The cost of connecting these calls to any location in the US is ~1 cent a minute! The problem is who monitors the calls to ensure that nothing illicit goes down

The cost of connecting these calls to any location in the US is ~1 cent a minute! The problem is who monitors the calls to ensure that nothing illicit goes down. Do we make prison staff monitor the calls, or do we outsource it to some fat-cat company who gouges the called parties for dollars per minute? Prisoners are a captive product. This is a rent-seeking industry which benefits only the owners of the businesses providing this service. It is high time this gravy train is ended.