NY mayor announces full implementation of free phone calls for people in custody

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that the City is now providing free phone calls for people in custody after fully implementing Intro. 741-A two days before the bill takes full effect.

The implementation of Intro. 741-A makes New York City the first major city to grant free phone calls for people in custody and follows a recent set of reforms that aims to make jails safer and more humane.

“For too long have people in custody faced barriers to basic aspects of everyday life that can help create more humane jails,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said on his official website.

“With free phone calls, we’re eliminating one of those barriers and ensuring that people in custody have the opportunity to remain connected to their lawyers, families and support networks that are so crucial to re-entry into one’s community. I want to thank Council Speaker Corey Johnson for his leadership, and the rest of the City Council for passing this common-sense and crucial reform.”

“It’s a fact that incarcerated individuals have a greater chance of rehabilitation when they are in touch with their community. But for too long, our jails charged people for making simple phone calls, which created serious problems for those in our system with limited means. I am proud the City Council passed my legislation last year to require free phone calls in our city’s jails. I thank my City Council colleagues for supporting this common sense measure, and the de Blasio administration for implementing it,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

“We know that when people in custody are able to remain in frequent contact with family and friends, it helps them plan for the future and reduces their risk of returning to jail,” said Department of Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann. “The more the lines of communication remain open, the better it is for those in our custody. We thank the Mayor and the City Council for passing this law that will help people maintain bonds with their loved ones.”

Prior to the passage of Intro. 741-A, people in custody were charged 50 cents for the first minute and five cents for additional minutes for telephone calls. Now, the Department of Correction will cover the costs made to friends and loved ones, allowing people to stay connected without having to utilize funding in their commissary account. More than 25,000 calls are made daily from City jails.