NEVADA NEWS
END
OF THREE WAY CALL?
As provided for
in Administrative Regulation # 718, three way calls will be
terminated by the inmate phone system provider effective April 4,
2003. A three-way call is defined as forwarding a call or dialing
another number while the inmate is still on the line. The inmate
who originated the call may be subject to disciplinary action and
loss of phone privileges. If you believe that the call was
terminated in error, please call 1-800-685-1594 to talk to a
representative and explain the situation.
Bottom line with this definition, inmates will no longer be able
to use your services, forcing familles to pay exhorbant rates
again. Have your attorneys file injunctions to stop them
and then demand the language be rewritten so it doesn't exclude
your service?
ACT FAST! Do not let them defeat you and the
services you provide.
See it in full at the Nevada Department of Corrections website:
WHAT YOU CAN DO
from
Pat Hines NV CURE Chairperson
March 19, 2003
My intentions of
sending out a Legislative Alert has developed into attempting to
get information out to you regarding what we need to do
next in trying to get a reduction of phone rates on the
inmate initiate collects. Some of you are using PLI,INC,
Telenet, or Discount Family Calling, etc. to reduce four
call costs. Even if you are not using one of these
providers and are receiving a collect call from a Nevada
incarcerated YOU ARE PAYING FAR MORE THAN PEOPLE on the
outside, even for a collect call from a pay phone. We all
need to help rectify this wrong. I doubt that another
hearing by this committee on this NDOC budget will be
scheduled before the first week in April. You and I do
lhave time to ACT and ask for a change in inmate initiated
collect call rates. A big THANKS to those of you who have
previously contacted a legislator. I'm sure some of the questions
that arose at the March 11th Joint Subcommittee meeting would not
have been asked without your correspondence Suggestions for ways
you can help are listed below.<b
Background
information
Some of our
inquiries to the NDOC were given evasive answers (we're
working on, we're looking into alternatives) for over l5
months. After listening to the NDOC budget
presentation April 11th.03'to the Joint Subcommittee
and the comments from committee members and NDOC staff it
is obvious that nothing is going to happen unless we push
the issue , educate the legislators and win their support.
Remember the current service contract was to be renewed Feb 2002
(open for requested changes, like lower that 51% percent of gross
kickback /commission) to NDOC after two years. NO formal
notice of renewal was ever publicized. Now the service must be
renegotiated via and RPF (request for proposal) allowing any
provider interested to submit a bid to provide the service by Feb
'04 I am assuming.
Some choice of concerns to express in your correspondence/call Mr. Rexwinkle (NDOC):
We have
suffered money issues.
MCI going bankrupt resulted in $426.00 being tied up in
bankruptcy.
New RFP is out now .
People have been circumventing the MCI contractor.
We are working with MCI on this. We want to circumvent this
to get our revenues up.
Store sales are down (where power/sales/telephone is listed as a
revenue in the proposed budget p. 143).
Casa Grande is not scheduled to be included in the inmate phone
system but he isn't sure (another discrimination -
conservation camps are already not included).
Assemblyman Parks: Inmate phone service seems to be the
number 1 complaint regarding the NDOC.
At least it is the area we get the most complaints about.<br>
Phones seem to be the most unfair part of the NDOC.
There is a large amout of cash that flows thru this "account"
there are a lot of cash flow transactions here ( Yet,
he didn't ask when the last audit was).
Mr.
Rexwinkle: This must be well controlled. There is
security and monitoring involved. The AG uses call system
monitoring to litigate. It save the general fund money: we
cannot change it we would lose money.
We will take steps to correct misuse.
Assmemblyman
Parks: Have you informed the uses of the purpose and need?
I understand the revenue stream and security issues. Are you
looking at a debit card system which gives the inmate the
responsibility to manage time and money?
Mr Rexwinkle: We thought debit calling was viable until MCI
bankrupt: time is short today, but I would like to get a
copy of the RFP.
Remember: As provided for in Administrative Regulation # 718,
three way calls will be terminated by the inmate phone system
provider effective April 4, 2003. A three-way call is defined as
forwarding a call or dialing another number while the inmate is
still on the line. The inmate who originated the call may be
subject to disciplinary action and loss of phone privileges. If
you believe that the call was terminated in error, please call 1-800-685-1594
to talk to a representative and explain the situation.
After seeing this I had two major question:
Done by whose authority? AR 718 is not acceptable
Done
by NDOC staff under Glenn Whorton and one warden.
I cannot accept NDOCs definition of a three way call when
the inmate initiating the call is dialing a contact number given
him by the call recipient , the number gets him to only one
of his approved numbers, and at no time is there three people
conversing at the same time. If NDOCs monitoring
doesn't reflect this, is it the fault of the inmate or family
that they are not utilizing the opportunity they have of
monitoring inmate initiated phone calls?
Suggestions
for individual action:
Contact the
members of this joint subcommittee, any member of the entire
Senate Finance Committee or Assembly Ways andMeans Committee and
tell them that you think they might/should response to you or
research any question you pose.
Be sure to send to your own representatives and state that you
are their constituent. Their legislative office phone.
Numbers, home addresses, and emails can all be pulled up via
"legislature on line":
Ask
specific questions, send them a copy of your phone bill (remember
all that needs to show is area code of call placement and that of
the call receiver) and ask them if they can research the
phone situation and find out what other states are/ have
done to reduce phone rates.
Get at least three other family members or friends to contact
their legislators. Even if they are out of state. Tell
others the situation (church, work, social function, standing in
line at grocery) - you don't have to say you have someone in
prison, just start out with you were just asked for your opinion
on this or were asked to write and request lower rates.
Emphasize the 51% revenue source from a small select
group of people.
We are asking for:
1) No commission
2) Use of the service provider willing to provide
inmate initated phone calls via the least costly method
possible.
Ask if a CURE member could sit on the committee compiling
the RFP and the one who will award the contract.
Pull up other state CURE chapters via our
website http://www.nevadacure.org Some have phone
information: if not email them for what is working best for
them - debit calling, prepaid cards families send in or inmates
purchase from their account, 800 numbers, etc.
Does this state get a revenue commission? If one family takes one
state we should get great information that can be adapted
to Nevada.
Let me know the state you chose to contact. Remember
our state (we are in the minority) also charges inmates for room
and board, medical copays which is more logical than revenue from
phones.You can also connect with the National website which lists
the position statement on phones plus information on the
eTc campaign (equitable telephone charges).
Bug the PUC and Nevada Bell about this: Call
MCI and the NDOC and ask questions. Maybe if enough "squeaky
wheels" ( you and me) are heard , we will get the "oil"
(lower phone rates).
Organize a group from Vegas at bus up for the next hearing
on this - to join Northern Nevadans at the legislature
including walking in front of the legislative building.
Contact Media and request a story on this issue. Then
followup on what they say is needed.
Write a letter to the editor on the issue.
PLEASE
READ REACT and ACT.
Pat Hines NV CURE
Chairperson
Do not hesitate to share
this request/information and contact me if I can clarify
anything. (775) 463-4884
PO Box 467 Yerington, Nevada 89447 -email: [email protected]