Judiciary Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-972
AN ACT CONCERNING THE COST OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
Title: IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
Vote Date: 3/29/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/22/2021
File No.: 453
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Judiciary Committee
Rep. Josh Elliott, 88th Dist., Rep. Julio A. Concepcion, 4th Dist.,
Rep. Travis Simms, 140th Dist., Sen. Julie Kushner, 24th Dist.,
Sen. Martin M. Looney, 11th Dist., Rep. Frank Smith, 118th Dist.,
Rep. Joshua M. Hall, 7th Dist., Rep. Quentin W. Phipps, 100th Dist.,
Sen. Will Haskell, 26th Dist., Rep. Christine Palm, 36th Dist.,
Rep. Edwin Vargas, 6th Dist., Rep. John "Jack" F. Hennessy, 127th Dist.,
Sen. Marilyn V. Moore, 22nd Dist., Rep. Anthony L. Nolan, 39th Dist.,
Rep. David Michel, 146th Dist., Sen. Saud Anwar, 3rd Dist.,
Rep. Michael A. Winkler, 56th Dist., Rep. Steven J. Stafstrom, 129th Dist.,
Rep. Anne M. Hughes, 135th Dist., Rep. Brandon L. McGee, 5th Dist.,
Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, 18th Dist., Sen. Patricia Billie Miller, 27th Dist.,
Rep. Robyn A. Porter, 94th Dist., Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, 111th Dist.,
Rep. Jason Rojas, 9th Dist.,
REASONS FOR BILL:
This legislation would remove the cost of telecommunication from incarcerated individuals
and their families. As it stands, Connecticut has the highest cost for incarcerated individuals
to make calls to their families in the United States, and this legislation would make
Connecticut the first state to remove the cost from inmates and their families. Studies have
shown a positive correlation between increased communication outside of a correctional
facility and lower reincarceration rates. Removing the cost of telecommunication would
almost certainly increase the amount of contact between incarcerated individuals and their
families.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
The Connecticut Judicial Branch supports the intent of this legislation but notes that the lost
revenue from telecommunications charges will make it difficult to retain 28 probation officers,
and notes that an additional $2.2 million on top of the extra amount that the Governor's
Budget allocates to this purpose are needed in order to maintain these officers if this
legislation was passed.
Connecticut Department of Corrections, Commissioner, Angel Quiros supports this legislation
based on the relatively low revenue this generates the state in comparison to the benefit this
would add. Notes that this legislation would increase the frequency of phone calls and thus
may require the department to install extra phones at correctional facilities.
Office of Chief Public Defender, Deputy Assistant Public Defender Benedict R. Daigle
testifies in support of this legislation based on research that suggests that increased
communication with family members leads to more success in rehabilitation and inmates
return to their community. They also note how important it is for the children of incarcerated
individuals to be able to consistently communicate with their parent, and how
telecommunications and in-person visits compare similarly.
State of Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate, Acting Child Advocate, Sarah Healy
Eagan: supports this legislation based on research that shows that younger incarcerated
individuals benefit especially positively to consistent contact with family members and other
adults, and that these visits reflect in improved behavior and school performance.
State of Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities: supports this
legislation and expresses particular interest in this matter due to the "disproportionate"
number of people of color who are incarcerated, and notes that because of this, that group is
affected in a more significant way by the "prohibitive" cost of calling, which consequentially
may make reentry more difficult for incarcerated individuals who cannot cover the cost of the
calls.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization, The Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic, Allison
Durkin, Destiny Lopez, and Eleanor Roberts testify in strong support of this legislation,
primarily citing the factor of allowing incarcerated individuals to maintain contact with their
family and children, which becomes a factor when these individuals are released from
incarceration and are seeking to reunite with their children. How often they communicate is
taken into consideration and so this group advocates for removing that cost barrier.
Yale Young Democrats, New Haven, Josephine Cureton and Josh Guo express concern with
there being profit from telecommunications for incarcerated individuals and support [s] cost-
free communication for incarcerated individuals to maintain a connection with family and
friends.
Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, Staff Attorney, Chelsea Donaldson Esq. supports this
legislation because it prevents incarcerated individuals from feeling socially isolated due to
cost. They note that Connecticut has the highest cost associated with phone calls for
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incarcerated individuals and asks that Connecticut be the first state in the U.S. to eliminate
this cost.
Stop Solitary, Steering Committee Member and Lead Organizer, Barbara Fair supports
language that would remove cost associated telecommunications for incarcerated individuals.
Ct Legal Rights Project, Executive Director, Kathy Flaherty supports this legislation and
testifies on how important it is for incarcerated individuals to maintain connection with loved
ones and believes that this legislation addresses that.
Southern Connecticut State University Democrats, President, Justin Gendron supports this
legislation and does not support limiting the freedom of speech of incarcerated individuals
with a fiscal cost.
CT National Organization for Women, West Haven, Member, Maggie Goodwin supports this
legislation and believes that communication with the outside world should be a part of the
rehabilitation process for incarcerated people, especially so that once they are released from
incarceration, they can more easily reintegrate with society.
College Democrats of CT, Political Director, Iman Jaroudi supports the freedom of speech of
incarcerated individuals and believes that a financial barrier to telecommunication violates
that freedom.
Prison Policy Initiative, Policy Analyst, Alexi Jones testifies based on research that increased
communication with family leads to a lower reincarceration rate and that by restricting that
contact with a cost, the state is likely increasing their costs because of the higher re-offense
rate.
Connecticut Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative, Project Manager, Aileen Keays
supports this legislation and notes the positive impact of consistent communication they have
seen on the children of incarcerated parents. They also note the positive impact
communication has on the incarcerated individual for when they re-enter into a community
after their release.
Verizon, Director of Government Affairs in New York and Connecticut, David Lamendola
supports this legislation on the basis that communication with family and friends helps
incarcerated individuals reconnect with the world when they are released from incarceration.
Believes that the "exorbitant" costs create a barrier to this.
Senate President Pro Tempore, Sen. Martin Looney 11th Dist. supports this legislation both
as a matter of fairness and because of studies that have shown the positive impact increased
contact has had in terms of re-entering society after incarceration. Senator Looney does not
believe that this should be an area of profit, and therefore supports removing the cost to
inmates.
ACLU Connecticut, Interim Senior Policy Counsel, Kelly McConney Moore cites data that
shows the positive impact of increased communication between incarcerated individuals and
their families and testifies that these individuals and their families should not bear the costs of
this.
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Southern New England Conference Church of Christ, Legislative Advocate, Michele Mudrick
supports this legislation and believes that incarcerated individuals should have the right to
communicate with their loved ones without financial burden.
Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Director of Policy and Public Relations, Lucy
Nolan supports this legislation and testifies that the majority of women who are incarcerated
have been victims of sexual assault, and that those who have been victims previously are
likely to be victims again in prison. Removing the financial barrier to outside communication is
an important step to supporting these survivors.
NAMI Shoreline, Board Member, Denise Paley testifies in support and gives account of her
son's experience being incarcerated and believes that the cost burden should be removed for
incarcerated individuals to communicate with loved ones.
CT Justice Alliance, Policy Director, Iliana Pujols supports this legislation and its elimination
of the cost of telecommunications for incarcerated individuals as a step towards encouraging
policies toward family engagement and restorative practices for these individuals.
Wesleyan Democrats, Policy Director, Reed Schwartz supports the legislation and believes
that a cost barrier to incarcerated individuals making phone calls restricts their freedom of
speech.
CT Voices for Children, Chief of Staff, Sana Shah supports this legislation and its efforts to
remove the cost burden of communication for incarcerated individuals and their families.
Cites studies that show that children with an incarcerated parent perform better in school and
at home when they can consistently communicate with that parent.
National Association of Social Workers, Connecticut Chapter, Amber Kelly, PhD, MSW,
LCSW supports this legislation and cites evidence that suggests that increased
communication to people outside of a correctional facility is correlated with lower rates of
reincarceration as well as more positive behavior while still incarcerated.
Center for Children's Advocacy, Staff Attorney, Adam Yagaloff Esq. supports this legislation
and how it positively impacts reentry to society from incarcerated individuals by maintaining a
connection with people outside of a correctional facility. They argue that the cost that is
currently attached to telecommunication is a barrier to this connection.
The following individuals gave similar testimony that expressed support for cost-free
telecommunications because it allowed incarcerated individuals to communicate with their
loved ones and not suffer from the ill effects of social isolation due to any cost barriers. Most
noted that the Connecticut had the highest telecommunication cost of any state for
incarcerated persons. Many also gave an account of their experiences with the Covid-19
pandemic and the social isolation the pandemic caused and related the experience to what
incarcerated individuals experience.
CT Resident, Sydney Bryant CT Resident, Kennedy Bennett
Anonymous CT Resident Fairfield, CT Resident, Emma Bell Bass-
CT Resident, Taylor Biniarz Lawrence
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CT Resident, David Donnan New Haven CT, Resident and Student,
CT Resident, Alana Ervin Vanessa Nunez
University of Connecticut, Master's in CT Resident, Alvara Perpuly
Social Work Candidate, Molly Franco CT Resident, Evan Roberts
Middletown CT, Resident, Alma Hutter Fairfield CT, Resident, Eli Roche
New Haven CT, Resident and Student, Trumbull CT, Resident, Nanee Sajeev
Brett Jennings New Britain CT, Resident, Mary L. Sanders
Middletown CT, Resident, Chloe Johnson Middletown CT, Resident and Student,
CT Resident, Sophie Kane Lisa Stein
New Haven CT, Resident and Student, New Haven CT, Resident and Student,
Shannon Leslie Katie Taylor
Middletown CT, Resident, Serena New Haven CT, Resident and Student,
Levingston Grace Whittington
CT Resident, Amelie Lo Julia Wilcox, The Alliance
CT Resident, Raymond Lucarelli Middletown CT, Resident, Simon Worth
New Haven CT, Resident and Student,
Marcus McKee
New Haven CT, Resident, Sarah McKinnis NATURE AND SOURCES OF
CT Resident, Jennifer Melo OPPOSITION:
CT Resident, Isabella Morales
None stated.
Reported by: Justin Kaiser Date: 4/7/2021
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