Prison phone calls - too expensive?

[Oneeyedvic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7470051.st m

An official complaint about telephone calls from prison costing seven times normal payphone rates has been made by the National Consumer Council (NCC).

The group says that half the calls made from jail last less than three minutes because of the high costs involved.

It has made a super-complaint about the issue to regulator Ofcom.

But provider BT says pricing is unusual owing to security and the government argues that cutting the cost would need a public subsidy.

Should prison calls be subsidised?

[jake-the-peg]

Translation: I wish they'd give me a bunch of people to torture and abuse at my personal whim?

[Hitler]

yes but it makes the phone card more valuble therefore using it as exchange for drugs

Hope this helps

[flip_flop]

No of course they shouldn't be subsidised. The BBC had some bloody woman on this morning from some pointless prison reform pressure group - you know the type, bored middle aged upper middle class tweed wearing frump who decides she's going to get involved in a 'cause' - bemoaning the fact that prisoners have to pay more than the rest of us.

Well boo bloody hoo.

Perhaps they should moan about their plight to the little old lady they mugged, or the people they robbed, or beat-up, or happy slapped etc etc etc.....

First and foremost they are there to be punished - rehabilitation should only be considered a by product of their punishment - and that punishment should include the loss of privileges that decent people enjoy and take for granted.

[Oneeyedvic]

So even if phone calls are a link to family and prisoners are six times less likely to offend if they can have a supportive family, they still shouldn't be encourages to talk to their family?

Why do you think that prisoners are all in there for violent crimes?

[flip_flop]

Many are.

They can talk to their families as much as they like - at a premium.

[Oneeyedvic]

flip_flop - how do you think they will get the money to call their family?

[Booldawg]

Less of a fuss was made when it was revealed last year that British servicepeople were being ripped off for phone calls back home - when their US counterparts were getting it for free.

[flip_flop]

Couldn't give a tinker's cuss vic.

[B00]

Totally agree with flip flop. Prison is supposed to be a punishment, if calling your family is curtailed because of it...tough!!!

[Octavius]

Ditto, phone calls from and to NHS hospital beds.

Last year it was said that Patientline chargted calls to patients from outside the hospital at 39p per minute off-peak and 49p a minute at peak times.

Whilst calls from hospital cost 26p.

And hospital patients don't get issued spending money!

Perhaps the latest prison reform 'outrage' is on the back of this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7374276.stm

[Oneeyedvic]

Couldn't give a tinker's cuss vic.

So you would prefer that they are punished and then come out and reoffend?

Even if it is shown that this kind of contact can cut reoffending rates?

Your choice, but I would prefer to live in a lower crime area and see more criminals reintegrated into society.

[Octavius]

Then they would need to learn that its expensive living on the outside too and we can't all cry to mummy when our fuel, food, petrol and phone call costs escalate.

[david1702198]

nae f u c k i n luck eh

[flip_flop]

I believe if the punishment is severe enough they won't reoffend.

[Oneeyedvic]

I believe if the punishment is severe enough they won't reoffend.

Whilst you are obviously entitled to your opinions, could you maybe show some sort of link to back your opinion up.

Maybe a country that has draconian laws in place that have very low crime (eg USA / death sentence)

[Octavius]

Quite true Steve5, but then aren�t we all � even those earning an honest living - pawns at the behest and whim of corporate profit margins?