December 20, 2005

Officials consider calling cards for inmates

cellprison.gifThe Beaufort County Detention Center may begin selling telephone calling cards to inmates, to help finance runing costs of the jail, reports the Associated Press, somehow occulting the fact that (smuggled) cell phones into penetentiaries is a very sensitive issue around the world - in truth most jails are considering installing jamming devices.

"According to the AP, the County officials are considering adding the cards, which could be purchased in $10 or $20 amounts, for inmates to phone family and friends without calling collect. Part of the reason for the change is the increased use of cellular phones instead of landlines.

Cell phones generally don't let customers accept collect calls.

The county gets a 40 percent commission on all collect calls made by inmates. Beaufort County received $54,077 from fees last year, according to its purchasing department.

The county has earned $60,963 in such fees this year. The money is used to run the jail."