This bill proposes significant changes to the regulations surrounding telephone use for inmates within correctional facilities. It repeals existing provisions that allowed the Department of Corrections to charge inmates for phone calls and introduces new requirements mandating the provision of free voice communication services to inmates and juveniles held in residential placement or detention centers.

The new provisions require that inmates be provided with voice communication services, which may include video communication and electronic messaging services, at no cost to either the inmate or the recipient of the call. Additionally, the bill stipulates that facilities must maintain a minimum number of operable communication devices relative to the inmate population, specifically a ten-to-one ratio of persons in custody to operable devices or at least two devices in each housing unit.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits the Department of Corrections and any agency managing correctional facilities from receiving revenue from the provision of these communication services. It also mandates that facilities provide inmates with opportunities for in-person contact visits. This legislative change aims to enhance communication for those confined in correctional facilities and promote better connections with the outside world. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
128: 42-56-38.1