Families to Pay the Price as Monroe County Ends Free Jail Calls

Families with loved ones incarcerated in Monroe County are bracing for the return of phone call charges, as legislators move forward with a new five-year contract with Securus Technologies.

Monroe County Jail - Google Image

The change, debated during Tuesday night’s Monroe County Legislature meeting, stems from a federal mandate under the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act. The law empowers the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to cap phone rates for incarcerated individuals and limits how counties can subsidize or profit from jail communications.

Since 2021, Monroe County had offered inmates a limited number of free phone and video calls, aiming to ease financial pressure on their families who typically bore the burden of paying for calls. Initially, each incarcerated person was allowed 75 minutes of free calls per week—two 15-minute phone calls and one 30-minute video call. In 2022, that allowance was reduced to just two 15-minute calls per week.

Under the FCC's new rules, which take full effect in 2025, counties face restrictions on covering these call costs. The FCC has capped audio calls at $0.07 per minute for medium-sized facilities like Monroe County Jail and prohibited counties from directly subsidizing calls through general funds or commissions from telecom providers.

Although these rates are lower than pre-2022 costs, several legislators argued the policy reversal would hurt vulnerable families.

Monroe County will no longer fund inmate calls but will continue to receive approximately $2,700 per month in commissions from tablet-related services. Each inmate receives a tablet that can be used for video calls, downloading music, and other paid services. These revenues are directed to the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund, which currently has a balance of over $1.5 million and supports programs such as education, recreation, and reentry services.

For some lawmakers, that creates an ethical dilemma.

“We’re shifting the burden back onto families while continuing to profit off incarceration,” said Legislator Rachel Barnhart (D), who opposed the contract. She noted that the Trust Fund's surplus could sustain programs for years without relying on call revenue.

“Just because the federal government says you can’t pay for phone calls doesn’t mean you must pass the cost onto families,” Barnhart added. “You can absorb the cost in other ways.”

Barnhart also raised transparency concerns. She criticized the process of repealing the county’s free-call law and approving a new contract without legislators receiving the full documentation.

“We’re voting in the dark,” she said, noting that the FCC’s formal ruling had not been provided, and the contract with Securus hadn’t been publicly disclosed. She also questioned whether impacted families had been notified or consulted.

“This impacts the most vulnerable people in our county. Why wasn’t there public engagement?”

Despite those concerns, the majority of legislators—Democrats and Republicans alike—supported the contract, citing limited options.

“This is not a decision we’re happy about,” said Legislator Dave Long (D), chair of the Public Safety Committee. “But the federal government is forcing our hand. We’re doing the best we can with the options we have.”

Barnhart introduced a motion to table the resolution for more review and public input. It failed in a 6–22 vote, with only a handful of Democrats supporting the delay.

With the repeal of the free-call law now proceeding, and the Securus contract expected to be finalized in June, Monroe County families will once again pay for jail communications—albeit under new federal pricing rules.

Background: Martha Wright-Reed Act

Passed in 2022, the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act empowers the FCC to regulate jail and prison communication services. It’s named after a grandmother who sued over exorbitant phone charges while trying to stay in touch with her incarcerated grandson.

The FCC issued its first set of implementing rules in 2023, with full enforcement beginning in 2025. The act targets predatory rates, hidden fees, and lack of transparency in inmate communications.

Though the law aims to create a more equitable system nationwide, it also restricts counties from covering inmate phone costs, effectively ending programs like Monroe County’s local free-call initiative.

History of Phone Rates at Monroe County Jail

2019: High Initial Rates

Inmates were charged $1.85 for the first minute and $0.10 for each additional minute, making a 15-minute local call cost $3.25. The county received a 66% commission on each call, generating about $870,000 annually, deposited into a "Telephone Trust Fund" used for capital and safety expenses.

Late 2019: Rate Reduction

A revised contract brought the call rate to $0.10 per minute, or $1.50 per 15-minute call. Despite a higher 78.5% commission, projected revenue dropped to $500,000 due to the lower rates.

2021: Free Call Allowance Introduced

In March 2021, inmates received 75 free call minutes per week, including 30 minutes of video time. The county used telecom commissions to fund this policy.

2022: Reduction in Free Call Time

The policy was scaled back to two 15-minute phone calls per week, still covered by the county through telecom commissions.

2024–2025: Federal Regulation Takes Hold

The FCC’s regulations cap audio calls at $0.07 per minute and video calls between $0.11 to $0.25 per minute, depending on facility size and provider contract. These measures aim to standardize costs nationwide.

“While this is an improvement over previous rates, it’s still more than free,” Barnhart said. “The 2021 plan saved families roughly $30 a month. The new arrangement will cost families about $21 a month for the same call time.”