Group worries about cost of inmate calls
By Phil Ray, pray@altoonamirror.comHOLLIDAYSBURG - A member of the Pennsylvania Prison Society in Blair County is concerned that indigent inmates are prevented from contacting their families because of the high cost of telephone service.
Mary Burgoon of Hollidaysburg is among those members of the prison society who talked to inmates during monthly tours of the local prison and said one of the complaints she hears constantly is that telephone use by inmates is too expensive.
Prison Warden Michael M. Johnston sought to allay Burgoon's concerns by telling her that inmates in the past couple of years made 146,362 telephone calls, and that the average number of calls a month at this point comes to 5,227.
Johnston said prisoners are charged $3.43 for a 15-minute call, which is paid by the inmate.
If the inmate calls collect, the cost is $3.70 for 15 minutes.
The prison makes money on the calls, the warden said, but it's used to provide phone service to inmates who are too poor to afford phone calls.
"If a person is indigent, we allow them to make calls," Johnston said.
Burgoon was satisfied with the warden's explanation, but she said those who can afford service complain they can't use it unless they have money in their inmate account.
Johnston told members of the prison board Thursday that he is pleased with the phone service that is provided by Digital Solutions Inc./Inmate Telephone Inc., an Altoona firm.
Referring to the cost and Burgoon's concerns, Johnston said the county is under contract with Digital Solutions to provide the service until 2012.
However, he said he's hopeful that the contract can be extended possibly for another seven or eight years.
Digital Solutions will update the prison's computer system as an incentive for the prison to continue to use the company's phone service, Johnston said.
The county receives 30 percent of the money spent by inmates in phone service, which comes to about $4,200 a month, he sai.
Johnston said he did not think inmates were having a problem paying for phone service in view of the number of calls made each month, an average of 17 calls per inmate.
The prison used to allow an inmate one 10-minute call a week. Now inmates have access to phones at any time. Most cell blocks have two phones. The female section of the prison has three phones.
All calls leaving the facility are monitored, recorded and stored, Johnston said.
Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.
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EJM7591
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06-26-09 2:09 PM
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You can't drive down the road for 2 blocks with out breaking the law, so your not as perfecy as you think you are
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EJM7591
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06-26-09 2:06 PM
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I see all these comments about these people in jail and the way that they are treated. If you think that you are a "do gooder", just remember, the only difference between us and them, is that they got caught. Everyone out there has broken the law, some get caught, some don't. They should just charge what a regular phone call cost, not go overboard on the pricing
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EmergencyServicesProvider
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06-25-09 11:03 AM
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Let me guess, next they will worry about the quality of the food, or bedding. I work daily to support myself yet these criminals get 3 meals a day, and a bed, access to gym equipment, and have little to worry about except their legal issues. If they cannot afford a phone call, write a letter. They have the priviledge of using a phone, they have a right to send and receive mail. I'm glad to see in this day and age we worry about our prisoners costs of telephone calls, instead of worrying about helping the people who are down because of the job market.
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theadvocate
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06-25-09 7:56 AM
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please tell me you are joking....
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JohnDoe35
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06-24-09 9:55 PM
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Whether people like it or not even criminals and yes all but most are guilty and yes a few are assused are innocent they should be allowed to contact outside the prision, heck if they can affored for movies, job programs and weight rooms then they can pay for phone calls for the prisioners
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RidgeRunner
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06-22-09 1:56 PM
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Awful constructive of you guys to have spent your Father's Day being so hateful. Guess the love you get from those anonymous posters is better than nothing.
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theadvocate
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06-22-09 1:45 PM
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drillmama, as it is your as well
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DRILLMAMMA
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06-22-09 1:33 PM
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Advocate and mocus, Its your constitional right to voice your opinion.
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theadvocate
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06-22-09 7:46 AM
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Passing judgment and assuming you know what I am thinking when posting mocus is amusing. If only you had a clue who I am and what I think. You and hundreds like you pass judgment on those who would dare disagree with you or have a counter point. Your ramblings show that you are more concerned with attempting to tear down anyone who posts that does not completely coincide with your theories. I do believe I see both sides and you obviously do not agree, good for you. This is about opinions not personality.
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Sam410
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06-21-09 10:03 PM
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Simplest way for these criminals to spend less money is to not break the law and end up in prison
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mocus1
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06-21-09 9:48 PM
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isn't PA getting billions of $$$ in stimulus money? Well, perhaps the County should buy each inmate a new iPhone 3GS (and pay their monthly fee of course). That way, Burgoon the Goon won't think we're a bunch of meanies, and, when the prisoner escapes, we can use the GPS system on the iPhone to track down the prisoner !! (then, we can make sure he's comfortable, has plenty to eat and isn't lonely because he doesn't receive enough encouraging phone calls from family and friends) You're right lamb, I DO ROCK!
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mocus1
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06-21-09 9:43 PM
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thanks but being a veteran blogger, I'm used to the tactics and antics of the Left. Basically their strategy is to put you into 1 of 3 categories if you disagree with them: crazy, evil, or stupid. You see, liberals are taught that only liberals are sane, only liberals are good, and only liberals are intelligent. If you disagree with, or oppose liberals, you must be mentally disturbed, have bad intentions or are a mean person, or you simply don't have the mental capacity to understand the inherent brilliance of liberalism. That's why debating liberals is such a futile exercise. They're not interested in facts, rational thinking, or analyzing results. They're simply interested in trying to pigeonhole their opponents as mental patients, evildoers or just downright dumb.
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mocus1
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06-21-09 9:17 PM
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Thanks Lambs1 ! Truly, I can rock and roll all night (and party ev-er-y day)
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mocus1
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06-21-09 9:15 PM
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Yeah I read what you posted thedevilsadvocate...."I'm fortunate because I really believe I see both sides and understand both sides." The implication being that you're above the fray, looking down on us with your infinite wisdom and well meaning bromides for all that ails the world. The other implication being that those you disagree with do NOT see or understand both sides, and are ideological right wingnuts who don't reason, just react reflexively to events and proposals. Don't worry thedevilsadvocate, you're not the first or the last left wing narcissist I've ever dealt with. I'm used to it by now.
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dumbtoona
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06-21-09 8:54 PM
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I would like to know the percent of these people that would call their family members pn a regular basis if they weren't in prison?
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theadvocate
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06-21-09 8:49 PM
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One more thing, I read your posts again and.....did you even read what I posted? Foolish foolish foolish attack on me if you did
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theadvocate
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06-21-09 8:42 PM
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Your enemy mocus is very clear. Intolerance, ignorance and self serving attitude. You throw terms around and think because you say them it makes you right. No mous it just makes you feel good to say things even if they are as far removed from the truth as anything could be. I am not holier than now or better than anybody, never said I was. The problem with you is you find it hard to believe anyone could believe contrary to your hypocritical postings or not fully follow a liberal agenda. It makes you nuts and you obviously have the mentality it takes to go nuts easily. It matters not what you think, it matters what I believe and how it impacts those I care about and love. I dont need people like you throwing insults to make yoour points not just at me but everyone you disagree with. I thought that was the way to go at one time, then I learned I was wrong. Words you are incapable of understanding. Good luck with your life!
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OFFICEGIRL
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06-21-09 6:23 PM
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The "do gooders" need to find something else to worry about. These people are in jail for punishment. If they needed a daily update on the life of the family at home they should have not broken the law. Plus there is nothing (as far as I know) in the phone setup they have that prevents the inmate from attempting to call collect many many times per day. That is no fun for the family at home when you are not able to afford to pick up the calls or the inmate's young children hear them on an answering machine. Finally as the county and state are all having financial troubles, how about sending some of these outstanding citizens along our highways to pick up trash and use weedeaters to keep the highways and intersections cleaned up. Perhaps they could "earn" some phone time instead of just expecting it to be handed to them. I am sure the "do gooder" would be willing to supervise a program such as this.
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DRILLMAMMA
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06-21-09 4:59 PM
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Well, first of all, phone calls are privileges not constitutional rights. They can write a letter to communicate with their famililes. Second of all, the Prison Society does not need to go into the jail. They also can be afforded the address of the Prison Society and be placed on their visiting list and come see an inmate on visiting days should they have a grievance. Thirdly, BCP has enough phones in the prison to accomodate any inmate and are given enough time to make their calls. They need to not complain about being indigent, when the truth of the matter is they are probably spending most of their money on potato chips, soups, and candy bars instead of keeping the money to call their families. The Prison Society needs to wake up an realize these are people in jail and they will lie to make themselves feel like they are being violated.
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lambs1
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06-21-09 3:51 PM
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I can only say but one thing... mocus YOU ROCK!
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Anthony
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06-21-09 2:33 PM
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Agree with Mocus1's last post... I am a moderate democrat...those with extreme left views are very conservative with their views, same as extreme right. Open minded is in between and decides what is best on the situation vs always voting one way or the other.
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Anthony
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06-21-09 2:31 PM
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They are in jail, why not raise the rate because at 17 calls per month, that IS alot of calls per inmate!
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mocus1
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06-21-09 2:10 PM
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What a shame! Not enough public funds so imprisoned sociopaths can call their dysfunctional families, asking them to bake a hacksaw blade into a cake and bring it in to them. Too bad Blair Co. spent that stimulus money on playground equipment in Tyrone and Antis Twp (the Mirror applauded that move last week). Now they're shedding tears over lack of funding for crack heads who want to phone their dealer from prison.
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mocus1
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06-21-09 1:33 PM
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Don't let liberals like thedevilsadvocate fool you folks. They're not "left leaning", they're hard left ideologues. And they're not "open minded", they're just as committed leftists as right wingers are. When was the last time the "open minded and fair" advocate agreed with a conservative view? Wouldn't a truly "open minded person vary in their viewpoints, not comed down on the left everytime? And forget the "left leaning" smokescreen, that's to give you the impression they're in the middle leaning left. Ever heard a conservative labeled "right leaning"? Nope, that phrase is always used to sell a lefty as a centrist, not the Marxists they truly are.
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mocus1
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06-21-09 1:27 PM
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Let's have the inmates go over to Burgoon's house to make the calls that Burgoon is so concerned about. Let them run up Burgoon's phone bill at $3 per pop, and we'll see how quickly Burgoon changes her left wing tune. Liberals are quite generous with other people's money, but are the biggest tightwads on the planet when it comes to their own (blue states have the lowest charitable contributions).
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