70 Respondents Identical Text Supporting Free Inmate Phones

Superintendents listened to public comment for Free Phones for Inmates Motion 23-2656. However, 90% of the 70+ comments were submission of a boilerplate response. Who wrote the script?   https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/182662.pdf

2021: LA County average daily inmate population 14,577  (reduced from more than 17,000 prior to 2020, due to reducing the incarcerated population during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020). Los Angeles County Jail System by the Numbers (laalmanac.com). 

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2019, about 2% of all U.S. county jail inmates were in the custody of Los Angeles County jails.

This differs from the 3,400 max capacity of the State Jail in L.A. County. Reports and Statistics for California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) - Office of Research

The LA BOS meeting 8/1/23 is a closed session. No agenda has been posted for other upcoming meetings nor the summary of the 7/25/23 vote concerning the vote on phones for inmates.

Ironically, an investigative reporter by LA Times writer detailed how phones are being used to aid the business inside the jail, as well as the controlling of inmates by outside agents and the drug cartels.  Inside the killing of the prisoner who ran L.A. County jails - Los Angeles Times 

Will the "free phone" invite lawsuits challenging the privacy of the conversation & contact details despite ownership by the County? Conversely will the County be held liable for the illegal transactions, graft, and even extortion.

"LA County has been saying it will do this since 2021. Phone fees impose a tremendous financial burden on families and this exploitative system takes away vital resources from communities of color for the sole benefit of an LASD fund that is not transparent or accountable. Phone calls are so expensive that families are spending hundreds of dollars a month to connect with their loved ones. 

When people are locked away from society, maintaining access to their loved ones is critical, and losing access to them is isolating and is detrimental to the well-being of both the incarcerated person and their loved ones. It is inhumane to charge incarcerated people for phone calls especially since they are also denied the ability to work for fair wages rather than pennies. While it is critical that we invest in the livelihood of those inside LA jails and their families, the BOS must not use “expanded programming” as a justification for the continued delay of the closure of MCJ" (Men's County Jail)

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