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Cost of Communication: Incarcerated Americans
Key Takeaways
- Phone calls for incarcerated Americans cost an average of $5.74 for 15 minutes.
- Phone calls are more expensive in American jails compared to prisons.
- The average cost of video calls for incarcerated Americans is 21.58 cents per minute.
- Emails require a digital stamp which costs roughly 32.5 cents.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) placed a $0.21/minute cap on out-of-state phone calls for prisons and jails.
Introduction
This report provides insights into the cost of communication for incarcerated Americans, including the cost of phone calls, emails, and video calls. In-state and out-of-state communication costs for incarcerated Americans differ. However, the former is often more expensive. Video calling is free for some states. The report brief below provides further details.
Phone Call
- Phone calls for incarcerated Americans cost an average of $5.74 for 15 minutes.
- A breakdown of this data indicates that state prisons charge at least $3 for 15-minute calls and at least $6 for jails across the country.
- Phone calls are thus more expensive in American jails compared to prisons.
- Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) placed a $0.21/minute cap on out-of-state phone calls for prisons and jails, in-state costs might run as high as $1/minute or more.
Video Calls
- Video Call prices in prisons vary across the facilities and states in the country.
- Based on Securus Technologies rates across Arizona, New York, California, and Massachusetts, the average cost of video calls for incarcerated Americans is 21.58 cents per minute.
- Emails require a digital stamp which costs roughly 32.5 cents.
- Several states require an additional stamp for pictures and attachments. However, sending photos and other attachments via email is unavailable in some states like Minnesota.
Research Strategy
We leveraged data from Prison Policy Initiative, The Marshall Project, and Securus Technologies to provide the requested information. National statistics for email and video call rates were unavailable. Therefore, we obtained the rates per state and calculated the national average, using at least four states to get a good enough estimate/representation. We leveraged a 2019 resource beyond Wonder's two-year standard. However, we assumed the data to be the most recent and credible since Prison Policy Initiative, a reputable US public agency, published it. We also found supporting information in this 2021 report by The Washington Post.
Calculations
Video Call Rate
Arizona
- Central Arizona Correctional Facility = $4.95/30 minutes.
- Florence Complex Facility = $4.95/30 minutes.
- Thus, the average is $4.95/30 minutes, which is 16.5 cents per minute.
New York
- Albany County Correctional Facility = $7.99/20 minutes.
- Rockland County Corrections Division = $7.99/20 minutes.
- Thus, the average is $7.99/20 minutes, which is 39.95 cents per minute.
California
- San Diego County - Facility 8 = $0.00/30 minutes.
- San Diego Vista Detention Facility = $0.00/30 minutes.
- Thus, the average is $0.00/20 minutes, which is 0 cents per minute.
Massachusetts
- Barnstable County Correctional Facility = $6.95/20 minutes.
- Massachusetts Correctional Institution — Framingham = $5.00/20 minutes.
- The average = ($6.95 + $5) / 2 = $5.975/20 minutes, which is 29.87 cents per minute.
National Average
- The estimated National Average can be obtained by taking the average of four states = the sum of state video call rates/number of states.
- National Average = (16.5 + 39.95 + 0 + 29.87) / 4 = 21.58 cents per minute.
Email Rate
- Minnesota = 40 cents per stamp.
- New York = 25 cents per stamp.
- Florida = $12 per 30 stamps = 40 cents per stamp.
- Arizona = $5 per 20 stamps = 25 cents per stamp.
- National Average = sum of state email rates/number of states = (40 + 25 + 40 + 25) / 4 = 32.5 cents per stamp.