Rikers Island

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Telephones

Interview with Blunt, Charles, Patrick, Ryan and TJ

JM: Did you have regular access to telephones?
Blunt: yes there were two different phone lines
Charles: Yes but there were fights over use of the phones. Prisoners put money in the commissary account to pay for phone use. Many prisoners would bother me for use of my phone calls. Some I would give them a call. Prisoners would type in their book and case number in order to use the phone if they had calls left.
Patrick: yes every day
Ryan: yeah.
TJ: yes

JM: What types of charges applied for calling people? How much money would you guess the average inmate spends per week on phone calls?
Blunt: there was free calls unless you didnt have money in your comessary then the person that your callin has to charged for collect calls
Charles: When I was released from Rikers I had big phone charges but I never paid for them. I am not sure how the system works. I know phone charges are automatically taken from a prisoner's commissary account.
Patrick: fifteen minute call was ninety six cents when a six minute call was fifty six cents
Ryan: you recieved 2 free calls a week.no
TJ: cALLS were broken down by minutes, different amount of minutes (15, 6 , 3 minute call)

JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out?
Blunt: no
Charles: I never heard of phone cards being used. I believe the commissary controlled phone use.
Patrick: no
Ryan: no
TJ: no

JM: Did the jail screen your calls?
Blunt: no
Charles: I dont know
Patrick: yes everyday
Ryan: I believe they do
TJ: yes