Mont. Bill to Reduce Prison Call Rates Gets Support at Hearing

Nobody opposed reducing inmate call rates at a Montana House Judiciary hearing livestreamed Tuesday. The committee didn’t vote on SB-7, which passed the Senate 49-0 earlier this month. The bill would allow county jails to join state prison contracts or create their own contract if they don’t charge more than the current per-minute rate allowed by the FCC -- or 21 cents at most. Also, the bill would allow inmates one 10-minute phone and one 25-minute video call for free each week. And it would put a 3% cap on ancillary service fees including prepaid phone cards and collect calls. Calls now can cost more than 60 cents per minute, and fees can be 10%-20%, said sponsor Sen. Tom McGillvray (R): “That makes it very difficult …. when you’re broke and have no way to make money to communicate.” There were “no rails” on charges before SB-7, said committee member Rep. Greg Kmetz (R). Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officer Association lobbyist Brian Thompson said SB-7 would set a “very reasonable rate that's going to provide benefits to inmates throughout the state." The bill “promotes fairness,” said American Civil Liberties Union-Montana lobbyist Robin Turner. Communication is important for inmates to rebuild their lives, and it can reduce recidivism, she said.