MADISON, WI (AP)— Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers are proposing a law that would stop county jails from charging excessive fees for phone calls.
Wisconsin Public Radio reports the bill would cap jail call charges to the same rates that national prepaid wireless telephone providers charge. It comes after a report from the Prison Policy Initiative found some Wisconsin counties charges more than $14 for a 15-minute phone call.
Democrat Representative Samba Baldeh supports the bill. He says those charges amount to making a profit on inmates who have not been convicted of any crimes and cuts them off from friends and family.
