.
01:36:51.190 --> 01:36:54.603
Is there a particular document
that you're reading from?
01:36:56.130 --> 01:36:57.260
I'm personally referring
01:36:57.260 --> 01:36:59.860
to the inmate welfare
fund profit and loss
01:36:59.860 --> 01:37:04.187
January, excuse me, July
2018 through June 2019.
01:37:04.187 --> 01:37:08.080
And what this is specifically
if you're not aware
01:37:08.080 --> 01:37:10.650
is there is within the
California institution
01:37:10.650 --> 01:37:13.500
jails have to create a fund that
01:37:13.500 --> 01:37:16.580
the law States has to
be reasonably profitable.
01:37:16.580 --> 01:37:20.478
And this is a tax that is
added to our commissary
01:37:20.478 --> 01:37:24.607
our iCare, our Kiosks,
our phone, things like that.
01:37:24.607 --> 01:37:27.810
And that tax is then
collected and used for,
01:37:27.810 --> 01:37:30.053
allegedly used for
the benefit of inmates.
01:37:31.320 --> 01:37:33.980
And I know that personally,
01:37:33.980 --> 01:37:36.840
I would forward that tax and you know,
01:37:36.840 --> 01:37:38.940
get rid of the gardening
and things of that nature
01:37:38.940 --> 01:37:42.330
to make my phone calls
cheaper, you know what I mean?
01:37:42.330 --> 01:37:45.450
Yeah, and
this is something you're reading
01:37:45.450 --> 01:37:49.073
for the County of Madera
or the city of Madera.
01:37:49.073 --> 01:37:51.243
This is the
County of Madera.
01:37:53.230 --> 01:37:55.800
Okay,
thank you very much.
01:37:55.800 --> 01:37:57.363
No problem, thank you.
01:37:58.760 --> 01:38:01.190
Okay, thanks,
Mr. Salvatierra.
01:38:01.190 --> 01:38:03.763
Operator if we could
take the next call, please.
01:38:06.103 --> 01:38:09.000
And our next
caller is Jessica Nihar.
01:38:09.000 --> 01:38:09.850
You may go ahead.
01:38:13.520 --> 01:38:16.010
Yes, may
name is Jessica Nihar.
01:38:16.010 --> 01:38:19.693
My loved one is actually
at Calipatria State prison.
01:38:21.736 --> 01:38:23.190
I want to thank you guys
for taking the phone call,
01:38:23.190 --> 01:38:26.013
and actually even
considering lowering our cost.
01:38:29.070 --> 01:38:31.383
I just feel like the
costs are really high.
01:38:32.470 --> 01:38:35.460
Also, there's a lot of people that feel
01:38:35.460 --> 01:38:37.960
like they're alone and that
people forgot about them.
01:38:37.960 --> 01:38:39.750
They see the, you know, the high rates
01:38:39.750 --> 01:38:42.460
especially with this pandemic going on.
01:38:42.460 --> 01:38:46.130
And a lot of people lost jobs hours
01:38:46.130 --> 01:38:50.000
even if it is a job that
they did, hour cuts.
01:38:50.000 --> 01:38:53.770
And I just wanted to take the time
01:38:53.770 --> 01:38:55.714
to tell you guys that
we appreciate the fact
01:38:55.714 --> 01:38:58.423
that you guys are even
considering lowering the cost.
01:38:59.264 --> 01:39:02.620
That's pretty pricey and
guilty or not, you know,
01:39:02.620 --> 01:39:04.300
I don't feel like any
loved ones should feel
01:39:04.300 --> 01:39:08.140
like they are forgotten,
like I said, or even alone
01:39:08.140 --> 01:39:12.853
because of the high
costs on these phone calls.
01:39:14.990 --> 01:39:16.340
That's all I wanted to say.
01:39:17.850 --> 01:39:19.020
Thank you, Ms. Nihar,
01:39:19.020 --> 01:39:20.833
appreciate your perspective.
01:39:23.640 --> 01:39:25.890
Operator, could we
take the next call please?
01:39:28.170 --> 01:39:30.200
Our next
caller is Tanya.
01:39:30.200 --> 01:39:31.050
You may go ahead.
01:39:32.950 --> 01:39:35.410
Okay, hello, it
was mentioned earlier
01:39:35.410 --> 01:39:37.830
that some of the revenues generated
01:39:37.830 --> 01:39:40.400
from the additional fees
charged on these calls,
01:39:40.400 --> 01:39:43.810
support other programs
and there were no details
01:39:43.810 --> 01:39:46.340
that were provided on
what these programs were.
01:39:46.340 --> 01:39:50.250
And if, I mean and who they benefit
01:39:50.250 --> 01:39:53.240
do they benefit the inmate
or in some way the family,
01:39:53.240 --> 01:39:55.470
if not is it really necessary to include
01:39:55.470 --> 01:39:57.680
these additional fees for some service
01:39:57.680 --> 01:40:00.260
that we already cannot afford?
01:40:00.260 --> 01:40:02.290
I would like to propose that to remove
01:40:02.290 --> 01:40:05.140
these fees that support other programs
01:40:05.140 --> 01:40:08.190
or use the revenue generated by them
01:40:08.190 --> 01:40:11.540
to benefit the families in
some ways, for example,
01:40:11.540 --> 01:40:14.980
supporting programs
to benefit the inmates
01:40:14.980 --> 01:40:19.640
with resources that they
will need upon their release.
01:40:19.640 --> 01:40:22.960
So, I mean, there could be
a better way to use the fee
01:40:22.960 --> 01:40:26.023
if it's really not benefiting
us and we're paying for it.
01:40:27.720 --> 01:40:30.130
The current cost of the
fee structure right now
01:40:30.130 --> 01:40:33.370
it seems very excessive
and unreasonable.
01:40:33.370 --> 01:40:35.530
And it appears that these
companies are exploiting
01:40:35.530 --> 01:40:38.140
and benefiting from
our distresses because
01:40:38.140 --> 01:40:41.870
for me, it's essential to my
mental and physical health
01:40:41.870 --> 01:40:43.730
that I stay in contact with my families
01:40:43.730 --> 01:40:45.560
who are incarcerated and I'm sure that
01:40:45.560 --> 01:40:48.030
many other families feel
the same way that I do
01:40:48.030 --> 01:40:49.590
that it is essential for them and that
01:40:49.590 --> 01:40:52.610
we're even willing to
suffer and go without
01:40:52.610 --> 01:40:54.450
other necessities to make sure that
01:40:54.450 --> 01:40:57.410
we're getting what we that contact
01:40:57.410 --> 01:40:59.060
with those that we love.
01:40:59.060 --> 01:41:01.790
So it seems insensitive and harsh
01:41:01.790 --> 01:41:06.400
for this company to unfairly
profit from our hardship.
01:41:06.400 --> 01:41:09.970
So I just wanted to
say that I do appreciate
01:41:09.970 --> 01:41:13.070
any consideration for the
reduction in these costs
01:41:13.070 --> 01:41:15.290
or anything that can
be given that is free
01:41:16.290 --> 01:41:18.670
for the services that we need because
01:41:18.670 --> 01:41:22.260
we really do need to stay
in touch with our loved ones.
01:41:22.260 --> 01:41:27.260
And hopefully, the board will vote that
01:41:27.730 --> 01:41:30.270
to reduce these
charges or to restructure it
01:41:30.270 --> 01:41:32.033
in some way. thank you.
01:41:33.570 --> 01:41:35.580
Thank you, Tanya.
01:41:35.580 --> 01:41:39.160
And yes, we are looking at the costs
01:41:39.160 --> 01:41:41.580
of providing these services.
01:41:41.580 --> 01:41:44.120
And as part of that,
we are looking at the
01:41:44.120 --> 01:41:48.210
Commission fees that are charged
01:41:48.210 --> 01:41:50.300
and which sometimes then are used
01:41:50.300 --> 01:41:52.190
towards programs in the facilities.
01:41:52.190 --> 01:41:54.160
So thanks for raising that program
01:41:54.160 --> 01:41:56.910
as well as some of the
previous callers mentioned that.
01:42:00.160 --> 01:42:02.660
Operator, we'll take the next caller
01:42:02.660 --> 01:42:03.560
when you're ready.
01:42:05.590 --> 01:42:07.810
And the next
caller is William Palmer.
01:42:07.810 --> 01:42:09.660
Go ahead, William, your line is open.
01:42:11.310 --> 01:42:13.380
Hello, my
name is William Palmer.
01:42:13.380 --> 01:42:15.760
I'm also with legal
services for prisoners
01:42:15.760 --> 01:42:19.320
and children, and All of Us or None.
01:42:19.320 --> 01:42:21.250
I am a member of the San Francisco
01:42:21.250 --> 01:42:25.960
Jail justice coalition, the
San Francisco jail coalition.
01:42:25.960 --> 01:42:30.960
And I helped to
eliminate calls in prison.
01:42:32.550 --> 01:42:36.120
I'm calling to share my
lived experience as well.
01:42:36.120 --> 01:42:39.040
I served 31 years and 22 days,
01:42:39.040 --> 01:42:42.870
the court deemed that 23 years of those
01:42:42.870 --> 01:42:46.720
31 were constituted
excessive punishment.
01:42:46.720 --> 01:42:50.270
During that time, my mother would ask me
01:42:50.270 --> 01:42:53.810
to call once a month
because the price of calling
01:42:53.810 --> 01:42:56.330
at that time was so high that she just
01:42:56.330 --> 01:42:57.963
couldn't afford to speak to me.
01:42:59.140 --> 01:43:02.650
There were times where I
bought or used cell phones.
01:43:02.650 --> 01:43:05.970
And at that time I was
able to speak to her
01:43:05.970 --> 01:43:09.680
whenever I wanted,
as long as I needed and
01:43:11.195 --> 01:43:14.000
a long time, me and my
father were disconnected.
01:43:14.000 --> 01:43:15.830
He was in prison while I was free
01:43:15.830 --> 01:43:19.310
and I was in prison, he was
free while I was in prison.
01:43:19.310 --> 01:43:22.430
And so we were trying to
arrange a meeting with each other
01:43:23.330 --> 01:43:27.400
to be able to catch up and,
you know, bridge that gap.
01:43:27.400 --> 01:43:29.540
So one of those times
I used the cell phone
01:43:29.540 --> 01:43:31.890
and we talked for quite a long time.
01:43:31.890 --> 01:43:35.530
We caught up when I used
from birth to about age 40.
01:43:35.530 --> 01:43:37.860
And it was so similar his life and mine
01:43:37.860 --> 01:43:40.080
that I started to understand myself
01:43:40.080 --> 01:43:43.190
and I was looking forward
to talking to him some more.
01:43:43.190 --> 01:43:44.789
However, a week after that
01:43:44.789 --> 01:43:47.230
on father's day he passed away.
01:43:47.230 --> 01:43:49.490
My mother passed away about a year or so
01:43:49.490 --> 01:43:52.730
after that and I wasn't able to
01:43:52.730 --> 01:43:55.620
speak at the funeral,
whether over a phone or not.
01:43:55.620 --> 01:43:58.210
Those years in those
times and that connection
01:43:58.210 --> 01:44:01.320
had been stripped of me from the
01:44:01.320 --> 01:44:06.320
illegal practices of
CDCR not only in time
01:44:07.220 --> 01:44:10.090
that they took from my life but creating
01:44:10.090 --> 01:44:14.810
economics slavery by using phone calls
01:44:14.810 --> 01:44:16.980
as a form of disconnect.
01:44:16.980 --> 01:44:20.210
These policies have been
around since reconstruction,
01:44:20.210 --> 01:44:22.820
Jim Crow laws and so on and so forth.
01:44:22.820 --> 01:44:26.330
Economic slavery is placed upon those
01:44:26.330 --> 01:44:30.737
who are financially
burdened by a war on crime,
01:44:30.737 --> 01:44:33.250
war on property, war on education.
01:44:33.250 --> 01:44:36.380
So with that, I like to
read some of the testimony
01:44:36.380 --> 01:44:40.380
of that also in jails
that we sent a survey to
01:44:40.380 --> 01:44:42.690
when we asked them
that if they had a chance
01:44:42.690 --> 01:44:44.990
to speak to you today
what would they say
01:44:44.990 --> 01:44:47.470
about jail phone calls and the impact
01:44:48.453 --> 01:44:50.810
to your time in jail
and one of them said,
01:44:50.810 --> 01:44:54.010
speaking with my family
helped my mental health
01:44:54.010 --> 01:44:56.390
and made it easier for me.
01:44:56.390 --> 01:44:58.610
Another questioned
how has free phone calls
01:44:58.610 --> 01:45:02.020
impacted your family and
support network outside?
01:45:02.020 --> 01:45:04.170
It has helped us financially,
01:45:04.170 --> 01:45:07.750
the phone calls are not a burden.
01:45:07.750 --> 01:45:10.760
And last, what would you like the CA
01:45:10.760 --> 01:45:12.930
public utility Commission to understand
01:45:12.930 --> 01:45:15.940
about the importance of phone calls
01:45:15.940 --> 01:45:19.030
to incarcerated people and their family?
01:45:19.030 --> 01:45:21.640
The phone calls and
they said, this is a quote
01:45:21.640 --> 01:45:23.820
from a person incarcerated,
01:45:23.820 --> 01:45:26.180
the phone calls are important for us
01:45:26.180 --> 01:45:28.690
in our families to keep us connected
01:45:28.690 --> 01:45:31.600
and we can get help when we meet.
01:45:31.600 --> 01:45:34.610
I like to, and with
that, I'd like to just
01:45:34.610 --> 01:45:38.810
wrap up by saying, I would like...
01:45:38.810 --> 01:45:41.410
I'm coping 'cause I
would like the Commission
01:45:41.410 --> 01:45:43.600
to make phone calls free.
01:45:43.600 --> 01:45:48.200
It is a small step in a large journey
01:45:48.200 --> 01:45:51.150
of any mass incarceration and the
01:45:51.150 --> 01:45:53.630
involuntary servitude
in our constitution
01:45:53.630 --> 01:45:55.290
that we are trying to get removed,
01:45:55.290 --> 01:45:57.570
but it's a small step and removing
01:45:57.570 --> 01:46:01.600
the vastitude of Jim
Crow and re-incarceration
01:46:01.600 --> 01:46:03.380
of former slaves and their descendants
01:46:03.380 --> 01:46:06.590
and people of disadvantage
and low-income neighborhoods.
01:46:06.590 --> 01:46:08.250
Thank you for your patience and time
01:46:08.250 --> 01:46:10.190
and your consideration
in making phone calls
01:46:10.190 --> 01:46:13.963
free for all those in prison.
01:46:16.060 --> 01:46:17.610
Okay, thank
you, Mr. Palmer,
01:46:17.610 --> 01:46:19.010
appreciate your perspective.
01:46:21.230 --> 01:46:23.730
Operator, if we could
please take the next caller.
01:46:30.850 --> 01:46:32.750
And before
we go to the next caller
01:46:32.750 --> 01:46:35.110
if a party do want to
make a public comment
01:46:35.110 --> 01:46:38.310
please press *1, unmute your phone.
01:46:38.310 --> 01:46:39.610
And if you are incarcerated,
01:46:39.610 --> 01:46:43.000
please state that when
prompted for your name
01:46:44.728 --> 01:46:46.913
and our next caller is Brenda Deese,
01:46:47.920 --> 01:46:48.770
you may go ahead.
01:46:51.370 --> 01:46:53.620
Hello, my
name is Brenda Deese.
01:46:53.620 --> 01:46:56.040
First of all, I could only hope
01:46:56.040 --> 01:46:59.810
for free phone calls
and access to technology
01:46:59.810 --> 01:47:02.020
such as tablets, JPay, et cetera
01:47:02.020 --> 01:47:05.873
to be available to incarcerated inmates.
01:47:06.900 --> 01:47:09.010
Calls will always be a vital tool
01:47:09.010 --> 01:47:13.050
to an inmate success now
and after this pandemic.
01:47:13.050 --> 01:47:17.570
Rates should, at a
minimum be discounted rates
01:47:17.570 --> 01:47:19.373
or fair and reasonable rates.
01:47:20.510 --> 01:47:22.803
Commission fees are a huge concern.
01:47:24.110 --> 01:47:27.200
Therefore, the only reason I could see
01:47:27.200 --> 01:47:30.360
for Commission fees
would be for programs
01:47:30.360 --> 01:47:33.023
providing inmate enrichment programs.
01:47:35.530 --> 01:47:38.700
And with that being said, I think that
01:47:38.700 --> 01:47:42.440
there should definitely be transparency
01:47:42.440 --> 01:47:46.720
concerning the revenue or
monies from Commission fees
01:47:47.910 --> 01:47:50.280
to make sure that it's being used for
01:47:51.270 --> 01:47:55.660
inmate rehabilitation
and education programs.
01:47:55.660 --> 01:47:57.873
And that it's actually
going to the inmate.
01:47:59.382 --> 01:48:00.230
(coughs)
01:48:00.230 --> 01:48:05.230
Excuse me, because
as it is I find it hard
01:48:05.580 --> 01:48:10.530
to understand how we can
reasonably expect anyone
01:48:10.530 --> 01:48:13.330
with limited resources to pay
01:48:13.330 --> 01:48:15.840
for their own rehabilitative programs.
01:48:15.840 --> 01:48:20.620
So please understand
that, if I could have it my way
01:48:20.620 --> 01:48:23.340
I would like to see the Commission fees
01:48:23.340 --> 01:48:25.700
did not exist because I don't think that
01:48:25.700 --> 01:48:28.123
we should be making
money off of our inmates.
01:48:29.450 --> 01:48:31.620
This place is an unrealistic burden
01:48:31.620 --> 01:48:33.367
on the inmate and the family.
01:48:33.367 --> 01:48:36.810
And remember their
successes also benefits
01:48:36.810 --> 01:48:40.720
our communities and
we really don't want to be
01:48:40.720 --> 01:48:42.893
a barrier to an inmates' success.
01:48:44.150 --> 01:48:46.657
I'm glad for the chance
to speak, thank you.
01:48:48.180 --> 01:48:49.730
Thank you, Ms. Geese.
01:48:51.340 --> 01:48:54.180
Yes, as we mentioned
earlier we are aware
01:48:54.180 --> 01:48:56.633
of the issue of Commission fees.
01:48:58.070 --> 01:49:01.100
Our role in looking
at this is to examine
01:49:01.100 --> 01:49:04.050
the actual cost of
providing the services.
01:49:04.050 --> 01:49:06.150
And that's what we'll be looking at
01:49:06.150 --> 01:49:10.413
when the Commission considers
regulating these charges.
01:49:13.570 --> 01:49:16.020
Commissioner, any comments
or questions from you,
01:49:17.030 --> 01:49:19.010
if not then operator if you could please
01:49:19.010 --> 01:49:20.073
call the next caller.
01:49:22.640 --> 01:49:25.550
Thank you, our
next caller is Sheree Rivera.
01:49:25.550 --> 01:49:28.137
You may go ahead, your line is open.
01:49:30.520 --> 01:49:31.510
Hi there.
01:49:31.510 --> 01:49:33.900
Thanks for this opportunity
01:49:33.900 --> 01:49:36.083
for us to give our comments.
01:49:37.310 --> 01:49:39.850
I guess I just wanted
to give a little bit
01:49:40.898 --> 01:49:43.370
of my experience with this.
01:49:43.370 --> 01:49:47.580
My dad is in state prison of
the California men's colony,
01:49:47.580 --> 01:49:51.433
which is hundreds of miles
away from any relative.
01:49:52.950 --> 01:49:55.620
As a full-time worker,
it's almost impossible
01:49:55.620 --> 01:50:00.210
for me to make it there more
than once, maybe twice a year.
01:50:00.210 --> 01:50:02.640
I am the only family member who's
01:50:02.640 --> 01:50:04.843
visited him in nearly 10 years.
01:50:07.250 --> 01:50:12.207
I also wanted to say that
his family like his mom,
01:50:13.320 --> 01:50:15.580
his brothers, none of
them take responsibility
01:50:15.580 --> 01:50:19.640
for providing for him
like for commissary
01:50:19.640 --> 01:50:23.920
or phone calls, letters, no
one accepts his phone calls.
01:50:23.920 --> 01:50:25.570
He doesn't have anyone to call.
01:50:25.570 --> 01:50:28.393
No one writes back to him
except for me and my brother.
01:50:29.520 --> 01:50:33.590
This undue burden shouldn't
fall upon people's children
01:50:35.720 --> 01:50:39.120
as I'm the sole supporter of my dad.
01:50:39.120 --> 01:50:44.120
And it's ridiculous
that there is a cost at all
01:50:45.840 --> 01:50:50.840
for people to stay in touch
with their families via phone.
01:50:51.540 --> 01:50:53.040
If San Francisco could do it,
01:50:53.040 --> 01:50:55.457
I think everywhere else can do it too.
01:50:56.670 --> 01:51:00.090
I push for calls to be
free, or at the very least
01:51:01.000 --> 01:51:02.780
if people could get one call a week
01:51:03.860 --> 01:51:06.563
and have a bare minimum fees.
01:51:07.490 --> 01:51:10.640
I also support implementing
better technology at prisons
01:51:10.640 --> 01:51:13.673
for families to have better
options of contacting.
01:51:14.800 --> 01:51:16.680
As I said before it's very difficult
01:51:16.680 --> 01:51:19.050
to see my father in person.
01:51:19.050 --> 01:51:21.763
I live in the Bay Area,
he's in San Francisco,
01:51:22.780 --> 01:51:27.780
it would take all day, it
takes all day to see him,
01:51:28.060 --> 01:51:31.650
and often it's, you
know just visiting him
01:51:31.650 --> 01:51:35.440
causes chronic pain,
it's a lot of gas money
01:51:35.440 --> 01:51:39.410
so yeah, there's just a huge
undue burden on families.
01:51:39.410 --> 01:51:42.583
And in my particular
situation, I'm his child.
01:51:43.720 --> 01:51:46.170
So yeah, I just wanted
to say that many people
01:51:46.170 --> 01:51:48.220
with incarcerated loved
ones can, you know,
01:51:48.220 --> 01:51:50.913
can't even afford the service.
01:51:52.059 --> 01:51:55.793
So I'd like to yield the rest
of my time and thank you.
01:51:57.680 --> 01:51:59.650
Thank you, Ms.
Rivera, appreciate that
01:51:59.650 --> 01:52:03.563
and sorry to hear about your
father's and your situation.
01:52:08.460 --> 01:52:10.810
Operator could we take
the next caller, please?
01:52:12.160 --> 01:52:15.203
Our next
caller is number 14.
01:52:16.040 --> 01:52:18.320
You may go ahead, your line is open.
01:52:18.320 --> 01:52:19.790
Thank you
for taking my call.
01:52:19.790 --> 01:52:21.210
I appreciate the fact that you're
01:52:21.210 --> 01:52:22.703
doing these public hearings.
01:52:23.566 --> 01:52:26.540
I am the mother of
an incarcerated person
01:52:26.540 --> 01:52:31.460
and I was excited when I
got the message from Securus
01:52:31.460 --> 01:52:35.360
that this meeting was
going to be available.
01:52:35.360 --> 01:52:39.260
I asked my son what
comments he would like
01:52:39.260 --> 01:52:41.113
me to make on his behalf.
01:52:42.937 --> 01:52:47.030
Our situation is that
we are retired parents
01:52:47.030 --> 01:52:49.743
and we have made
the decision to use funds
01:52:53.898 --> 01:52:58.220
to maintain daily
phone calls with our son.
01:52:58.220 --> 01:53:01.160
And from listening to the other callers,
01:53:01.160 --> 01:53:04.470
I think our fees are quite a bit less
01:53:04.470 --> 01:53:06.480
than they are dealing with.
01:53:06.480 --> 01:53:10.023
It may be because my son
is in a County jail facility.
01:53:11.810 --> 01:53:14.540
But one of the things he...
The thing he wanted me
01:53:14.540 --> 01:53:16.700
to express to you was that he felt like
01:53:16.700 --> 01:53:20.843
the telephone situation hindered people
01:53:23.470 --> 01:53:28.200
from receiving the legal representation
01:53:28.200 --> 01:53:30.183
that they should be able to receive.
01:53:31.640 --> 01:53:33.550
In our nation we're supposed to have
01:53:33.550 --> 01:53:37.110
equal rights under the
law and he feels like
01:53:37.110 --> 01:53:41.780
the limited access to
being able to contact
01:53:41.780 --> 01:53:44.550
legal help or to have
the legal help call in
01:53:44.550 --> 01:53:49.400
and contact them is a real problem.
01:53:49.400 --> 01:53:51.730
And that people don't
have the representation
01:53:51.730 --> 01:53:55.930
they should have because
the phone system is expensive.
01:53:55.930 --> 01:53:58.940
He said many of the men he encounters
01:53:58.940 --> 01:54:02.711
don't have access to building up
01:54:02.711 --> 01:54:05.833
a fund of money so that
they can make phone calls.
01:54:08.400 --> 01:54:09.833
That's all I have to say.
01:54:10.730 --> 01:54:11.900
Once again, thank you for
01:54:11.900 --> 01:54:13.783
the opportunity to make these.
01:54:15.910 --> 01:54:18.460
Thank you,
caller, appreciate that.
01:54:18.460 --> 01:54:21.440
That is something we
have heard about before.
01:54:21.440 --> 01:54:23.270
So it's helpful for you to bring that
01:54:23.270 --> 01:54:25.610
to our attention today and this hearing
01:54:25.610 --> 01:54:27.500
it hasn't been raised previously
01:54:27.500 --> 01:54:28.980
sometime it may be once or twice.
01:54:28.980 --> 01:54:31.343
So, thanks for those comments.
01:54:33.340 --> 01:54:35.830
Operator, could we take
the next caller, please?
01:54:37.250 --> 01:54:40.200
Yes, our
next caller is number 15.
01:54:40.200 --> 01:54:42.600
You may go ahead, your line is open.
01:54:42.600 --> 01:54:44.580
Hi, yes thank you so much
01:54:44.580 --> 01:54:47.200
for the space to share our experience.
01:54:47.200 --> 01:54:49.300
I have a loved one
in the SAC County jail
01:54:49.300 --> 01:54:52.060
and it's an extreme
financial burden for me
01:54:52.060 --> 01:54:55.050
and his parents just to
speak to him regularly.
01:54:55.050 --> 01:54:57.700
It's been emotionally
and mental health-wise
01:54:57.700 --> 01:55:00.440
particularly difficult
because visits were stopped
01:55:00.440 --> 01:55:03.360
for long periods of time
due to COVID concerns
01:55:03.360 --> 01:55:06.480
because he also
contracted COVID in the jail.
01:55:06.480 --> 01:55:08.390
And due to the fact
that the jail has opted
01:55:08.390 --> 01:55:11.480
to keep folks on the inside locked down
01:55:11.480 --> 01:55:14.440
often for 24 hours a
day for days at a time,
01:55:14.440 --> 01:55:16.710
whenever there have been nearby protest
01:55:16.710 --> 01:55:18.810
against police violence
against our communities
01:55:18.810 --> 01:55:23.810
as were started in the
summer, last summer.
01:55:24.390 --> 01:55:25.900
It's just been a real struggle
01:55:25.900 --> 01:55:27.700
for him to stay afloat emotionally
01:55:27.700 --> 01:55:29.840
and calls with me and
other family members
01:55:29.840 --> 01:55:32.180
have been the main connections he's had
01:55:32.180 --> 01:55:34.970
with the outside world for over a year.
01:55:34.970 --> 01:55:37.070
The calls are outrageously expensive
01:55:37.070 --> 01:55:38.340
and I was going to go through the math
01:55:38.340 --> 01:55:40.250
but I think that's
something that's easy to do
01:55:40.250 --> 01:55:42.170
and understand, and
other people have done that.
01:55:42.170 --> 01:55:43.750
So I'm going to skip it
but I am going to say this
01:55:43.750 --> 01:55:46.530
that the taxes go up with the fees.
01:55:46.530 --> 01:55:49.520
And so, you know, the
last time I put money
01:55:49.520 --> 01:55:52.900
I put a hundred bucks and I
had to pay 20 bucks in taxes.
01:55:52.900 --> 01:55:54.800
And then there was a fee as well
01:55:54.800 --> 01:55:56.540
and this is for the SAC County jail.
01:55:56.540 --> 01:55:57.810
So the last caller mentioned that
01:55:57.810 --> 01:56:00.130
County jails may not have to pay as much
01:56:00.130 --> 01:56:02.150
and that's just not true
in SAC County in fact,
01:56:02.150 --> 01:56:06.740
I called and found out that a lot of the
01:56:07.740 --> 01:56:10.900
costs in the California
state prison system
01:56:10.900 --> 01:56:12.740
are cheaper because that's where this
01:56:12.740 --> 01:56:14.300
loved one of mine is destined to go
01:56:14.300 --> 01:56:16.410
eventually once things move.
01:56:16.410 --> 01:56:18.260
So incarcerated people, many of whom
01:56:18.260 --> 01:56:19.830
are already lower
income are already being
01:56:19.830 --> 01:56:22.030
exploited for essential commissary items
01:56:22.030 --> 01:56:24.940
like food and toiletries
as was already mentioned.
01:56:24.940 --> 01:56:26.970
Phone calls with our
loved ones on the inside,
01:56:26.970 --> 01:56:28.960
let's just give them hope and care
01:56:28.960 --> 01:56:30.980
while they're in a cold
and uncaring place.
01:56:30.980 --> 01:56:32.410
My loved one says the talking to me
01:56:32.410 --> 01:56:34.410
is the very best part of his day.
01:56:34.410 --> 01:56:37.120
And it's hard to convey to me he says,
01:56:37.120 --> 01:56:39.770
how much it matters
to him to hear my voice
01:56:39.770 --> 01:56:41.720
and feel my love while
he's stuck somewhere
01:56:41.720 --> 01:56:43.790
that feels very, where
he feels very much
01:56:43.790 --> 01:56:46.660
uncared for him where he
was made ill with COVID.
01:56:46.660 --> 01:56:50.070
And after several months
still hasn't fully recovered.
01:56:50.070 --> 01:56:52.780
To allow companies
to make massive profits
01:56:52.780 --> 01:56:54.267
on the backs of incarcerated people
01:56:54.267 --> 01:56:57.260
and their loved ones is very inhumane
01:56:57.260 --> 01:57:00.400
and exploitative as a lot of people
01:57:00.400 --> 01:57:02.650
have already mentioned
and contrary, I think
01:57:02.650 --> 01:57:05.730
to what some callers
said previously here, that,
01:57:05.730 --> 01:57:08.150
you know it's just business
and they have to make a profit
01:57:08.150 --> 01:57:10.700
like honestly, the best word to describe
01:57:10.700 --> 01:57:15.090
what they're doing is
actually predatory in my mind.
01:57:15.090 --> 01:57:17.890
And also there's a
lot of evidence for that
01:57:17.890 --> 01:57:19.210
is one of the callers mentioned
01:57:19.210 --> 01:57:21.510
the nearly a hundred
thousand dollar profit
01:57:21.510 --> 01:57:23.853
in a year for these companies.
01:57:25.010 --> 01:57:27.510
So, the phone rates along with the fees
01:57:27.510 --> 01:57:30.230
and high taxes on
top of them, so unfair,
01:57:30.230 --> 01:57:32.380
and as you've heard
put great financial burden
01:57:32.380 --> 01:57:34.010
on family members
and loved ones like me.
01:57:34.010 --> 01:57:36.960
And I just urge you to
stop these companies
01:57:36.960 --> 01:57:40.120
from profiting off of
the misfortune of others.
01:57:40.120 --> 01:57:42.860
I urge you to remove
these extreme barriers
01:57:42.860 --> 01:57:44.850
to providing care and
love to our loved ones
01:57:44.850 --> 01:57:48.150
who are incarcerated and I
urge you to slash prices now,
01:57:48.150 --> 01:57:52.880
preferably making
them free as Mr. Palmer,
01:57:52.880 --> 01:57:55.860
which is very touching
story just mentioned
01:57:55.860 --> 01:57:58.864
and I was in tears
actually hearing about that.
01:57:58.864 --> 01:58:01.460
And I hope that that can make its way
01:58:01.460 --> 01:58:04.740
into your heart and help you act now
01:58:04.740 --> 01:58:07.040
if the other callers said
that if San Francisco
01:58:07.040 --> 01:58:08.550
can do it, so can the whole state.
01:58:08.550 --> 01:58:10.150
And I really believe that reducing
01:58:10.150 --> 01:58:13.340
jail and prison call
charges will give...
01:58:15.380 --> 01:58:17.530
By doing that you really have a chance
01:58:17.530 --> 01:58:20.000
to make a positive
difference in people's lives
01:58:20.000 --> 01:58:23.200
and promote a sense
of humanity in the world.
01:58:23.200 --> 01:58:27.270
So I urge you to do that
and I thank you so much
01:58:27.270 --> 01:58:29.183
for hearing me out, appreciate it.
01:58:31.100 --> 01:58:32.450
Great, thank you, caller.
01:58:32.450 --> 01:58:34.073
Appreciate your calling in.
01:58:35.240 --> 01:58:39.750
And yeah, we are looking at the charges
01:58:39.750 --> 01:58:44.750
call charged by the
providers who provide
01:58:45.390 --> 01:58:49.640
calling services in
federal prisons, state jails,
01:58:49.640 --> 01:58:52.753
County jails, and as our staff member
01:58:52.753 --> 01:58:55.880
Karo Serle mentioned as we got started,
01:58:55.880 --> 01:58:59.480
the rates do vary very widely between
01:58:59.480 --> 01:59:01.150
different County jails, as well
01:59:01.150 --> 01:59:03.550
as compared to the state system.
01:59:03.550 --> 01:59:05.507
So we are trying to
take a look at all that
01:59:05.507 --> 01:59:07.690
and we do appreciate your call.
01:59:07.690 --> 01:59:09.663
That's great,
thanks so much.
01:59:10.730 --> 01:59:13.680
Operator, could you
call our next caller, please.
01:59:16.870 --> 01:59:19.210
Our next
caller is, oh, sorry.
01:59:19.210 --> 01:59:21.933
Kelly Walters, you may
go ahead your line is open.
01:59:23.550 --> 01:59:25.960
Good afternoon,
members of the Commission.
01:59:25.960 --> 01:59:28.330
My name is Kelly Walter,
I'm calling on behalf
01:59:28.330 --> 01:59:31.900
of legal services for
prisoners and children.
01:59:31.900 --> 01:59:33.990
We advocate for incarcerated people,
01:59:33.990 --> 01:59:36.670
formerly incarcerated
people, and the families
01:59:36.670 --> 01:59:39.101
that are affected by such incarceration.
01:59:39.101 --> 01:59:40.510
(clears throat)
01:59:40.510 --> 01:59:42.500
I cannot overstate the importance
01:59:42.500 --> 01:59:44.270
of incarcerated persons need
01:59:44.270 --> 01:59:47.040
to maintain contact with their families.
01:59:47.040 --> 01:59:49.350
This affects their
well-being while inside,
01:59:49.350 --> 01:59:52.210
the likelihood that the
re-entry will be successful,
01:59:52.210 --> 01:59:54.480
in general, rates of recidivism.
01:59:54.480 --> 01:59:56.450
The astronomical fees required
01:59:56.450 --> 01:59:58.637
to maintain contact between families
01:59:58.637 --> 02:00:00.710
and their incarcerated loved ones
02:00:00.710 --> 02:00:03.200
makes this contact nearly impossible.
02:00:03.200 --> 02:00:07.110
As you've heard many
personal stories all afternoon.
02:00:07.110 --> 02:00:09.040
As it is, families of the incarcerated
02:00:09.040 --> 02:00:12.070
are among the most
vulnerable to impoverishment.
02:00:12.070 --> 02:00:15.440
Additionally, they are
disproportionately people of color.
02:00:15.440 --> 02:00:19.020
So for communications
companies such as Securus and GTL
02:00:19.020 --> 02:00:21.440
to prey on these
families with the threat
02:00:21.440 --> 02:00:23.960
of being entirely cut
off from their parents,
02:00:23.960 --> 02:00:25.620
siblings, and other family members
02:00:25.620 --> 02:00:28.460
is abhorrent and morally repugnant.
02:00:28.460 --> 02:00:30.610
Further for the state to
rely on these companies
02:00:30.610 --> 02:00:32.700
which gouged families is a violation
02:00:32.700 --> 02:00:35.120
of human rights and arguably a violation
02:00:35.120 --> 02:00:37.680
of due process and equal protection.
02:00:37.680 --> 02:00:41.150
As such we hope that
you will institute regulations
02:00:41.150 --> 02:00:44.240
that limit this exploitation
and value these families
02:00:44.240 --> 02:00:46.634
and their basic right
to remain together.
02:00:46.634 --> 02:00:48.393
I would like to thank you for your time.
02:00:50.370 --> 02:00:53.020
Thank you Ms.
Walters for that perspective,
02:00:54.250 --> 02:00:55.510
appreciate that, appreciate your
02:00:55.510 --> 02:00:57.060
calling in and taking the time.
02:00:58.010 --> 02:01:01.750
And we will hear the next
callers in just a minute.
02:01:01.750 --> 02:01:04.823
And just a reminder for folks to,
02:01:06.480 --> 02:01:09.050
you do not need to provide your name,
02:01:09.050 --> 02:01:11.750
if you would like to, please go ahead
02:01:11.750 --> 02:01:14.210
and state your name
and then spell your name
02:01:14.210 --> 02:01:17.730
as you get started and
please speak slowly
02:01:17.730 --> 02:01:19.600
for our court reporters.
02:01:19.600 --> 02:01:22.100
Operator, could you call
our next speaker, please?
02:01:23.870 --> 02:01:26.520
Our next
caller is Greg Padilla.
02:01:26.520 --> 02:01:27.730
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:01:27.730 --> 02:01:29.797
Good afternoon,
y name is Greg Padilla.
02:01:29.797 --> 02:01:34.253
That's G-R-E-G, Padilla, P-A-D-I-L-L-A.
02:01:35.231 --> 02:01:37.960
I'm a bail agent, I've been
a bail agent for 38 years.
02:01:37.960 --> 02:01:40.170
I'm also the president
of the Golden State
02:01:40.170 --> 02:01:42.180
Bail Agents Association so I work with
02:01:42.180 --> 02:01:44.440
bail agencies throughout the state.
02:01:44.440 --> 02:01:46.770
Well, I have a lot of compassion
for some of the people
02:01:46.770 --> 02:01:49.220
that are calling in with loved
ones who are incarcerated.
02:01:49.220 --> 02:01:51.300
And I get that this is a thing
02:01:51.300 --> 02:01:53.460
of compassion for these folks.
02:01:53.460 --> 02:01:55.400
I hate seeing race brought into this
02:01:55.400 --> 02:01:56.500
'cause this is colorblind.
02:01:56.500 --> 02:01:58.470
This has nothing to do with race.
02:01:58.470 --> 02:02:01.260
This has to do with an industry
02:02:01.260 --> 02:02:03.770
within the criminal justice system,
02:02:03.770 --> 02:02:08.080
that in way back, used
to be a lot more profitable.
02:02:08.080 --> 02:02:10.600
What people do need
to understand is that
02:02:10.600 --> 02:02:15.272
there is cost to having
these phones in these jails.
02:02:15.272 --> 02:02:17.180
I'm not defending them having these
02:02:17.180 --> 02:02:19.230
high exorbitant costs
but there is a cost
02:02:19.230 --> 02:02:23.260
to these systems, the infrastructure,
02:02:23.260 --> 02:02:25.930
and quite often cords
are ripped out of the wall
02:02:25.930 --> 02:02:27.610
by the inmates and stuff like that.
02:02:27.610 --> 02:02:29.600
And that does cost these folks money
02:02:29.600 --> 02:02:31.200
to have to come in there and do that.
02:02:31.200 --> 02:02:35.460
That is not a defense for
charging exorbitant fees
02:02:35.460 --> 02:02:37.477
but I'm just saying they cannot be free.
02:02:37.477 --> 02:02:39.090
And I would never advocate oh,
02:02:39.090 --> 02:02:41.040
they should be free and
they should be offered
02:02:41.040 --> 02:02:43.420
at no cost because
that's just not possible.
02:02:43.420 --> 02:02:45.040
So with that being
said, some of the things
02:02:45.040 --> 02:02:49.370
that I'd like to bring into
the Commission's attention
02:02:49.370 --> 02:02:51.470
is and some of them are addressed,
02:02:51.470 --> 02:02:52.770
but I will go through them.
02:02:52.770 --> 02:02:55.160
The time of connection,
I understand that some
02:02:55.160 --> 02:02:57.830
of these phone companies
have a connection
02:02:57.830 --> 02:03:00.220
time limit of 15-minutes, for instance.
02:03:00.220 --> 02:03:01.250
Well, the problem with that is
02:03:01.250 --> 02:03:04.230
for us, say in the bail
industry and or an attorney,
02:03:04.230 --> 02:03:06.540
if you put a limit on that call
02:03:06.540 --> 02:03:08.330
the person's got to do their 15-minutes,
02:03:08.330 --> 02:03:10.240
hang up, call back, hang up,
02:03:10.240 --> 02:03:11.870
call back, hang up, call back.
02:03:11.870 --> 02:03:13.530
If it's an extended call, we got to pay
02:03:13.530 --> 02:03:16.100
a connection fee every
time they call back.
02:03:16.100 --> 02:03:18.390
Just one other great way to make money,
02:03:18.390 --> 02:03:19.223
which is not right.
02:03:19.223 --> 02:03:21.220
One of the other callers talked about
02:03:21.220 --> 02:03:23.380
that connection fee and how much it is.
02:03:23.380 --> 02:03:27.730
The calls are also disconnected
because of poor quality.
02:03:27.730 --> 02:03:30.500
If these phone systems
hear clicking noise
02:03:30.500 --> 02:03:34.040
or any noise that will queue as though
02:03:34.040 --> 02:03:35.700
it's thinking it's a three-way call
02:03:35.700 --> 02:03:39.630
or something's going on,
it will disconnect that call
02:03:39.630 --> 02:03:42.290
by process, because it
thinks it's making a free call
02:03:42.290 --> 02:03:45.470
and boom, your call,
you're off the call.
02:03:45.470 --> 02:03:49.280
And they got to recall
back and reconnect again.
02:03:49.280 --> 02:03:50.550
Those are problems.
02:03:50.550 --> 02:03:53.830
One more, somebody talked
about the Sacramento County jail
02:03:53.830 --> 02:03:56.060
if you have not seen the
Sacramento County jails
02:03:56.060 --> 02:03:59.490
phone system down in
the booking, it is inhumane.
02:03:59.490 --> 02:04:02.860
The earpiece and the mouthpiece
are mounted on the wall.
02:04:02.860 --> 02:04:07.430
The person, if you're short,
you're pretty well screwed.
02:04:07.430 --> 02:04:09.080
You have to get up on a bench,
02:04:09.080 --> 02:04:12.010
put your ear and your
mouth and you've gotta talk
02:04:12.010 --> 02:04:14.740
against a wall because they
don't have phone cords there
02:04:14.740 --> 02:04:17.260
'cause they got tired of
these cords being ripped out.
02:04:17.260 --> 02:04:19.520
So those are things that, you know
02:04:19.520 --> 02:04:23.250
people can't hear the call,
the call quality is horrible.
02:04:23.250 --> 02:04:24.660
Another one is billing issues.
02:04:24.660 --> 02:04:27.150
There, in fact, we just
dealt with one yesterday,
02:04:27.150 --> 02:04:29.160
one of the phone companies because
02:04:29.160 --> 02:04:31.080
we're in the bail business
we take, you know,
02:04:31.080 --> 02:04:32.390
we talked about how much it costs.
02:04:32.390 --> 02:04:36.100
It probably costs us anywhere
from 15 to $20,000 a month
02:04:36.100 --> 02:04:39.000
in collect calls from these jails.
02:04:39.000 --> 02:04:42.710
And we have to at some jails do prepay,
02:04:42.710 --> 02:04:45.100
some jails we have to
have a credit card on file
02:04:45.100 --> 02:04:48.400
and some companies bill us.
02:04:48.400 --> 02:04:49.890
Well, the fact of the matter is
02:04:49.890 --> 02:04:53.880
they ought to offer, you
can either do it A, B or C
02:04:53.880 --> 02:04:55.637
because we've been
cut off from several jails
02:04:55.637 --> 02:04:58.970
in the last few days
ad we did not know it.
02:04:58.970 --> 02:05:01.750
We had no clue they
had no, they did not tell us
02:05:01.750 --> 02:05:04.380
they didn't for warn
us, we were just cut off.
02:05:04.380 --> 02:05:06.720
And that, you know,
that's something that's
02:05:06.720 --> 02:05:08.700
a customer service thing
these people are in jail
02:05:08.700 --> 02:05:10.130
they're trying to call us and they can't
02:05:10.130 --> 02:05:12.030
because they can't get through to us.
02:05:12.030 --> 02:05:15.680
So, and one more thing
their integrity and billing.
02:05:15.680 --> 02:05:17.320
I don't know if any
of the callers on here,
02:05:17.320 --> 02:05:21.190
yeah you put say a $30 in credit
02:05:21.190 --> 02:05:23.330
and then the next thing you
know, they want more money.
02:05:23.330 --> 02:05:24.480
Where is the integrity?
02:05:24.480 --> 02:05:26.800
Show me how much, how
long I've been on the phone
02:05:26.800 --> 02:05:29.650
and for how long, email me that billing
02:05:29.650 --> 02:05:31.530
so I can see, yeah, hey, we need to
02:05:31.530 --> 02:05:33.360
shorten these calls up or did I really,
02:05:33.360 --> 02:05:37.300
was I really on the
phone for that $30 in time?
02:05:37.300 --> 02:05:39.670
Next thing is when a
person has just booked
02:05:39.670 --> 02:05:42.480
into the jail, into jails in California,
02:05:42.480 --> 02:05:44.200
if you do not have an account set up
02:05:44.200 --> 02:05:45.920
with some of these systems
02:05:45.920 --> 02:05:47.670
and I'm not going to name which ones,
02:05:47.670 --> 02:05:50.470
but with some of them and
you're trying to call home
02:05:50.470 --> 02:05:53.470
to mom, dad, brother,
sister, aunt, or uncle
02:05:53.470 --> 02:05:54.823
sorry for going too fast.
02:05:55.940 --> 02:05:58.520
You might not be able
to get through to them
02:05:58.520 --> 02:06:00.160
because the system won't allow you to
02:06:00.160 --> 02:06:01.730
because they don't
have an account set up.
02:06:01.730 --> 02:06:04.540
And then it starts
blabbing off information
02:06:04.540 --> 02:06:07.050
about what you have to
do to get an account set up.
02:06:07.050 --> 02:06:08.640
Well, if you don't have
pen and paper next to you
02:06:08.640 --> 02:06:10.710
or a recorder to record what the heck
02:06:10.710 --> 02:06:12.490
they just said, you're done.
02:06:12.490 --> 02:06:15.180
You're not getting an account set up
02:06:15.180 --> 02:06:16.740
and that's just not right.
02:06:16.740 --> 02:06:19.490
There should be better information
02:06:19.490 --> 02:06:22.760
inside the facilities
about how these can work.
02:06:22.760 --> 02:06:25.000
People should be able
to send that information
02:06:25.000 --> 02:06:27.060
to their loved ones so that they know
02:06:27.060 --> 02:06:29.250
what they've got to do on the outside
02:06:29.250 --> 02:06:31.630
to be able to accept a call.
02:06:31.630 --> 02:06:33.560
But again, there should be better ways
02:06:33.560 --> 02:06:35.660
to do that when
somebody's just booked in.
02:06:36.900 --> 02:06:38.580
Sir, excuse me
Mr. Padilla, if I may interrupt you
02:06:38.580 --> 02:06:39.413
just for a minute-
If someone
02:06:39.413 --> 02:06:40.246
doesn't answer. you know,
02:06:40.246 --> 02:06:41.850
the phone's ringing and
say you get through it
02:06:41.850 --> 02:06:45.170
on the fourth or fifth
ring the recordings
02:06:45.170 --> 02:06:47.800
for who's calling from what facility
02:06:47.800 --> 02:06:51.557
and what button to push start off-
02:06:55.560 --> 02:06:59.520
Hello, Mr. it
looks like Mr. Padilla
02:06:59.520 --> 02:07:03.433
was cut off, not sure
what happened there.
02:07:05.230 --> 02:07:07.010
We, I was trying to reach him to ask him
02:07:07.010 --> 02:07:08.000
to slow down a little bit.
02:07:08.000 --> 02:07:10.040
It seems as though he couldn't hear me.
02:07:10.040 --> 02:07:12.360
Operator if Mr. Padilla
is still on the line
02:07:12.360 --> 02:07:13.910
if you could unmute his line and
02:07:13.910 --> 02:07:15.970
we'll have him finish and I'll first
02:07:15.970 --> 02:07:18.350
ask him if he could
slow down a little bit.
02:07:18.350 --> 02:07:20.500
38 years
being in this business
02:07:20.500 --> 02:07:22.817
I've ever participated
in one of these calls
02:07:22.817 --> 02:07:24.260
and somebody from the government
02:07:24.260 --> 02:07:27.330
has ever took time to listen.
02:07:27.330 --> 02:07:28.840
And I pray to the good Lord that
02:07:28.840 --> 02:07:30.570
unlike hearings at the Capitol
02:07:30.570 --> 02:07:32.260
where those legislators could care less
02:07:32.260 --> 02:07:34.120
what anybody in the public says,
02:07:34.120 --> 02:07:35.840
I pray to the good Lord
that this Commission
02:07:35.840 --> 02:07:38.420
really listens to what these folks said
02:07:38.420 --> 02:07:39.770
and do something about it.
02:07:39.770 --> 02:07:42.298
One of the things
about conference calls,
02:07:42.298 --> 02:07:44.222
you know, there's times that
somebody will be incarcerated-
02:07:44.222 --> 02:07:46.139
Excuse me, Mr. Padilla
02:07:46.139 --> 02:07:48.329
Oh, what's that?
Mr. Padilla?
02:07:48.329 --> 02:07:49.162
Yes, go ahead.
02:07:49.162 --> 02:07:50.518
Yeah, can you hear me?
02:07:50.518 --> 02:07:52.430
Yes, I can now.
02:07:52.430 --> 02:07:55.320
Okay, great thank
you for your comments
02:07:55.320 --> 02:07:57.810
are really useful and interesting.
02:07:57.810 --> 02:08:00.300
If you could just
slow down a little bit,
02:08:00.300 --> 02:08:01.700
if you don't mind and
if you could go ahead
02:08:01.700 --> 02:08:02.980
and wrap up shortly, we'd appreciate it.
02:08:02.980 --> 02:08:05.750
Okay, I
apologize, I didn't realize
02:08:05.750 --> 02:08:07.630
I couldn't, I was talking over you.
02:08:07.630 --> 02:08:08.810
I apologize for that.
02:08:08.810 --> 02:08:09.880
I'm just that-
No problem.
02:08:09.880 --> 02:08:12.210
You know, it's a situation,
02:08:12.210 --> 02:08:13.047
the last thing I'm going to say
02:08:13.047 --> 02:08:15.510
and this is probably
the most important thing
02:08:15.510 --> 02:08:18.370
and I don't know what
heart you would have in this.
02:08:18.370 --> 02:08:20.007
When these folks
make calls out of this jail
02:08:20.007 --> 02:08:21.700
and they're talking to a loved one
02:08:21.700 --> 02:08:23.880
there should be a
much better disclosure.
02:08:23.880 --> 02:08:25.210
These calls are being recorded
02:08:25.210 --> 02:08:27.890
and anything you say
can and will be used
02:08:27.890 --> 02:08:29.400
against you in a court of law.
02:08:29.400 --> 02:08:31.440
There's a lot of people
that bury themselves
02:08:31.440 --> 02:08:34.200
when they're in jail because
these calls are recorded
02:08:34.200 --> 02:08:36.190
and then that information
and that evidence
02:08:36.190 --> 02:08:37.640
is used against them.
02:08:37.640 --> 02:08:39.410
And again, I don't know
that your Commission
02:08:39.410 --> 02:08:42.090
has the ability to do anything about it,
02:08:42.090 --> 02:08:45.430
but those disclosures should be more
02:08:45.430 --> 02:08:47.703
readily available for the inmates.
02:08:49.920 --> 02:08:51.500
Okay, thank
you, Mr. Padilla.
02:08:51.500 --> 02:08:53.140
That's was a the very
interesting comments.
02:08:53.140 --> 02:08:55.310
There is lots that you said there so
02:08:55.310 --> 02:08:58.900
we appreciate that very
much and encourage you
02:08:58.900 --> 02:09:03.213
to keep on participating in
this and other public hearings.
02:09:06.130 --> 02:09:08.930
Excuse me, operator if you wouldn't mind
02:09:08.930 --> 02:09:11.513
calling the next caller we'll go ahead.
02:09:12.890 --> 02:09:15.030
Our next
caller is Flo Kelly.
02:09:15.030 --> 02:09:16.830
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:09:22.990 --> 02:09:24.390
Can you hear me now?
02:09:25.297 --> 02:09:26.780
Yes, I can
Can you hear me?
02:09:26.780 --> 02:09:28.410
Okay, great, okay.
02:09:28.410 --> 02:09:33.410
Yeah, my name is Flo
Kelly, F-L-O K-E-L-L-Y.
02:09:34.000 --> 02:09:35.440
At one time in my life,
02:09:35.440 --> 02:09:39.270
I visited my husband in
the prison in Vacaville.
02:09:39.270 --> 02:09:42.730
We had a car and we
lived in the Bay Area.
02:09:42.730 --> 02:09:44.510
So we were able to visit my husband
02:09:44.510 --> 02:09:47.650
in person once a week, for sure.
02:09:47.650 --> 02:09:50.290
For most families,
that distance from home
02:09:50.290 --> 02:09:54.640
to prison is far too great
for frequent in-person visits.
02:09:54.640 --> 02:09:57.060
The ability to make frequent phone calls
02:09:57.060 --> 02:10:00.200
is absolutely necessary in order to stay
02:10:00.200 --> 02:10:03.610
in close communication with family.
02:10:03.610 --> 02:10:06.890
For children whose
parent is incarcerated,
02:10:06.890 --> 02:10:10.730
this communication is
even more important.
02:10:10.730 --> 02:10:13.590
Studies show that recidivism is reduced
02:10:13.590 --> 02:10:18.020
when an individual remains
in contact with family members.
02:10:18.020 --> 02:10:21.590
Our family and community
of friends was well-prepared
02:10:21.590 --> 02:10:24.853
to welcome my husband
when he was released.
02:10:26.200 --> 02:10:28.220
Phone calls from imprisoned folks
02:10:28.220 --> 02:10:31.343
in California should be free of cost.
02:10:33.380 --> 02:10:35.210
California prisons and jails
02:10:35.210 --> 02:10:38.090
both should be free of cost.
02:10:38.090 --> 02:10:40.960
There is a cost as
the last speaker said,
02:10:40.960 --> 02:10:43.900
there is a cost to pay for guards,
02:10:43.900 --> 02:10:47.420
broken toilets, mail, et cetera.
02:10:47.420 --> 02:10:50.130
And that cost is not
passed on to family.
02:10:50.130 --> 02:10:51.883
Why should phone calls be?
02:10:53.010 --> 02:10:55.720
I am grateful to the
San Francisco financial
02:10:55.720 --> 02:10:59.020
justice project working
with community members
02:11:00.840 --> 02:11:04.510
and they were able to
reduce all San Francisco
02:11:04.510 --> 02:11:07.233
jail phone calls to zero costs.
02:11:08.380 --> 02:11:09.213
Thank you.
02:11:12.510 --> 02:11:15.010
Thank you, Ms. Kelly,
appreciate your comments.
02:11:15.010 --> 02:11:17.410
Operator, could we take
the next caller, please.
02:11:19.407 --> 02:11:21.020
Yes, and before
we go to the next caller
02:11:21.020 --> 02:11:23.700
again if you would like to
make a public comment today,
02:11:23.700 --> 02:11:25.623
please unmute your phone, press *1.
02:11:26.950 --> 02:11:29.330
And when prompted,
if you are incarcerated
02:11:29.330 --> 02:11:31.983
please just state you are incarcerated.
02:11:33.567 --> 02:11:35.633
And our next caller is Martha.
02:11:37.370 --> 02:11:39.170
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:11:40.460 --> 02:11:42.467
Hi, my name
is Martha Renuncio
02:11:42.467 --> 02:11:44.217
and my daughter was in Las Colinas.
02:11:45.570 --> 02:11:50.570
And I wasn't like was
mentioned able to get
02:11:52.330 --> 02:11:54.453
all the information to set up a call
02:11:55.850 --> 02:11:59.380
because they say too fast and hang out.
02:11:59.380 --> 02:12:03.300
So my daughter's left a voicemail,
02:12:03.300 --> 02:12:07.460
that cost me $4 and
43 cents for listening
02:12:07.460 --> 02:12:11.390
one minute of the voicemail.
02:12:11.390 --> 02:12:13.950
I saw these very expensive,
02:12:13.950 --> 02:12:16.690
but I was need to hear the instruction,
02:12:16.690 --> 02:12:21.690
the how to set up the account
to communicate with her.
02:12:23.520 --> 02:12:27.950
And I was able to set up the account
02:12:28.925 --> 02:12:31.700
and the time that she
was in Los Colinas,
02:12:31.700 --> 02:12:35.700
I was founded in that
account and one time
02:12:35.700 --> 02:12:40.660
I put a $50 and the
charges is $3 and 40 cents
02:12:40.660 --> 02:12:45.620
so $50 and 50% and they
don't put it in the account.
02:12:45.620 --> 02:12:50.060
So they take it from my card,
02:12:50.060 --> 02:12:53.210
but they don't put it in to credit
02:12:53.210 --> 02:12:55.450
the phone call for my daughter.
02:12:55.450 --> 02:12:59.060
So I was need to give
up to getting the money
02:12:59.060 --> 02:13:01.370
and bring more money to keep the
02:13:01.370 --> 02:13:03.840
communication going with my daughter.
02:13:03.840 --> 02:13:07.470
I think they really no fair for us
02:13:07.470 --> 02:13:12.470
to be charging and all the
charges from the phone calls
02:13:12.960 --> 02:13:17.020
from the voicemails,
from the video calls
02:13:17.020 --> 02:13:21.913
and plus they taking all
money from on the card
02:13:21.913 --> 02:13:24.500
that we are putting on and don't
02:13:24.500 --> 02:13:28.000
give the credit for the phone calls.
02:13:28.000 --> 02:13:30.120
And I tried to call the company.
02:13:30.120 --> 02:13:33.780
I stay for four hours
waiting for the operator
02:13:34.979 --> 02:13:37.090
to answer the phone call and nobody
02:13:37.090 --> 02:13:39.050
answer me for three days.
02:13:39.050 --> 02:13:41.600
So I give up, I said, you know
02:13:41.600 --> 02:13:45.290
I need to still need
to talk to my daughter
02:13:45.290 --> 02:13:49.790
and resigned that I lost my money that
02:13:51.000 --> 02:13:54.000
we are working hard and try to
02:13:54.000 --> 02:13:56.980
keep up with the bills and everything.
02:13:56.980 --> 02:13:59.540
But the most important part for me was
02:13:59.540 --> 02:14:02.030
keep the communication
going with my daughter
02:14:02.030 --> 02:14:04.590
because she had a deep depression.
02:14:04.590 --> 02:14:07.600
And I want to be sure
that she's still alive
02:14:07.600 --> 02:14:08.863
every time I was calling.
02:14:10.270 --> 02:14:13.080
This is my comment that it is not fair.
02:14:13.080 --> 02:14:18.080
Plus the high charges
they do it are the phone calls
02:14:19.357 --> 02:14:22.190
and all the services they provide
02:14:22.190 --> 02:14:27.040
and there's bad quality,
they eat you, taking money
02:14:28.030 --> 02:14:30.920
from accounts and
don't give you the credit.
02:14:30.920 --> 02:14:31.873
Thank you for me.
02:14:33.290 --> 02:14:34.760
Thank you, Martha.
02:14:34.760 --> 02:14:36.210
Yeah, go ahead, Commissioner.
02:14:37.180 --> 02:14:40.710
Thank
you, well, first, Martha,
02:14:40.710 --> 02:14:43.660
I just wondered who the company was.
02:14:43.660 --> 02:14:46.106
I know you mentioned-
Securus.
02:14:47.149 --> 02:14:50.583
Securus, okay.
02:14:52.040 --> 02:14:52.873
Thank you.
And Martha!
02:14:52.873 --> 02:14:54.330
I just wanted to make you aware,
02:14:54.330 --> 02:14:56.593
this is Judge Fogel.
02:14:58.260 --> 02:15:01.460
I'm not sure when
this happened with your
02:15:01.460 --> 02:15:04.150
depositing the money
and it being debited,
02:15:04.150 --> 02:15:06.120
but no credit appearing
on your daughters
02:15:06.120 --> 02:15:08.700
on your calling account
but if you'd like to
02:15:08.700 --> 02:15:11.360
you can call our public advisor's office
02:15:11.360 --> 02:15:14.660
and get some assistance
looking into this further.
02:15:14.660 --> 02:15:16.460
And I'll give you the number right here.
02:15:16.460 --> 02:15:19.210
It's 1 866 849 8390.
02:15:22.920 --> 02:15:27.080
Again, that's 1 866 849 8390.
02:15:29.010 --> 02:15:32.080
So if you'd like to call
them they can assist you
02:15:32.080 --> 02:15:34.423
with looking into the charging issue.
02:15:36.550 --> 02:15:37.770
Thank you, Judge.
02:15:37.770 --> 02:15:41.473
Yes, and it was in, March 19, 2021.
02:15:45.470 --> 02:15:47.480
Okay, all right
well, I recommend
02:15:47.480 --> 02:15:49.030
if you could call that number and then
02:15:49.030 --> 02:15:51.820
those folks on the
public advisor's office
02:15:51.820 --> 02:15:53.167
may be able to help you.
02:15:55.026 --> 02:15:56.337
Thank you.
02:15:56.337 --> 02:15:58.290
Thank you.
02:15:58.290 --> 02:16:00.890
Operator, if you could
please call our next speaker.
02:16:02.800 --> 02:16:06.120
Our next
caller is Noemi Perales.
02:16:06.120 --> 02:16:07.920
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:16:09.200 --> 02:16:11.440
HI, my name
is Noemi Perales,
02:16:11.440 --> 02:16:15.853
N-O-E-M-I, P-E-R-A-L-E-S.
02:16:17.508 --> 02:16:18.620
First of all, thank you so much for
02:16:18.620 --> 02:16:20.430
hosting this public hearing.
02:16:20.430 --> 02:16:23.280
My brother has been
incarcerated for the past
02:16:23.280 --> 02:16:26.410
11 years and this is the first time
02:16:26.410 --> 02:16:30.280
in those 11 years that I
received any notification
02:16:30.280 --> 02:16:33.400
that advocate to help them.
02:16:33.400 --> 02:16:35.290
Some people have mentioned about
02:16:36.540 --> 02:16:41.215
the prices of food, travel
expenses for visiting
02:16:41.215 --> 02:16:43.130
or just how long we have to wait
02:16:43.130 --> 02:16:45.490
when we visit, all of that.
02:16:45.490 --> 02:16:47.163
So thank you for reaching out.
02:16:47.163 --> 02:16:49.613
Usually, it's the other way around.
02:16:51.494 --> 02:16:54.917
So I wanna share a
little bit of our story.
02:16:56.240 --> 02:16:58.290
I'll be sharing on behalf of my niece.
02:16:58.290 --> 02:17:02.090
She is 15-years old, her
father has been in there
02:17:02.090 --> 02:17:04.830
since she was like
three, four years old.
02:17:04.830 --> 02:17:08.720
And those 15-minutes
calls mean everything,
02:17:08.720 --> 02:17:10.130
everything to her and I'm sorry
02:17:10.130 --> 02:17:11.870
if I get a little bit emotional
02:17:11.870 --> 02:17:14.480
it just means so much to our family.
02:17:14.480 --> 02:17:17.160
He tries to call every single day,
02:17:17.160 --> 02:17:20.200
but obviously yes
because of the pandemic
02:17:20.200 --> 02:17:22.700
but even before that, there's
always been, you know
02:17:22.700 --> 02:17:25.460
things here and there that
have made it difficult, right
02:17:25.460 --> 02:17:27.770
to be able to pay for those phone calls
02:17:28.790 --> 02:17:31.650
but he still tries to
keep that connection.
02:17:31.650 --> 02:17:33.040
He tries to call her every single day.
02:17:33.040 --> 02:17:37.070
But in addition, to
emphasize on how important
02:17:37.070 --> 02:17:40.550
those 15-minute calls are I want to say
02:17:40.550 --> 02:17:43.300
to please consider
increasing the 15-minutes
02:17:43.300 --> 02:17:45.790
to 30 minutes because 15-minutes
02:17:45.790 --> 02:17:48.174
you should be turning to 10-minutes
02:17:48.174 --> 02:17:51.680
because the phone call gets disconnected
02:17:51.680 --> 02:17:55.060
or some issues with
the audio or anything
02:17:55.060 --> 02:17:57.150
it just ends up being like 10-minutes.
02:17:57.150 --> 02:17:59.160
Or usually what we hear him saying is,
02:17:59.160 --> 02:18:01.050
oh, it's already someone else's turn.
02:18:01.050 --> 02:18:03.640
I really don't know how
it works inside the prison
02:18:03.640 --> 02:18:07.390
but usually, that's what
he ends up telling us.
02:18:07.390 --> 02:18:10.550
So please do consider 30-minute calls
02:18:10.550 --> 02:18:13.370
at least twice maybe a week.
02:18:13.370 --> 02:18:16.990
I do also advocate
for the cost to be free.
02:18:16.990 --> 02:18:19.370
Yes, nothing in this world is free.
02:18:19.370 --> 02:18:21.450
Of course, somebody has to pay for that.
02:18:21.450 --> 02:18:23.700
But what I'm saying for it to be free
02:18:23.700 --> 02:18:28.700
for these families, for
those making the phone calls
02:18:29.900 --> 02:18:31.500
per person also in the families.
02:18:32.680 --> 02:18:34.740
I'm pretty sure California being
02:18:34.740 --> 02:18:37.410
one of the richest states
in the whole country
02:18:37.410 --> 02:18:39.720
and in the whole world can figure out
02:18:39.720 --> 02:18:43.810
you know, alternatives on who can,
02:18:43.810 --> 02:18:46.473
or how those costs can be paid.
02:18:47.410 --> 02:18:49.130
I guess the biggest problem right now
02:18:49.130 --> 02:18:51.100
is the fact that they're monopolies.
02:18:51.100 --> 02:18:55.740
And unfortunately, the phone
companies are monopolies
02:18:55.740 --> 02:18:58.630
and there's no competition there,
02:18:58.630 --> 02:19:01.720
there's really no incentive
for them to reduce it.
02:19:01.720 --> 02:19:04.140
So thank you for attempting to provide
02:19:04.140 --> 02:19:06.333
some regulation in that area.
02:19:07.240 --> 02:19:10.600
Lastly, what I want to share is that
02:19:10.600 --> 02:19:12.990
let's say this does go through, right?
02:19:12.990 --> 02:19:17.270
And you're able to at
least put some regulation
02:19:17.270 --> 02:19:19.940
in there that might increase demand,
02:19:19.940 --> 02:19:22.910
which it should you know,
more people will be calling.
02:19:22.910 --> 02:19:25.260
So I would say, you
know, please be ready
02:19:25.260 --> 02:19:27.600
for that demand because
the last thing we want
02:19:27.600 --> 02:19:30.440
is that there's big improvement
02:19:30.440 --> 02:19:33.490
and we're able to
finally get a free call
02:19:33.490 --> 02:19:36.890
or longer calls with our loved
ones who are incarcerated.
02:19:36.890 --> 02:19:39.130
But we can't because everyone is
02:19:39.130 --> 02:19:41.540
in line waiting to make a phone call.
02:19:41.540 --> 02:19:44.380
So please work with the institutions
02:19:44.380 --> 02:19:48.073
to have a plan to address that demand.
02:19:49.677 --> 02:19:52.100
So I'm not going to
touch on everything else
02:19:52.100 --> 02:19:55.030
that everyone has had amazing points
02:19:55.030 --> 02:19:57.130
and amazing stories to tell,
02:19:57.130 --> 02:19:59.330
thank you everyone who has actually
02:19:59.330 --> 02:20:00.640
taken the time to join.
02:20:00.640 --> 02:20:03.563
And thank you for
listening to our comments.
02:20:04.740 --> 02:20:06.226
Thank you.
02:20:06.226 --> 02:20:07.990
Oh yeah,
thank you Ms. Perales,
02:20:07.990 --> 02:20:10.923
appreciate your calling
and it's a really good point.
02:20:12.100 --> 02:20:15.100
Many points that you made that
haven't been made previously.
02:20:16.000 --> 02:20:18.463
So thank you for
taking the time to call in.
02:20:19.870 --> 02:20:21.370
There's no questions
from the Commissioner.
02:20:21.370 --> 02:20:23.663
We'll go ahead and take
the next caller please.
02:20:28.227 --> 02:20:30.683
And our next
caller is from Marisol.
02:20:31.600 --> 02:20:33.400
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:20:34.385 --> 02:20:35.700
Hello, good afternoon.
02:20:35.700 --> 02:20:37.820
My name is Marisol Leon.
02:20:37.820 --> 02:20:40.430
I'm calling on behalf of my
husband who's incarcerated
02:20:40.430 --> 02:20:42.483
in East Mesa facility in San Diego.
02:20:43.650 --> 02:20:45.990
Phone company that is used is Securus.
02:20:47.380 --> 02:20:49.060
My husband is serving three years
02:20:49.060 --> 02:20:50.730
but currently is fighting his case.
02:20:50.730 --> 02:20:53.959
He's been incarcerated since January.
02:20:53.959 --> 02:20:56.780
I've had to change my phone number
02:20:56.780 --> 02:21:00.030
to a different state
area code in order to get
02:21:00.030 --> 02:21:03.593
the 21 cents per minute rate
to make it more affordable.
02:21:04.770 --> 02:21:07.730
The California rate
is 33 cents per minute.
02:21:07.730 --> 02:21:10.200
Not including the $3 add on fees that
02:21:10.200 --> 02:21:13.910
are added every time you deposit
02:21:13.910 --> 02:21:15.923
or per phone time on your phone.
02:21:17.530 --> 02:21:20.000
And we do have kids,
we have a baby on the way
02:21:20.000 --> 02:21:22.423
and he's there for every appointment.
02:21:24.272 --> 02:21:26.630
So trying to break that 20-minutes
02:21:26.630 --> 02:21:29.640
or 15-minutes a day
that we have with him
02:21:29.640 --> 02:21:34.203
every day it adds up
to 500 or more a month.
02:21:35.140 --> 02:21:38.210
Aside from that, I also
keep him connected
02:21:38.210 --> 02:21:40.110
with his mother who has cancer
02:21:40.110 --> 02:21:42.270
and just hearing from her son,
02:21:42.270 --> 02:21:45.120
it makes a huge difference to her.
02:21:45.120 --> 02:21:47.680
It makes her day and just keeping her
02:21:48.770 --> 02:21:52.960
everyday like, he doesn't
talk to her every day,
02:21:52.960 --> 02:21:55.970
but twice a week we try
to communicate with her
02:21:55.970 --> 02:21:57.993
and it's really expensive.
02:21:59.450 --> 02:22:01.380
So I'm not asking
for the cost to be free
02:22:01.380 --> 02:22:03.297
but they should have
a service that makes
02:22:03.297 --> 02:22:05.490
the calls cheaper to get the lowest rate
02:22:05.490 --> 02:22:07.570
to stay connected to our loved ones.
02:22:10.480 --> 02:22:12.233
And that's all I have to say.
02:22:13.530 --> 02:22:15.730
Thank you, Marisol.
02:22:15.730 --> 02:22:18.065
Would you mind stating
your last name again,
02:22:18.065 --> 02:22:20.080
(indistinct)
02:22:20.080 --> 02:22:21.380
Leon, L-E-O-N.
02:22:22.350 --> 02:22:23.637
L-E-O-N, Marisol Leon.
02:22:23.637 --> 02:22:24.470
Yeah, yeah.
02:22:24.470 --> 02:22:26.580
Okay, thank
you for calling in,
02:22:26.580 --> 02:22:30.080
appreciate your sharing
about your experience.
02:22:30.080 --> 02:22:31.590
Thank you.
02:22:31.590 --> 02:22:35.071
Can I ask a
follow-up question to Marisol?
02:22:35.071 --> 02:22:36.680
Yeah, yeah.
02:22:36.680 --> 02:22:38.120
said
you had to change
02:22:38.120 --> 02:22:40.437
your phone number, yeah?
02:22:40.437 --> 02:22:42.590
Yeah!
02:22:42.590 --> 02:22:44.964
Yes,
could you explain?
02:22:44.964 --> 02:22:48.940
Because
the California area
02:22:48.940 --> 02:22:51.360
it's like 33 cents per minute rate.
02:22:51.360 --> 02:22:54.150
And I had to like, kind
of look into to see what,
02:22:54.150 --> 02:22:57.050
you know what area
code I can get it cheaper.
02:22:57.050 --> 02:22:59.450
So I had to change it
to a Vegas area code
02:22:59.450 --> 02:23:02.630
in order to get a
lower, permanent recall
02:23:02.630 --> 02:23:05.740
and I can afford having
the children and you know
02:23:05.740 --> 02:23:07.790
all of us talk to him
and stay connected.
02:23:11.050 --> 02:23:12.350
I'm sorry,
did you say you had to
02:23:12.350 --> 02:23:14.280
change it to the Vegas area code?
02:23:14.280 --> 02:23:16.180
Yeah, to
a Vegas area code
02:23:17.170 --> 02:23:19.883
to get the 21 cents per minute rate.
02:23:20.940 --> 02:23:22.870
And
what was it before?
02:23:22.870 --> 02:23:24.470
33 cents per minute.
02:23:25.433 --> 02:23:27.863
The area
code was what before?
02:23:27.863 --> 02:23:31.173
That area code
was 760 here in San Diego.
02:23:33.120 --> 02:23:37.013
When you
previously had a San Diego number-
02:23:37.013 --> 02:23:38.721
I did.
02:23:38.721 --> 02:23:40.980
And he is in
the San Diego County jail?
02:23:40.980 --> 02:23:42.180
Yeah, he is.
02:23:44.626 --> 02:23:46.150
So
you had a local number
02:23:46.150 --> 02:23:50.960
calling into the local
San Diego County jail
02:23:50.960 --> 02:23:55.960
and it was cheaper for you to
get a Las Vegas Nevada number.
02:23:55.980 --> 02:23:56.813
Yes.
02:23:58.420 --> 02:24:02.800
Okay, I
have no idea how that works.
02:24:02.800 --> 02:24:05.010
Yeah, it's
cheaper by the minute
02:24:05.010 --> 02:24:07.086
I had to look into it to be able to,
02:24:07.086 --> 02:24:09.860
(Marisol chuckles)
02:24:09.860 --> 02:24:12.000
And
this is a, no, no, no
02:24:12.000 --> 02:24:14.980
rate sheet that you got from Securus?
02:24:14.980 --> 02:24:17.170
Yes, that's
the rate that I got
02:24:17.170 --> 02:24:20.273
from Securus but it's
still really expensive.
02:24:21.730 --> 02:24:23.130
I see.
02:24:23.130 --> 02:24:24.750
Commissioner,
it could be related to
02:24:24.750 --> 02:24:27.350
the fact that the FCC has regulated
02:24:27.350 --> 02:24:30.343
the rates for interstate calls.
02:24:32.680 --> 02:24:35.530
Yes, you
could say that, excellent point.
02:24:35.530 --> 02:24:37.190
Thank you very much, Marisol.
02:24:37.190 --> 02:24:39.453
Thank you
for hearing me out.
02:24:42.290 --> 02:24:45.190
Great, operator let's
go ahead to the next call.
02:24:47.530 --> 02:24:50.350
Our next
caller is Devonna Banks.
02:24:50.350 --> 02:24:52.150
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:24:53.670 --> 02:24:55.930
Hi, my name
is Devonna Banks.
02:24:55.930 --> 02:25:00.930
D-E-V-O-N-N-A, Banks B-A-N-K-S.
02:25:03.120 --> 02:25:04.610
So I've been on the call the whole time
02:25:04.610 --> 02:25:07.480
and I have heard
several people referring
02:25:07.480 --> 02:25:10.660
to the cost for inmates.
02:25:10.660 --> 02:25:14.630
We have a son that has been
incarcerated for over 11 years.
02:25:14.630 --> 02:25:17.650
So obviously anybody can do the math
02:25:17.650 --> 02:25:20.240
and know that it's been
thousands upon thousands
02:25:20.240 --> 02:25:22.280
upon thousands of
dollars that we've spent
02:25:22.280 --> 02:25:25.850
over the years just to try
to communicate with them.
02:25:25.850 --> 02:25:30.420
The hardest part is that whenever the
02:25:30.420 --> 02:25:33.280
correction officers decide that this is
02:25:33.280 --> 02:25:38.280
a form of punishment,
that it doesn't allow for them
02:25:38.543 --> 02:25:40.840
to be able to reach out and, you know
02:25:40.840 --> 02:25:44.010
talk to someone outside of that space.
02:25:44.010 --> 02:25:46.230
And so it causes more and more conflict
02:25:46.230 --> 02:25:50.000
within them personally
and that's more burdensome
02:25:50.000 --> 02:25:54.063
to me than it is the cost of the call.
02:25:55.020 --> 02:25:57.800
The fact that they have limited amounts
02:25:57.800 --> 02:26:02.800
of actual phones in the
facilities is ridiculous to me.
02:26:03.550 --> 02:26:06.030
And I've called Heathen Lancaster.
02:26:06.030 --> 02:26:07.610
And I've called several times,
02:26:07.610 --> 02:26:09.250
tried to speak to either you know,
02:26:09.250 --> 02:26:12.400
either the warden or a watch commander,
02:26:12.400 --> 02:26:14.700
a lieutenant, or
someone to find out like,
02:26:14.700 --> 02:26:17.350
how can they get more
phones in the facility
02:26:17.350 --> 02:26:20.670
or what have you and to no avail.
02:26:20.670 --> 02:26:22.670
There's never really
an answer for anything.
02:26:22.670 --> 02:26:26.370
It's almost as though
we're being treated like
02:26:26.370 --> 02:26:30.310
we're less than human
because we have someone
02:26:30.310 --> 02:26:32.740
that we love that's incarcerated.
02:26:32.740 --> 02:26:34.283
And I think that what's-
02:26:37.670 --> 02:26:40.370
Ms. Banks,
we can't hear you now.
02:26:40.370 --> 02:26:42.463
Can you try saying something?
02:26:44.050 --> 02:26:45.520
Can you hear me now?
02:26:45.520 --> 02:26:47.790
Yeah, now we can hear you.
02:26:47.790 --> 02:26:50.593
Okay, I was
just saying that I think
02:26:50.593 --> 02:26:54.420
that the hardest part
for me is knowing that
02:26:55.286 --> 02:27:00.286
he's having a hard time
dealing with prison as it is,
02:27:00.860 --> 02:27:03.830
and the fact that they
can get phone calls
02:27:03.830 --> 02:27:06.000
and there so many
hundreds of people that are
02:27:06.000 --> 02:27:08.720
in this facility and
they use this as like
02:27:08.720 --> 02:27:10.450
the carrot in front of the horse
02:27:10.450 --> 02:27:12.270
that if you do right we'll allow you
02:27:12.270 --> 02:27:14.830
to talk on the phone, but when they do,
02:27:14.830 --> 02:27:17.160
they like cut their calls off.
02:27:17.160 --> 02:27:19.180
They'll just like, you know disconnect
02:27:19.180 --> 02:27:21.050
whenever we're in the
middle of a conversation.
02:27:21.050 --> 02:27:23.530
And it happens so
many times that it's like
02:27:23.530 --> 02:27:26.610
it's too many to even
count over these last years.
02:27:26.610 --> 02:27:30.740
But what I would want
for you all to consider
02:27:30.740 --> 02:27:33.917
is that because it's being
charged to the families
02:27:33.917 --> 02:27:36.740
and the loved ones of the
people that are incarcerated,
02:27:36.740 --> 02:27:40.730
that perhaps if the
charges were then shifted
02:27:40.730 --> 02:27:43.170
to the prisons themselves and allow them
02:27:43.170 --> 02:27:45.540
to start having to pay for these calls
02:27:45.540 --> 02:27:48.270
or there'll be like some
sort of pot of money
02:27:48.270 --> 02:27:49.710
that they would have, I mean that
02:27:49.710 --> 02:27:51.650
they would have to
pay into for every time
02:27:51.650 --> 02:27:55.350
that we are charged for
calls that are dropped.
02:27:55.350 --> 02:27:56.650
I mean, not even that they're dropped
02:27:56.650 --> 02:27:59.260
'cause let's be honest, a
lot of them are not dropped
02:27:59.260 --> 02:28:01.260
it's that they're purposely disconnected
02:28:01.260 --> 02:28:03.790
from the correction officers because of
02:28:03.790 --> 02:28:06.480
whatever their issue is
with that particular inmate
02:28:06.480 --> 02:28:08.550
or what have you, or
something's going on
02:28:08.550 --> 02:28:10.900
they'll just decide like, oh,
you have to get off the phone.
02:28:10.900 --> 02:28:12.460
And I don't think that that's fair
02:28:12.460 --> 02:28:14.370
to those of us that are paying money
02:28:14.370 --> 02:28:18.080
every single month for just to be able
02:28:18.080 --> 02:28:19.500
to speak to our loved ones.
02:28:19.500 --> 02:28:23.980
And my son is my firstborn child.
02:28:23.980 --> 02:28:27.800
And as difficult as it
is that we're dealing
02:28:27.800 --> 02:28:30.810
with this at all, it
makes it even more hard
02:28:30.810 --> 02:28:32.670
or it makes it harder, I should say that
02:28:32.670 --> 02:28:36.070
we have to deal with
these types of ethics
02:28:36.070 --> 02:28:38.670
from a prison system
that is supposed to be
02:28:38.670 --> 02:28:41.670
a rehabilitating, if
you will, and trying to
02:28:41.670 --> 02:28:43.390
help them to be better, to come home
02:28:43.390 --> 02:28:46.520
as opposed to making
them worse to stay there.
02:28:46.520 --> 02:28:48.053
And that's all I have to say.
02:28:50.550 --> 02:28:51.900
Thank you, Ms. Banks.
02:28:51.900 --> 02:28:55.550
And did you mention
which correctional facility
02:28:55.550 --> 02:28:58.873
your son is in at this time
that you're referring to?
02:28:59.710 --> 02:29:03.050
He's at
the Lancaster facility.
02:29:03.050 --> 02:29:03.883
Okay.
02:29:03.883 --> 02:29:06.860
California
State in Lancaster, yes.
02:29:06.860 --> 02:29:07.810
All right, all right.
02:29:07.810 --> 02:29:09.670
Thank you for your
call, appreciate that.
02:29:09.670 --> 02:29:12.563
And sorry to hear
about those experiences.
02:29:13.530 --> 02:29:14.533
Thank you.
02:29:17.290 --> 02:29:19.510
Operator, do we
have any more callers?
02:29:19.510 --> 02:29:22.223
If so, if you could go ahead
and call the next caller.
02:29:23.380 --> 02:29:26.180
Our next
caller is Miguel Bautista.
02:29:26.180 --> 02:29:27.980
Your line is open, you may go ahead.
02:29:29.540 --> 02:29:30.463
One second.
02:29:35.960 --> 02:29:38.330
My name is Miguel Bautista and I have
02:29:38.330 --> 02:29:40.510
a loved one that is incarcerated.
02:29:40.510 --> 02:29:43.470
I know that he committed a mistake,
02:29:43.470 --> 02:29:45.913
but he is my family so I still love him.
02:29:47.180 --> 02:29:52.180
And just getting his
calls I know can really
02:29:52.970 --> 02:29:55.330
make a difference in his day.
02:29:55.330 --> 02:29:58.033
That's a positive day for inmates,
02:29:59.640 --> 02:30:04.640
means less violence and pretty cool.
02:30:06.400 --> 02:30:09.863
The cost of calls might lower.
02:30:12.100 --> 02:30:14.450
I don't know how much I've spent but
02:30:14.450 --> 02:30:16.507
I try to help him out the most I can.
02:30:22.170 --> 02:30:23.573
That's all I gotta say.
02:30:27.520 --> 02:30:28.770
Oops, sorry I was on mute.
02:30:28.770 --> 02:30:32.170
Thank you, Mr. Bautista,
we appreciate you calling in.
02:30:32.170 --> 02:30:33.950
Yeah, you're welcome.
02:30:33.950 --> 02:30:34.800
Thanks.
02:30:35.960 --> 02:30:37.073
Next caller, please.
02:30:40.600 --> 02:30:42.490
Our
next caller is Terric,
02:30:42.490 --> 02:30:43.453
your line is open.
02:30:45.780 --> 02:30:50.610
Hi, my name is
Terric and I called before.
02:30:50.610 --> 02:30:54.560
However, I wanted to
say that one of the things
02:30:54.560 --> 02:30:57.500
that we have not
mentioned is the free calls
02:30:57.500 --> 02:30:59.123
for attorney visits.
02:31:00.110 --> 02:31:01.550
In the practice that I've known
02:31:01.550 --> 02:31:04.890
by being incarcerated there is no
02:31:04.890 --> 02:31:07.510
free attorney visits in private.
02:31:07.510 --> 02:31:09.480
You're either in front of your counselor
02:31:09.480 --> 02:31:10.980
you're in front of other people.
02:31:10.980 --> 02:31:13.590
And if you have sensitive information
02:31:13.590 --> 02:31:15.893
anybody can hear it's not right.
02:31:17.560 --> 02:31:18.810
It's not only should it be free
02:31:18.810 --> 02:31:22.200
but it should also be
in a private setting.
02:31:22.200 --> 02:31:25.970
So if I know that for
me I was dealing with a
02:31:25.970 --> 02:31:28.400
California Supreme
court case that allowed
02:31:28.400 --> 02:31:33.010
youth offenders to get
out on in a meaningful way.
02:31:33.010 --> 02:31:36.970
If it was not for my attorney being more
02:31:36.970 --> 02:31:40.957
high profile and
demanding certain privacies,
02:31:41.860 --> 02:31:44.070
we wouldn't been able to talk as freely
02:31:44.070 --> 02:31:45.810
and just having attorney visits
02:31:45.810 --> 02:31:48.630
because they were close enough to do so.
02:31:48.630 --> 02:31:51.780
So it's very imperative
that we use this time
02:31:51.780 --> 02:31:55.900
to also look at the legal aspects
02:31:55.900 --> 02:31:58.330
of people incarcerated
whether in jail or prison,
02:31:58.330 --> 02:32:00.530
who's fighting for their
freedom, thank you.
02:32:02.150 --> 02:32:03.550
Thank you, Terric.
02:32:05.380 --> 02:32:07.680
Operator, we can hear
the next caller, please.
02:32:09.741 --> 02:32:12.970
Our next
caller is Bill Pope.
02:32:12.970 --> 02:32:13.870
Your line is open.
02:32:15.580 --> 02:32:19.640
Hi, my name's Bill
Pope B-I-L-L P-O-P-E.
02:32:19.640 --> 02:32:22.210
I'm the president and a major owner
02:32:22.210 --> 02:32:25.320
of NCC inmate communications.
02:32:25.320 --> 02:32:28.900
We provide service in almost 60 County
02:32:28.900 --> 02:32:31.523
and city jails in the
state of California.
02:32:32.540 --> 02:32:36.330
Last June, we acquired I
want to say we acquired
02:32:36.330 --> 02:32:40.300
about 30 accounts
from almost 40 accounts
02:32:40.300 --> 02:32:42.393
from legacy, long-distance legacy and
02:32:42.393 --> 02:32:44.640
make phone services
02:32:44.640 --> 02:32:46.610
where they had been charging as much
02:32:46.610 --> 02:32:49.650
as a dollar 25 per minute
and we lowered quickly
02:32:49.650 --> 02:32:54.460
lowered those rates down to
25 cents per minute or lower.
02:32:54.460 --> 02:32:57.380
I know a San Bernardino
juvenile facilities that
02:32:57.380 --> 02:33:01.380
actually went to offering
free calls for their juveniles.
02:33:01.380 --> 02:33:05.930
So anyways, I just kinda
wanted to touch base
02:33:05.930 --> 02:33:10.930
on the opening statements
we submitted last night.
02:33:11.060 --> 02:33:15.010
One of the questions
was, do the parties agree
02:33:15.010 --> 02:33:17.180
with the staff's proposal being the
02:33:17.180 --> 02:33:20.210
California public utility Commission,
02:33:20.210 --> 02:33:22.400
finding that the current interest state
02:33:22.400 --> 02:33:26.760
inmate calling service rates
in California are unreasonable.
02:33:26.760 --> 02:33:31.020
And my comment was
absolutely, a lack of regulation
02:33:31.020 --> 02:33:34.260
has been allowing providers
to regulate themselves
02:33:34.260 --> 02:33:37.120
which is definitely
failing in California.
02:33:37.120 --> 02:33:39.260
Our industry is too competitive.
02:33:39.260 --> 02:33:41.560
They cannot regulate themselves.
02:33:41.560 --> 02:33:44.123
We all need to be forced into line.
02:33:46.258 --> 02:33:48.420
And one of the other comments I wanted
02:33:48.420 --> 02:33:51.740
to touch base on was the item number six
02:33:51.740 --> 02:33:54.950
on that do the parties agree with the
02:33:54.950 --> 02:33:57.390
staff's proposals recommendation for
02:33:57.390 --> 02:34:00.890
the Commission to adopt
the FCCS interim rate caps
02:34:00.890 --> 02:34:03.457
of 21 cents per minute for debit calls
02:34:03.457 --> 02:34:06.113
and 25 cents per
minute for collect calls.
02:34:06.956 --> 02:34:10.100
And I said, yes, but
the staff needs to clarify
02:34:10.100 --> 02:34:12.380
that per call transaction fees
02:34:12.380 --> 02:34:15.500
for single payment calls
will not be permitted.
02:34:15.500 --> 02:34:17.570
This was an error on part of the FCC
02:34:17.570 --> 02:34:19.740
and there's a bit been
abused by providers
02:34:19.740 --> 02:34:23.960
charging between $2 and $13 and 10 cents
02:34:23.960 --> 02:34:28.053
for a single transaction
fee on a single call.
02:34:29.100 --> 02:34:33.370
And we heard earlier on
this call, one of the callers
02:34:33.370 --> 02:34:35.720
Melania Lefaber was
talking where she was
02:34:35.720 --> 02:34:39.870
receiving a $3 per call
fee on all of her calls.
02:34:39.870 --> 02:34:43.550
So that was a specific
instance of a provider
02:34:43.550 --> 02:34:48.417
in California charging a
$3 per call transaction fee.
02:34:48.417 --> 02:34:53.417
The FCC in their 2015 ruling
banned per-call surcharges.
02:34:56.860 --> 02:34:59.570
So some inmate phone
providers got creative
02:34:59.570 --> 02:35:02.810
and changed it to a transaction fee
02:35:02.810 --> 02:35:07.810
because the FCC did allow
a transaction fee via IVR.
02:35:09.300 --> 02:35:11.960
So they took that as
they could add a per call
02:35:11.960 --> 02:35:14.813
transaction fee as
opposed to a surcharge.
02:35:15.690 --> 02:35:17.247
So I just wanted to make sure that
02:35:17.247 --> 02:35:20.950
the California PUC is
taking that in consideration
02:35:20.950 --> 02:35:24.440
when they set the
caps to ban any type of
02:35:24.440 --> 02:35:27.300
per call transaction, be surcharge
02:35:27.300 --> 02:35:28.850
or whatever it might be called.
02:35:31.100 --> 02:35:32.600
Finally-
02:35:32.600 --> 02:35:35.240
Oh, okay Mr. Pope
if you could please
02:35:35.240 --> 02:35:37.700
wrap it up shortly as a
party you do have other
02:35:37.700 --> 02:35:40.366
opportunities to weigh
in but if you could just
02:35:40.366 --> 02:35:42.870
wrap up your remarks shortly.
02:35:42.870 --> 02:35:45.350
Okay, and today
the FCC announced
02:35:45.350 --> 02:35:48.210
on their May agenda that they will be
02:35:48.210 --> 02:35:52.160
putting out a new docket, a new order,
02:35:52.160 --> 02:35:55.540
a draft order for caps
on inmate phone rates.
02:35:55.540 --> 02:35:57.270
So last we heard, they were looking at
02:35:57.270 --> 02:36:02.270
capping the rates between
14 cents for large prisons
02:36:02.340 --> 02:36:05.820
and 16 cents per minute
for County and city jails.
02:36:05.820 --> 02:36:07.710
So we will be supporting that.
02:36:07.710 --> 02:36:11.190
We'll hear more tomorrow
when that gets posted.
02:36:11.190 --> 02:36:12.670
So you might be wanting to look,
02:36:12.670 --> 02:36:14.510
might want to look at that yourself.
02:36:14.510 --> 02:36:17.480
So anyways, I just
wanted to cover all that.
02:36:17.480 --> 02:36:18.680
Thank you for your time.
02:36:19.750 --> 02:36:21.070
Yeah, thank you Mr. Pope,
02:36:21.070 --> 02:36:26.070
and we will be discussing this further
02:36:26.850 --> 02:36:30.040
obviously in the
rulemaking for this case.
02:36:30.040 --> 02:36:34.530
And we'll look forward
to your comments there.
02:36:34.530 --> 02:36:35.363
Okay.
02:36:36.230 --> 02:36:40.135
And I understand
that the queue
02:36:40.135 --> 02:36:43.510
of callers may have dropped
off and may be back up.
02:36:43.510 --> 02:36:45.500
So I'd like to ask if
the Verizon operator
02:36:45.500 --> 02:36:47.203
has any other callers on the line.
02:36:49.110 --> 02:36:50.370
I show
no additional callers
02:36:50.370 --> 02:36:51.975
on the line at this time but again,
02:36:51.975 --> 02:36:53.930
if you would like to make a comment
02:36:53.930 --> 02:36:56.823
please unmute your phone and press *1.
02:36:59.870 --> 02:37:01.950
Thank you,
we'll just wait a couple
02:37:01.950 --> 02:37:04.500
of minutes here to see if
we have any last callers.
02:37:14.210 --> 02:37:16.660
And please
stand by our next caller.
02:37:23.880 --> 02:37:25.533
Our next caller is Yolanda.
02:37:26.450 --> 02:37:28.250
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:37:29.400 --> 02:37:30.970
Hi, my name is Yolanda
02:37:30.970 --> 02:37:34.140
and I am with the Drop LWOP Coalition
02:37:34.140 --> 02:37:36.840
and Families United to end the LWOP.
02:37:36.840 --> 02:37:40.360
My husband has served 27 years in prison
02:37:40.360 --> 02:37:43.030
and the first 18 years
of his incarceration
02:37:43.030 --> 02:37:46.880
he was only allowed to
call home once a month
02:37:46.880 --> 02:37:49.953
because his mother
could not afford the call.
02:37:52.397 --> 02:37:56.150
He calls me every chance he gets
02:37:56.150 --> 02:37:58.790
and I am retired on a fixed income,
02:37:58.790 --> 02:38:02.560
and it's a heavy burden on the family.
02:38:02.560 --> 02:38:06.860
But the contact that
we have over the phone
02:38:06.860 --> 02:38:10.293
is so important for him.
02:38:11.370 --> 02:38:13.540
It is the highlight of his day.
02:38:13.540 --> 02:38:17.640
My main concern about
this is it's not enough time.
02:38:17.640 --> 02:38:19.900
15-minutes is not enough time.
02:38:19.900 --> 02:38:23.750
And also the interruption,
why does it have to
02:38:23.750 --> 02:38:28.030
interrupt us every three
and a half minutes it feels like.
02:38:28.030 --> 02:38:30.440
We know the calls are being recorded,
02:38:30.440 --> 02:38:32.530
we know what they're doing.
02:38:32.530 --> 02:38:35.370
So let us enjoy our time on the phone.
02:38:35.370 --> 02:38:39.200
Why should we have to
pay for the interruption?
02:38:39.200 --> 02:38:41.150
It just costs way too much.
02:38:41.150 --> 02:38:45.910
It should be a part of
the rehabilitation program
02:38:45.910 --> 02:38:47.903
and I'll yield my time, thank you.
02:38:50.320 --> 02:38:51.530
Thank you, Yolanda.
02:38:51.530 --> 02:38:53.330
If you wouldn't mind telling us
02:38:53.330 --> 02:38:57.700
which carceral facility
and which companies
02:38:57.700 --> 02:38:58.713
you're referring to?
02:38:59.630 --> 02:39:03.183
GTL and CSP Sacramento.
02:39:04.783 --> 02:39:07.260
CSP Sacramento, okay.
02:39:07.260 --> 02:39:08.490
Mm-hmm!
02:39:08.490 --> 02:39:10.660
Thank you for that
and these interruptions
02:39:10.660 --> 02:39:13.963
in the calls how long
are they, typically.
02:39:15.410 --> 02:39:17.640
I don't know,
it's enough time for them
02:39:17.640 --> 02:39:20.614
to tell us that our
call is being recorded.
02:39:20.614 --> 02:39:22.410
Okay, so-
02:39:22.410 --> 02:39:23.540
It's just a nuisance.
02:39:23.540 --> 02:39:24.690
Few seconds or so.
02:39:24.690 --> 02:39:27.100
Yeah yeah.
02:39:27.100 --> 02:39:29.160
And why should
we pay for the reminder?
02:39:29.160 --> 02:39:31.563
We know everything's being recorded.
02:39:32.980 --> 02:39:35.020
Okay, thank you for that.
02:39:35.020 --> 02:39:36.840
Thank you for calling in.
02:39:36.840 --> 02:39:38.740
No problem
and I'm calling on behalf of
02:39:38.740 --> 02:39:42.020
all the life without the
possibility of parole people
02:39:42.020 --> 02:39:44.670
because they're in there
for the rest of their lives.
02:39:47.460 --> 02:39:50.293
Right, okay thank
you for that Yolanda.
02:39:53.750 --> 02:39:56.040
Operator, I think we
have two more callers.
02:39:56.040 --> 02:39:58.040
I believe these are caller that may have
02:39:58.040 --> 02:40:00.730
spoken previously but we can maybe
02:40:00.730 --> 02:40:02.190
allow them another minute or so.
02:40:02.190 --> 02:40:04.853
If you could introduce
the final callers.
02:40:07.334 --> 02:40:10.070
And our
next caller is Evelyn,
02:40:10.070 --> 02:40:11.883
you may go ahead, your line is open.
02:40:13.340 --> 02:40:15.740
Yes, thank you
so much for letting me
02:40:17.156 --> 02:40:20.027
make a comment as to somebody I have.
02:40:21.680 --> 02:40:25.377
My partner is incarcerated
at Chevron County jail
02:40:27.990 --> 02:40:31.800
and it was like a
really big shock for us.
02:40:31.800 --> 02:40:35.950
And just the process, like
people have been talking
02:40:35.950 --> 02:40:39.193
about it already, the cost of calling,
02:40:40.230 --> 02:40:43.512
the video calls and I
totally understand that
02:40:43.512 --> 02:40:47.620
before COVID you
could do a person visit.
02:40:47.620 --> 02:40:52.520
I am just saying this on
behalf of my seven-year-old son
02:40:52.520 --> 02:40:54.590
it happened when he was six,
02:40:54.590 --> 02:40:57.400
and the interruptions of the calls
02:40:58.290 --> 02:41:03.290
or sometimes I had to
email security at one point
02:41:04.020 --> 02:41:09.020
that I did use a system
call that I had paid for.
02:41:09.230 --> 02:41:12.810
And I heard nothing
back, I called, nothing back.
02:41:12.810 --> 02:41:17.810
And I remember how
just really hard for families
02:41:18.110 --> 02:41:20.370
like myself and many
others going through
02:41:20.370 --> 02:41:23.057
the same thing, my six,
he was six at the time
02:41:23.057 --> 02:41:28.057
and seven now and one
day he just broke down
02:41:28.070 --> 02:41:31.380
and said, mommy can we just go see him?
02:41:31.380 --> 02:41:34.900
I don't mind if we drive
like for so many hours.
02:41:34.900 --> 02:41:37.760
So it's, I don't know
with all the legalities
02:41:37.760 --> 02:41:39.680
going on now with COVID,
02:41:39.680 --> 02:41:42.870
I know before maybe you could visit.
02:41:42.870 --> 02:41:46.350
Isn't just that like the video calls
02:41:46.350 --> 02:41:48.570
is just the closest thing.
02:41:48.570 --> 02:41:50.860
So with all the interruptions and
02:41:50.860 --> 02:41:53.310
paying without being able to use it,
02:41:53.310 --> 02:41:55.860
or somebody says it's hard to imagine
02:41:55.860 --> 02:41:58.213
locked up for those many days,
02:41:58.213 --> 02:42:01.480
it's just scary to
their growing children.
02:42:01.480 --> 02:42:05.600
And how traumatizing
not knowing what to do
02:42:05.600 --> 02:42:08.740
not knowing when the
parents will come out.
02:42:08.740 --> 02:42:11.023
So sorry.
02:42:13.193 --> 02:42:14.753
Thank you.
Yeah!
02:42:14.753 --> 02:42:16.253
Thank you, Evelyn.
02:42:17.385 --> 02:42:19.413
Thank you for taking
the time to call in.
02:42:24.100 --> 02:42:26.450
Operator, I believe we have
02:42:26.450 --> 02:42:29.630
now we have two callers
who have called previously.
02:42:29.630 --> 02:42:30.860
If you could introduce them.
02:42:30.860 --> 02:42:33.483
We'll give them another
quick minute or so.
02:42:34.909 --> 02:42:37.040
Our next
caller is Dee Emmert.
02:42:37.040 --> 02:42:38.840
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:42:40.050 --> 02:42:42.827
Thank you,
yeah, I was (indistinct).
02:42:44.000 --> 02:42:44.950
I don't know what happened.
02:42:44.950 --> 02:42:49.270
I haven't called before but apparently
02:42:49.270 --> 02:42:51.380
I was struck from the queue.
02:42:51.380 --> 02:42:53.600
Thank you for taking the time to listen.
02:42:53.600 --> 02:42:56.890
I know we're well beyond the time
02:42:56.890 --> 02:42:58.830
that was allotted for the hearing,
02:42:58.830 --> 02:43:00.990
but this is very important.
02:43:00.990 --> 02:43:03.780
My name again is D, D as in Deborah
02:43:03.780 --> 02:43:08.643
E-E last name Emmert, E-M-M-E-R-T.
02:43:09.920 --> 02:43:13.280
Just a couple of things that I
haven't heard people mention.
02:43:13.280 --> 02:43:16.030
One is for the places
where you put money
02:43:16.030 --> 02:43:17.943
on the account for phone calls,
02:43:18.960 --> 02:43:22.270
then if your loved one is
moved to a different facility
02:43:22.270 --> 02:43:25.760
you lose whatever money
is left in that account.
02:43:25.760 --> 02:43:28.870
And there's usually
some way to get a refund
02:43:28.870 --> 02:43:32.260
but it's both complicated
and time-consuming.
02:43:32.260 --> 02:43:34.440
And it takes a long time before
02:43:34.440 --> 02:43:36.700
you actually get your money back.
02:43:36.700 --> 02:43:40.120
So, and of course, just putting money
02:43:40.120 --> 02:43:42.560
on an account is a burden as well.
02:43:42.560 --> 02:43:46.883
That's money that could be
used for food in the meantime.
02:43:47.920 --> 02:43:51.010
I also wanted to tell
a story that shows,
02:43:51.010 --> 02:43:54.070
yeah, I'm used to people being negative
02:43:54.070 --> 02:43:56.960
about you if you're a family
member of an incarcerated.
02:43:56.960 --> 02:44:01.347
I'm the mother of a formerly
incarcerated young man
02:44:01.347 --> 02:44:04.190
but I wanted to give an example of
02:44:04.190 --> 02:44:09.190
how far the burden extends
beyond the immediate family.
02:44:10.090 --> 02:44:14.530
I have friends who built a
bonus room in their attic,
02:44:14.530 --> 02:44:17.570
an extra bedroom and
their next-door neighbor said,
02:44:17.570 --> 02:44:19.740
oh, gee I wish I could
do something like that.
02:44:19.740 --> 02:44:21.450
Then they said, well, why can't you?
02:44:21.450 --> 02:44:24.400
And so these are
upper-middle-class folks.
02:44:24.400 --> 02:44:27.120
And he said, well, my
nephew is in prison.
02:44:27.120 --> 02:44:29.900
And so any extra money I have goes to
02:44:29.900 --> 02:44:31.852
support the family, help the family out
02:44:31.852 --> 02:44:33.880
and to help him out.
02:44:33.880 --> 02:44:36.210
And so it's not just
the immediate family
02:44:36.210 --> 02:44:37.790
but it's the extended family and
02:44:37.790 --> 02:44:39.890
the whole community that suffers.
02:44:39.890 --> 02:44:43.460
And I recognize that
phone calls and commissary
02:44:43.460 --> 02:44:46.160
are only a small part of that burden
02:44:46.160 --> 02:44:49.340
but everything that adds to that burden
02:44:49.340 --> 02:44:51.033
impacts so many people.
02:44:52.060 --> 02:44:55.020
So thank you for this
opportunity to share
02:44:55.020 --> 02:44:57.063
my experience and the experiences
02:44:57.063 --> 02:44:58.513
of those that I care about.
02:45:00.930 --> 02:45:03.580
Thank you, thank
you, Dee, appreciate that.
02:45:05.360 --> 02:45:09.510
And operator, would you
like to call the last caller?
02:45:09.510 --> 02:45:12.070
I believe we have
heard this caller before
02:45:12.070 --> 02:45:15.493
but we can listen a little bit longer.
02:45:16.800 --> 02:45:19.307
Our next
caller is Milania Lafaber
02:45:20.440 --> 02:45:22.240
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:45:27.750 --> 02:45:29.230
Again, Milania your line is open
02:45:29.230 --> 02:45:30.580
we're not able to hear you.
02:45:38.689 --> 02:45:41.959
Can you
hear me now, hello?
02:45:41.959 --> 02:45:43.299
Yes, we can hear you now.
02:45:43.299 --> 02:45:44.388
Yes, we can hear you now.
02:45:44.388 --> 02:45:47.733
Yes, to answer
the judge's question on,
02:45:49.320 --> 02:45:54.320
the question to Yolanda
about the interruption time
02:45:54.390 --> 02:45:56.900
that would be about one minute
02:45:56.900 --> 02:46:00.423
and 35 seconds interruption time.
02:46:02.500 --> 02:46:07.500
And I also wanted to know
whether they would be open to
02:46:08.680 --> 02:46:13.680
maybe not a minute, you know, where we
02:46:14.440 --> 02:46:17.130
don't have to count by the
minutes for talking to them
02:46:17.130 --> 02:46:20.890
but we can have an, plan
just like the cell phones
02:46:20.890 --> 02:46:22.920
where we can have
unlimited time during the month
02:46:22.920 --> 02:46:27.090
to talk for a certain
fee, if that's permissible.
02:46:27.090 --> 02:46:30.473
And with that, maybe a
little extra for video calls?
02:46:34.900 --> 02:46:36.190
Ms. Lefaber, we can't
02:46:36.190 --> 02:46:37.713
hear you now, are you there?
02:46:38.910 --> 02:46:40.670
Yes, I'm here,
can you hear me?
02:46:40.670 --> 02:46:42.240
Oh yeah,
now we can hear you.
02:46:42.240 --> 02:46:44.640
Last thing we heard was
if you were talking about
02:46:44.640 --> 02:46:47.160
if there could be like a cell phone plan
02:46:47.160 --> 02:46:49.573
and perhaps something
similar for video calls.
02:46:50.660 --> 02:46:52.010
Yeah, it's
a cell phone plan
02:46:52.010 --> 02:46:57.010
for unlimited phone calls
for a certain fee a month.
02:46:57.770 --> 02:47:01.040
And then with a little
extra that we would pay
02:47:01.040 --> 02:47:04.773
on top of that for video calls as well.
02:47:07.070 --> 02:47:10.190
Okay thank
you for that suggestion.
02:47:10.190 --> 02:47:11.038
Yes.
02:47:11.038 --> 02:47:12.997
That's something
we can look into.
02:47:12.997 --> 02:47:13.943
Mm-hmm.
02:47:15.590 --> 02:47:16.838
Thank you.
02:47:16.838 --> 02:47:17.671
You're welcome.
02:47:17.671 --> 02:47:18.982
Operator, I believe there's
02:47:18.982 --> 02:47:20.480
one or two more callers.
02:47:20.480 --> 02:47:22.130
If you could go ahead and call them
02:47:22.130 --> 02:47:25.320
and we will be wrapping up in about
02:47:25.320 --> 02:47:26.830
5 or 10-minutes here so
02:47:28.350 --> 02:47:29.600
possibly our last caller.
02:47:30.440 --> 02:47:32.610
All right, our next
caller is Sarah Michaels.
02:47:32.610 --> 02:47:34.410
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:47:36.160 --> 02:47:40.360
Yes, so I am a therapist
02:47:40.360 --> 02:47:44.240
and I have a loved one
that's also incarcerated.
02:47:44.240 --> 02:47:47.730
So I have many clients or
clients whose loved ones
02:47:47.730 --> 02:47:52.470
are incarcerated or they
are the incarcerated person.
02:47:52.470 --> 02:47:56.150
And for the past 10
years, I have had to have
02:47:56.150 --> 02:48:00.130
over 20 different DTL accounts.
02:48:00.130 --> 02:48:02.470
I have recently started I'm recording
02:48:02.470 --> 02:48:04.200
the phone calls with them,
02:48:04.200 --> 02:48:07.940
but just a prime example of something
02:48:07.940 --> 02:48:11.070
that that company does
that monopolizes off
02:48:11.070 --> 02:48:13.830
these families and off myself.
02:48:13.830 --> 02:48:16.970
For example, if I go to the website
02:48:16.970 --> 02:48:20.490
to make a payment on my prepaid account,
02:48:20.490 --> 02:48:23.480
if I'm using it for the
purpose of an inmate
02:48:23.480 --> 02:48:25.810
that's in California
which I have inmates
02:48:25.810 --> 02:48:28.701
that are at or I have
clients that are inmates
02:48:28.701 --> 02:48:32.100
at LA County jails that
are also CDCR inmates.
02:48:32.100 --> 02:48:35.140
So for CDCR inmates,
it's $0 to add money
02:48:35.140 --> 02:48:36.750
to my prepaid con account.
02:48:36.750 --> 02:48:38.870
If that is an inmate within CDCR
02:48:38.870 --> 02:48:40.710
hasn't called me within the last month,
02:48:40.710 --> 02:48:42.970
then they charged me the LA County fees.
02:48:42.970 --> 02:48:47.610
And then like last night, for
example, I went to add money.
02:48:47.610 --> 02:48:51.950
It charged me $5 and 95 cents
to put money on the account.
02:48:51.950 --> 02:48:54.560
Yet when I scroll down to
the bottom of their website
02:48:54.560 --> 02:48:57.677
and I click on rates and fees
and I put in my phone number
02:48:57.677 --> 02:49:01.260
and I put in LA County
jail, it says it's $3.
02:49:01.260 --> 02:49:02.940
When I called Global Tel Link,
02:49:02.940 --> 02:49:05.870
they can't seem to explain to me
02:49:05.870 --> 02:49:08.680
why it says 5.95 that
they've just charged me
02:49:08.680 --> 02:49:10.780
whereas their website says $3.
02:49:10.780 --> 02:49:13.370
So they can't even hold
themselves accountable
02:49:13.370 --> 02:49:14.610
for their own rates.
02:49:14.610 --> 02:49:17.290
I definitely I've been
told that they charge
02:49:17.290 --> 02:49:21.827
fees and taxes, every call
which is confusing to me
02:49:21.827 --> 02:49:24.950
'cause if I have a cell
phone I don't get charged
02:49:24.950 --> 02:49:27.600
taxes every single phone
call or text message I send,
02:49:27.600 --> 02:49:29.600
I get charged taxes each month.
02:49:29.600 --> 02:49:32.020
So I'm not sure how they can monopolize
02:49:32.020 --> 02:49:33.810
off every single phone call.
02:49:33.810 --> 02:49:36.110
I noticed another caller had
mentioned something about like
02:49:36.110 --> 02:49:39.680
the recordings and how those
are disruptive interruptions.
02:49:39.680 --> 02:49:41.770
I want to point out that
Global Tel Link says that
02:49:41.770 --> 02:49:45.210
they are offering, you know
free 5-minute phone calls
02:49:45.210 --> 02:49:47.070
each week or every
other week to inmates.
02:49:47.070 --> 02:49:49.560
However, those phone calls
are actually three minutes
02:49:49.560 --> 02:49:54.560
because two of the first
minutes are the recording,
02:49:55.260 --> 02:49:58.300
the prompts to lead you to the inmate
02:49:58.300 --> 02:50:00.860
and then you have an
additional about minute
02:50:00.860 --> 02:50:04.383
and 15 seconds of
recordings in that phone call.
02:50:05.810 --> 02:50:09.820
They have had many
cases brought against them,
02:50:09.820 --> 02:50:12.410
class-action lawsuits on the East Coast
02:50:12.410 --> 02:50:14.170
for scamming people out of money.
02:50:14.170 --> 02:50:18.670
I can tell you personally
that I have tried
02:50:18.670 --> 02:50:21.940
to numerous times
resolve issues with them.
02:50:21.940 --> 02:50:24.380
They're impossible to work with.
02:50:24.380 --> 02:50:28.330
So it's not even that
this company, you know
02:50:28.330 --> 02:50:32.260
is not really in the
business of keeping inmates
02:50:32.260 --> 02:50:34.410
and their loved ones connected
02:50:34.410 --> 02:50:38.040
but they really don't resolve anything.
02:50:38.040 --> 02:50:39.860
I can tell you also in the 10 years that
02:50:39.860 --> 02:50:42.950
I have had accounts with them,
02:50:42.950 --> 02:50:44.620
they always tell me
when there's a problem
02:50:44.620 --> 02:50:47.090
that they're going to make a ticket.
02:50:47.090 --> 02:50:49.510
I've never once out of 50 tickets.
02:50:49.510 --> 02:50:51.893
I've never once had a ticket resolved.
02:50:53.200 --> 02:50:56.670
Also more recently, I've
had to make a new account
02:50:56.670 --> 02:50:59.713
and I have a prepaid phone account.
02:50:59.713 --> 02:51:01.707
The recording that comes in is that
02:51:01.707 --> 02:51:03.710
I need to set up a
prepaid phone account.
02:51:03.710 --> 02:51:06.250
And when I call them,
they say, oh, you have one.
02:51:06.250 --> 02:51:08.640
The inmate must be
dialing something wrong.
02:51:08.640 --> 02:51:10.480
There's no way that every single inmate
02:51:10.480 --> 02:51:11.790
is dialing something wrong.
02:51:11.790 --> 02:51:13.830
The reason why I've had
to have multiple accounts
02:51:13.830 --> 02:51:17.400
is because they will
put my account on freeze
02:51:17.400 --> 02:51:21.660
or hold if they have a
processing payment.
02:51:21.660 --> 02:51:25.140
So let's say I have, you
know 20 clients for the week
02:51:25.140 --> 02:51:28.070
and they all call in
that's quite a few times
02:51:28.070 --> 02:51:29.790
I have to reload my account.
02:51:29.790 --> 02:51:33.510
Every time they receive
funds from my institution
02:51:33.510 --> 02:51:35.340
they should be putting
the minutes on the phone.
02:51:35.340 --> 02:51:37.100
More recently, I actually had to switch
02:51:37.100 --> 02:51:39.500
to using Western Union
because they wouldn't
02:51:39.500 --> 02:51:44.500
take a card anymore and
prior to using Western Union
02:51:44.993 --> 02:51:47.540
I had called to make a payment
through the phone operator
02:51:47.540 --> 02:51:49.250
which is interesting because again
02:51:49.250 --> 02:51:52.650
if I use my online web accounts
02:51:52.650 --> 02:51:55.380
if use this for the CDCR inmates
02:51:55.380 --> 02:51:58.430
if they were calling in, then
it would be $0 I was charged
02:51:58.430 --> 02:52:01.640
but now they suddenly can't
take my card for no reason.
02:52:01.640 --> 02:52:05.060
And they want to charge
me 1495 to make a payment
02:52:05.060 --> 02:52:06.740
through a live operator.
02:52:06.740 --> 02:52:08.320
So again, they're monopolizing offers me
02:52:08.320 --> 02:52:10.070
because there's no
there's been no problems
02:52:10.070 --> 02:52:11.870
with ever receiving payments from me.
02:52:11.870 --> 02:52:14.820
And now I have to pay
1495 when the contract
02:52:14.820 --> 02:52:17.580
that I've read it's 32 pages long says
02:52:17.580 --> 02:52:20.010
that they only charged
by 5.95 for live operations.
02:52:20.010 --> 02:52:22.740
So I have to ask them
every time to get a refund
02:52:22.740 --> 02:52:27.240
of my other, like almost
$10 and I never get that back.
02:52:27.240 --> 02:52:30.230
And then they finally stopped
allowing it to go through.
02:52:30.230 --> 02:52:32.290
Also, it shouldn't go
through a live operator
02:52:32.290 --> 02:52:34.240
if it doesn't go through their app.
02:52:34.240 --> 02:52:37.623
So you see that they
kind of operate really,
02:52:39.600 --> 02:52:42.930
not in accordance with
fair business practices.
02:52:42.930 --> 02:52:44.360
But when I go to Western Union
02:52:44.360 --> 02:52:46.900
then I have to pay 695
for the Western Union.
02:52:46.900 --> 02:52:49.150
Another way that they're
monopolizing off of me.
02:52:49.150 --> 02:52:52.300
And then more recently I made a payment
02:52:52.300 --> 02:52:54.080
through Western Union, they received it,
02:52:54.080 --> 02:52:56.090
it took them four days.
02:52:56.090 --> 02:52:57.540
It usually takes them immediately.
02:52:57.540 --> 02:52:58.433
They will get the funds
and they will already
02:52:58.433 --> 02:53:00.470
say that I have minutes on my account.
02:53:00.470 --> 02:53:04.030
It took them four days to
put money on my account
02:53:04.030 --> 02:53:06.100
no explanation at all.
02:53:06.100 --> 02:53:07.990
They can't seem to explain anything.
02:53:07.990 --> 02:53:10.650
And as I stated, I have
numerous recorded
02:53:10.650 --> 02:53:15.650
phone calls that can
attest to all of this.
02:53:15.868 --> 02:53:18.460
I have to call frequently back to back
02:53:18.460 --> 02:53:20.560
because the representative
will hang up on me
02:53:20.560 --> 02:53:22.490
if they don't know the
answer to the question.
02:53:22.490 --> 02:53:24.660
I've had to go out of
my way and find out
02:53:24.660 --> 02:53:26.560
who the executive
director is and reach out
02:53:26.560 --> 02:53:30.950
to that person as well
as area representatives.
02:53:30.950 --> 02:53:33.490
So I can submit all of those if I know
02:53:33.490 --> 02:53:36.010
kind of a way to do
that, as well as, you know
02:53:36.010 --> 02:53:39.830
photographic evidence that shows that
02:53:39.830 --> 02:53:41.800
really Global Tel Link ConnectNetwork,
02:53:41.800 --> 02:53:43.773
they operate as numerous different,
02:53:45.710 --> 02:53:47.760
numerous different
names also they charge
02:53:47.760 --> 02:53:50.120
third party transactions
it says on their website,
02:53:50.120 --> 02:53:52.563
which is also a sister company,
02:53:52.563 --> 02:53:55.045
they're all the same thing.
02:53:55.045 --> 02:53:59.810
They all operate under
the same name and entity
02:53:59.810 --> 02:54:01.690
at the end of the day but they just try
02:54:01.690 --> 02:54:03.520
to label it differently so that they can
02:54:03.520 --> 02:54:05.730
make up erroneous charges for people
02:54:05.730 --> 02:54:07.900
which really ultimately
victimizes not just
02:54:07.900 --> 02:54:10.600
the inmates, but the
families or professionals.
02:54:10.600 --> 02:54:12.970
I know another colleague
talked about, you know
02:54:12.970 --> 02:54:15.790
phone calls with loved ones
02:54:15.790 --> 02:54:18.483
as well as attorneys' phone calls.
02:54:19.820 --> 02:54:21.070
I think the only other thing I'd like
02:54:21.070 --> 02:54:22.270
to point out is for LA County,
02:54:22.270 --> 02:54:23.840
and this is me just wrapping it up.
02:54:23.840 --> 02:54:26.380
But for LA County, if
you go to their website
02:54:26.380 --> 02:54:28.950
and you click on the phone services,
02:54:28.950 --> 02:54:31.250
it takes you to a
ConnectNetwork website.
02:54:31.250 --> 02:54:33.130
Half of the representatives say,
02:54:33.130 --> 02:54:34.390
oh, that's not our website,
02:54:34.390 --> 02:54:38.060
connectnetwork.net.com
is not our website.
02:54:38.060 --> 02:54:40.510
However, you can get to that same link
02:54:40.510 --> 02:54:42.250
through ConnectNetworks websites
02:54:42.250 --> 02:54:45.480
so it's not the GTL 'cause there's an
02:54:45.480 --> 02:54:47.330
additional company
that labels themselves
02:54:47.330 --> 02:54:50.610
as GTL for cheaper phone
phone calls, it's not them.
02:54:50.610 --> 02:54:52.970
The website that is linked to LA County
02:54:52.970 --> 02:54:54.657
Sheriff's department
website is the same link
02:54:54.657 --> 02:54:57.400
that's also connected to ConnectNetworks
02:54:57.400 --> 02:55:00.550
GTL whatever else it's
all the same companies.
02:55:00.550 --> 02:55:03.080
Half the representatives
will say for the company
02:55:03.080 --> 02:55:05.040
that's not our website
and the other half will,
02:55:05.040 --> 02:55:07.623
but that also lays out what
the appropriate fees are
02:55:07.623 --> 02:55:09.500
that they are not charging.
02:55:09.500 --> 02:55:13.310
They also cannot tell me
whose tax rate they are using
02:55:13.310 --> 02:55:14.850
they can't tell me
whether they're using the
02:55:14.850 --> 02:55:16.380
tax rate of Texas, which is the number
02:55:16.380 --> 02:55:17.860
that shows up on our phone,
02:55:17.860 --> 02:55:20.790
or if it's the tax rate for California.
02:55:20.790 --> 02:55:22.400
My understanding is I'm in California.
02:55:22.400 --> 02:55:23.800
I'm talking to an inmate in California.
02:55:23.800 --> 02:55:25.890
I should be charged taxes for California
02:55:25.890 --> 02:55:27.380
not somewhere else.
02:55:27.380 --> 02:55:28.970
They really need to become transparent
02:55:28.970 --> 02:55:30.580
if business operations
are going to continue to
02:55:30.580 --> 02:55:32.530
move forward, I've also suggested
02:55:32.530 --> 02:55:35.504
because the phones
are so poorly operated
02:55:35.504 --> 02:55:38.987
that maybe they need
to change inmates to,
02:55:38.987 --> 02:55:40.380
you know fix the phone lines.
02:55:40.380 --> 02:55:42.750
And that would not only
build career building skills
02:55:42.750 --> 02:55:45.338
for these inmates but
would also assist with
02:55:45.338 --> 02:55:48.850
the institutions and ConnectNetwork
02:55:48.850 --> 02:55:51.200
with any additional fees, thank you.
02:55:51.200 --> 02:55:53.180
Okay, thank
you, Ms. Michaels.
02:55:53.180 --> 02:55:54.748
That was a lot.
02:55:54.748 --> 02:55:55.581
Yeah.
02:55:55.581 --> 02:55:57.470
We do have folks at the...
02:55:57.470 --> 02:55:59.670
Thank you for that detail.
02:55:59.670 --> 02:56:02.250
If you'd like to send an email
02:56:02.250 --> 02:56:04.800
or to call our public advisor's office
02:56:04.800 --> 02:56:07.020
after this hearing,
sounds like you may have
02:56:07.020 --> 02:56:10.593
some further information
you might like to provide to us.
02:56:11.460 --> 02:56:13.160
I'll give you that information again.
02:56:13.160 --> 02:56:16.840
The Public Advisors phone
line is 1 866 849 8390.
02:56:19.730 --> 02:56:22.410
And you can also email
our public advisor's office.
02:56:22.410 --> 02:56:27.170
That's public.adviser@cpc.ca.gov.
02:56:27.170 --> 02:56:29.270
It sounds like there's been some
02:56:29.270 --> 02:56:30.900
really significant problems with
02:56:30.900 --> 02:56:33.370
billing and online
information and so on.
02:56:33.370 --> 02:56:35.440
So, if you have the chance to reach out
02:56:35.440 --> 02:56:38.270
to our public advisors
coax, they can follow up
02:56:38.270 --> 02:56:40.540
a little further and get
this information from you.
02:56:40.540 --> 02:56:42.590
Sure, yeah,
yeah I'll go ahead
02:56:42.590 --> 02:56:44.400
and add this to a Google drive
02:56:44.400 --> 02:56:46.840
'cause I think that the
recordings are actually,
02:56:46.840 --> 02:56:48.560
you know probably too big for email,
02:56:48.560 --> 02:56:50.180
but I'll send them an
email and let them know
02:56:50.180 --> 02:56:51.600
how to reach the Google drive and then
02:56:51.600 --> 02:56:52.850
they can just kind of sift through
02:56:52.850 --> 02:56:55.910
everything that I have
over the last 10 years.
02:56:55.910 --> 02:56:59.020
Okay, thank
you, appreciate that.
02:56:59.887 --> 02:57:02.040
Ms.
Michaels, did you also say
02:57:02.040 --> 02:57:04.760
you worked with an organization?
02:57:04.760 --> 02:57:07.070
No, I'm an
outpatient therapist.
02:57:07.070 --> 02:57:08.940
Yeah, in Southern California.
02:57:08.940 --> 02:57:11.170
So I don't work with an organization.
02:57:11.170 --> 02:57:16.130
I have my own entity,
but, and it just kind of falling
02:57:16.130 --> 02:57:18.130
into the sector, I guess, by default
02:57:18.130 --> 02:57:20.190
just because I started having more
02:57:20.190 --> 02:57:22.990
and more clients that
were trying to adjust
02:57:22.990 --> 02:57:26.080
to kind of getting out
of being incarcerated
02:57:26.080 --> 02:57:29.120
or institutionalized, so to speak and,
02:57:29.120 --> 02:57:30.970
or family members that had a loved one
02:57:30.970 --> 02:57:33.380
incarcerated that was struggling
02:57:33.380 --> 02:57:34.790
as a family with the adjustment.
02:57:34.790 --> 02:57:39.000
And so I started out just kind of,
02:57:39.000 --> 02:57:40.820
for the most part all of my inmates
02:57:40.820 --> 02:57:43.080
or families that have inmates.
02:57:43.080 --> 02:57:46.550
I do all of the therapy
for them over those lines.
02:57:46.550 --> 02:57:49.272
And I actually pay for the calls.
02:57:49.272 --> 02:57:51.200
I don't bill insurance for them
02:57:51.200 --> 02:57:53.050
because most of them,
they don't have insurance.
02:57:53.050 --> 02:57:54.730
I don't take any Caspian.
02:57:54.730 --> 02:57:58.270
So I do this really on the, you know
02:57:58.270 --> 02:58:00.800
honor system or or good merit system
02:58:00.800 --> 02:58:02.453
that I just want to help people.
02:58:03.440 --> 02:58:05.250
I do have pain clients as well,
02:58:05.250 --> 02:58:07.930
but for these inmates
and loved ones, you know
02:58:07.930 --> 02:58:10.490
usually they are
financially not in a place
02:58:10.490 --> 02:58:12.560
where they can really afford much.
02:58:12.560 --> 02:58:15.900
And so the therapy that
I offer and to assist them
02:58:15.900 --> 02:58:19.580
as a family continue to stay connected
02:58:19.580 --> 02:58:22.510
or to learn how to
manage their own emotions
02:58:22.510 --> 02:58:24.060
or whatnot while they're incarcerated
02:58:24.060 --> 02:58:26.580
or to help them prepare for adjustment
02:58:26.580 --> 02:58:27.830
after being institutionalized.
02:58:27.830 --> 02:58:29.400
I do that all free of charge
02:58:29.400 --> 02:58:31.100
and I absorbed the cost which is why
02:58:31.100 --> 02:58:33.550
it's so frustrating to
deal with Global Tel Link.
02:58:37.770 --> 02:58:39.420
All right, thank
you, miss Michaels.
02:58:39.420 --> 02:58:41.800
Lots of, lots of detail there.
02:58:41.800 --> 02:58:42.633
Yes, thank you.
02:58:42.633 --> 02:58:43.466
Thank you for calling.
02:58:44.430 --> 02:58:46.250
And I believe we have a couple more
02:58:46.250 --> 02:58:48.060
callers in the queue at this point.
02:58:48.060 --> 02:58:50.640
And we, I have asked
the Verizon operator
02:58:50.640 --> 02:58:54.500
to go ahead and and close the queue.
02:58:54.500 --> 02:58:56.660
We'll just take these last two callers
02:58:56.660 --> 02:58:58.840
and then we will wrap up the hearing.
02:58:58.840 --> 02:59:00.340
So operator, if you could please
02:59:00.340 --> 02:59:01.763
introduce our last callers.
02:59:03.680 --> 02:59:06.343
Our next
caller is number 5.
02:59:07.330 --> 02:59:09.130
You may go ahead, your line is open.
02:59:09.980 --> 02:59:11.178
Good afternoon, and again,
02:59:11.178 --> 02:59:12.300
I'd like to thank the Commission
02:59:12.300 --> 02:59:15.903
for providing us with an
opportunity to participate.
02:59:16.960 --> 02:59:18.870
I'd like to repeat what Ms. Diaz said
02:59:18.870 --> 02:59:22.230
in regards to fees being taken
for every single transaction
02:59:22.230 --> 02:59:24.233
including commissary transactions.
02:59:26.568 --> 02:59:28.190
I'd also like to repeat the comments
02:59:28.190 --> 02:59:30.760
of a previous caller
regarding the inability
02:59:30.760 --> 02:59:33.550
for some inmates to
participate in this meeting
02:59:33.550 --> 02:59:36.500
as they're only allowed
15-minutes per call.
02:59:36.500 --> 02:59:40.140
So please, please make
them more manageable
02:59:40.140 --> 02:59:43.550
for them to participate
as well moving forward.
02:59:43.550 --> 02:59:46.280
My son was arrested in June of 2019
02:59:46.280 --> 02:59:47.820
and like many others on this call
02:59:47.820 --> 02:59:50.030
has not been convicted to date
02:59:50.030 --> 02:59:52.130
is still awaiting trial
to either be released
02:59:52.130 --> 02:59:54.223
or transferred to a prison facility.
02:59:55.380 --> 02:59:58.120
As the mother of an imprisoned inmates,
02:59:58.120 --> 03:00:00.200
it has been and
continues to be difficult
03:00:00.200 --> 03:00:01.760
to keep in touch with him.
03:00:01.760 --> 03:00:05.590
I'm a breast cancer survivor
with very limited income.
03:00:05.590 --> 03:00:08.250
My husband is a disabled American vet
03:00:08.250 --> 03:00:10.400
with health issues
which I deal with daily.
03:00:11.240 --> 03:00:13.570
In addition to the stress
of having another son
03:00:13.570 --> 03:00:15.650
currently serving, sorry
03:00:16.630 --> 03:00:18.780
overseas at this time who's unable
03:00:18.780 --> 03:00:21.770
to speak to his
incarcerated brother because
03:00:21.770 --> 03:00:24.697
he's unable to call outside
of the United States.
03:00:26.760 --> 03:00:28.850
Communication to me is a form of therapy
03:00:28.850 --> 03:00:30.710
for those struggling on both ends.
03:00:30.710 --> 03:00:32.780
And we as family members are overpaying
03:00:32.780 --> 03:00:35.570
for communication that should be free.
03:00:35.570 --> 03:00:38.890
I'd like to see the Commission
add video visitations
03:00:38.890 --> 03:00:41.743
as well as an ongoing
feature available for use.
03:00:43.620 --> 03:00:46.160
The inmates as well be given
03:00:46.160 --> 03:00:48.610
the ability to call out of the country.
03:00:48.610 --> 03:00:51.210
As many have stated,
it's proven that inmates
03:00:51.210 --> 03:00:53.250
who have regular
communication with their friends
03:00:53.250 --> 03:00:57.890
and family members have better morale,
03:00:57.890 --> 03:01:00.940
better health, and better mindset
03:01:00.940 --> 03:01:02.470
during their incarceration
03:01:02.470 --> 03:01:04.540
in addition to being
better able to adapt
03:01:04.540 --> 03:01:06.990
to society once they're released.
03:01:06.990 --> 03:01:10.200
These at the very least
restrict and possibly
03:01:10.200 --> 03:01:13.263
alleviate the financial
burden on families and friends.
03:01:15.680 --> 03:01:17.530
In closing, I'd just
like to say next week
03:01:17.530 --> 03:01:20.330
I'm forced to move
due to financial burden
03:01:20.330 --> 03:01:24.343
unforeseen including what
is going on with my son.
03:01:25.394 --> 03:01:28.010
And I'll also be asking for
access to communication,
03:01:28.010 --> 03:01:30.280
both in Mexico, as
well as out in the country
03:01:30.280 --> 03:01:32.460
for hours as well as other military
03:01:32.460 --> 03:01:35.627
family members currently
deployed, thank you.
03:01:37.630 --> 03:01:39.410
Thank you, caller,
03:01:39.410 --> 03:01:41.163
sorry to hear about your situation.
03:01:42.030 --> 03:01:43.073
Thank you.
03:01:46.647 --> 03:01:48.420
And operator,
could we please
03:01:48.420 --> 03:01:49.533
take the last caller.
03:01:51.950 --> 03:01:54.260
The last
caller is Mary Marino.
03:01:54.260 --> 03:01:56.570
Your line is open, you may go ahead.
03:01:56.570 --> 03:01:58.690
Yes, thank you so much.
03:01:58.690 --> 03:01:59.990
Thank you so much for your patience.
03:01:59.990 --> 03:02:01.110
I'll try to be brief.
03:02:01.110 --> 03:02:03.650
I just wanted to say that I hope that
03:02:03.650 --> 03:02:07.090
you guys really consider and hear all
03:02:07.090 --> 03:02:09.280
and have heard all these
stories and I hope that
03:02:09.280 --> 03:02:12.700
they really move you to
make some type of change.
03:02:12.700 --> 03:02:14.780
I also wanted to say
something that has not
03:02:14.780 --> 03:02:17.350
been mentioned yet, which
would probably solve a lot
03:02:17.350 --> 03:02:21.370
of the issues that I've heard so far.
03:02:21.370 --> 03:02:24.310
And that is the fact that not only do
03:02:24.310 --> 03:02:27.100
incarcerated people have
limited access to phones
03:02:27.100 --> 03:02:30.550
but the time they are given
is sometimes very restricted.
03:02:30.550 --> 03:02:34.210
And you know, there's also the barrier
03:02:34.210 --> 03:02:35.860
to making three-way calls.
03:02:35.860 --> 03:02:39.860
For some reason, at least for GTL
03:02:39.860 --> 03:02:42.450
it is prohibited to
make a three-way call.
03:02:42.450 --> 03:02:44.450
So let's say my husband
only has five minutes
03:02:44.450 --> 03:02:46.980
because sometimes they
do have to compromise
03:02:46.980 --> 03:02:48.820
among them and they don't even do the
03:02:48.820 --> 03:02:52.080
whole 15-minute calls
because they have so little time.
03:02:52.080 --> 03:02:53.597
So they'll share their time.
03:02:53.597 --> 03:02:55.920
And my husband sometimes
only have five minutes
03:02:55.920 --> 03:02:59.050
which means that I
couldn't do a three-way call
03:02:59.050 --> 03:03:01.040
for him to just say hi to his mother.
03:03:01.040 --> 03:03:03.230
Or if there's somebody
like the previous caller,
03:03:03.230 --> 03:03:05.730
for example that has somebody oversee
03:03:05.730 --> 03:03:07.720
that she would probably like you know,
03:03:07.720 --> 03:03:11.040
to call and for her son to say hi to,
03:03:11.040 --> 03:03:13.700
they can't do that because you know
03:03:13.700 --> 03:03:15.420
you cannot do a three-way call.
03:03:15.420 --> 03:03:17.540
As soon as you know they hear that click
03:03:17.540 --> 03:03:20.120
or whatever it is the call
gets completely disconnected.
03:03:20.120 --> 03:03:22.430
I do not understand why because the call
03:03:22.430 --> 03:03:24.310
is being monitored regardless.
03:03:24.310 --> 03:03:26.190
So that is definitely
something that I would
03:03:26.190 --> 03:03:28.950
appreciate if you guys
would care to look into
03:03:28.950 --> 03:03:31.193
and thank you so much
for being so patient.
03:03:33.350 --> 03:03:34.560
Thank you and Ms. Marino
03:03:34.560 --> 03:03:37.313
for calling in and raising those points.
03:03:38.170 --> 03:03:42.703
And that does conclude
our public comment period.
03:03:44.110 --> 03:03:46.070
Again, thank you so much for everyone
03:03:46.070 --> 03:03:47.510
that took the time to call in.
03:03:47.510 --> 03:03:50.460
We had, I'm not sure how
many callers we had but
03:03:50.460 --> 03:03:54.100
we've exceeded our
allotted three hours time
03:03:54.100 --> 03:03:55.853
so quite a few.
03:03:57.610 --> 03:03:58.880
We will definitely be carefully
03:03:58.880 --> 03:04:00.300
considering the comments today.
03:04:00.300 --> 03:04:03.070
We learned, I think
quite a bit of new points
03:04:03.070 --> 03:04:05.880
and perspectives that we
weren't familiar with earlier.
03:04:05.880 --> 03:04:07.903
So, thank you again.
03:04:08.880 --> 03:04:10.710
The current schedule
for this rulemaking has
03:04:10.710 --> 03:04:14.680
the Commission adopting
a decision later this summer,
03:04:14.680 --> 03:04:16.726
an interim decision,
and we will be continuing
03:04:16.726 --> 03:04:19.483
to look into this matter
in the coming year.
03:04:20.560 --> 03:04:24.280
If anyone would also like
to provide written comments,
03:04:24.280 --> 03:04:27.160
to add to what you've
said today, you can do so
03:04:27.160 --> 03:04:30.180
by submitting comments
to the docket card
03:04:30.180 --> 03:04:34.413
for this proceeding
thecpoc.ca.gov/R201002Comments,
03:04:40.110 --> 03:04:41.310
and that's all together.
03:04:42.450 --> 03:04:44.350
And if anyone on the line would like
03:04:44.350 --> 03:04:47.990
some assistance to providing additional
03:04:47.990 --> 03:04:51.550
email comments please
contact the Commission's
03:04:51.550 --> 03:04:55.057
public advisor's office
public.advisoratcpac.ca.gov.
03:04:57.970 --> 03:05:02.453
Again that's publi.advisor@cpac.ca.gov.
03:05:04.750 --> 03:05:06.270
Commissioner, Guzman-Aceves
03:05:06.270 --> 03:05:09.233
if you'd like to make some
final comments before we close.
03:05:12.230 --> 03:05:13.063
Well, I just...
03:05:13.063 --> 03:05:15.000
I'm very deeply appreciative
03:05:15.000 --> 03:05:19.480
of everyone's time
and commitment to try to
03:05:19.480 --> 03:05:23.193
improve the situation for
incarcerated California.
03:05:24.660 --> 03:05:28.500
And I'm just very grateful for everyone
03:05:28.500 --> 03:05:31.360
sharing their difficult experiences
03:05:31.360 --> 03:05:33.630
and for being creative and innovative
03:05:33.630 --> 03:05:36.743
on the proposed solution, thank you.
03:05:38.970 --> 03:05:40.440
Thank you, Commissioner.
03:05:40.440 --> 03:05:43.160
And I've just received
word that we did have
03:05:43.160 --> 03:05:45.340
about 64 commenters today.
03:05:45.340 --> 03:05:47.950
So we appreciate very much all of you
03:05:47.950 --> 03:05:49.970
taking the time to call in.
03:05:49.970 --> 03:05:52.260
We will be having a
second public hearing
03:05:52.260 --> 03:05:57.260
on this topic tomorrow,
April 29th, starting at 06:30.
03:05:57.850 --> 03:06:00.220
There is information on
our Commission website
03:06:00.220 --> 03:06:02.540
about that and maybe you've also
03:06:02.540 --> 03:06:04.163
received notices about that.
03:06:05.080 --> 03:06:08.000
So with that, this
afternoon's public hearing
03:06:08.000 --> 03:06:10.593
is concluded and we're
adjourned, thank you.
03:06:18.790 --> 03:06:19.687
And this
concludes today's conference,
03:06:19.687 --> 03:06:21.220
Thank you for-