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Those are state by state decisions. Many states choose to fund the prisons by taxing phone conversations. None of it is encouraged by the private industry - the

by iav 5y ago

Those are state by state decisions. Many states choose to fund the prisons by taxing phone conversations. None of it is encouraged by the private industry - the prisons have a contest between the main vendors (GTL and Securus) and whoever offers to pay the highest percentage and amount of revenue wins. They of course know who is going to pay, but the public has a hard time associating “let’s raise taxes and spend more on prisons” with a reduction in telecom cost for the prisoners. And even those who do get it, view it as yet another way to be tough on crime. Ironically, having frequent contact with family is the best way to reduce recidivism.

arminiusreturns 5y ago
> None of it is encouraged by the private industry I don't know how you can make this claim when you even admit in the very next sentence that the prisons get kickbacks... an obvious incentive to keep gouging the prices? Then, I don't have any idea how you then turn it into a conversation about higher taxes? As if when someone is being exploitative but the taxpayers should make up the difference between the grift and how it should be? How does any of what you are saying make any sense? I am just misunderstanding your point here?