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Nationwide PLN Survey Examines Prison Phone Contracts, Kickbacks
Loaded on April 15, 2011
by John Dannenberg
published in Prison Legal News
April, 2011, page 1
by John E. Dannenberg
Filed under:
Contractor Misconduct,
DOC/BOP misconduct,
Crime/Demographics,
Statistics/Trends,
Telephone Access,
Telephone Rates,
PLN Litigation.
Location:
United States of America.
An exhaustive analysis of prison phone contracts nationwide has revealed that with only limited exceptions, telephone service providers offer lucrative kickbacks (politely termed “commissions”) to state contracting agencies – amounting on average to 42% of gross revenues from prisoners’ phone calls – in order to obtain …
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More from this issue:
- Nationwide PLN Survey Examines Prison Phone Contracts, Kickbacks, by John Dannenberg
- Some Agencies Balk at Releasing Prison Phone Data, by Michael Rigby
- New Research: Why Innocent People Confess to Crimes They Did Not Commit, by Derek Gilna
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Bexar County, Texas Fails to Properly Evaluate Mentally Ill Jail Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
- Prisoners’ Human Rights, by Corey Weinstein
- Colorado Sought to Revoke Prisoner’s Electrician License After His Release, by Gary Hunter
- It’s Scary Out There in Reporting Land: Why Crime News is on the Rise and Reporting Analysis is on the Decline, by David Cay Johnston
- Controversial Drug Given to All Guantanamo Detainees Akin to “Pharmacologic Waterboarding”
- Washington Court Reverses Injunction Against Prisoner’s Public Records Requests
- New York Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Late Prison Vendor Payments, by Brandon Sample
- Texas State Auditor’s Reports Find Problems with Parole System, by Gary Hunter
- Oregon Parole Board Improperly Excluded Witnesses at Revocation Hearing
- Maryland: Convicted Felons Receive Victims’ Compensation, by Gary Hunter
- Maine Governor Rakes in Private Prison Money, Shows Appreciation, by Lance Tapley
- Minnesota DOC Releases Study on Impact of Prison-Based Sex Offender Treatment, by Matthew Clarke
- Heat Ray Device, Rejected by Military, to be Tested on Los Angeles County Jail Prisoners, by Michael Brodheim
- Federal Court Rejects California’s Attempt to Terminate Clark Remedial Plan, Grants $2.3 Million in Attorney’s Fees, by Michael Brodheim
- GEO Group Acquires Electronic Monitoring Firm for $415 Million, by David Reutter
- Facebook Lands Prison Guards, Prisoners in Hot Water, by Michael Rigby
- Massachusetts Strip Search Class-Action Nets $1,162,468, by Mark Wilson
- Billing Medicaid Would Save NC $11.5 Million in Prison Medical Care Costs, by Mark Wilson
- U.K. Terrorism Suspects May Challenge Extradition Based on U.S. Prison Conditions, by Matthew Clarke
- Twelve Indiana Prison Employees Suspended for Positive Drug Tests, Contraband, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Legislator Who Helped Prisoners’ Families Indicted, Convicted, Sentenced, by Gary Hunter
- Wisconsin Prisoner Pleads No Contest to Helping Cellmate Commit Suicide
- Questionable New Jersey Halfway House Funding Benefits CEC, by Matthew Clarke
- $85,000 Settlement in South Carolina Prison Murder Suit
- News In Brief:
More from John Dannenberg:
- Disciplinary Self-Help Litigation Manual, 2d Ed., by Dan Manville, March 5, 2015
- Systemic Changes Follow Murder of Colorado Prison Director, July 10, 2014
- The Redbook – A Manual on Legal Style, April 15, 2014
- Arrest-Proof Yourself, by Dale Carson and Wes Denham, March 15, 2014
- Arrested: What to do When Your Loved One’s in Jail, by Wes Denham, Feb. 15, 2014
- California Parole Board Agrees to Implement Policy to Fix Terms at Lifers’ Initial Hearings, Jan. 15, 2014
- FCC Order Heralds Hope for Reform of Prison Phone Industry, Dec. 15, 2013
- Federal Court Orders California to Release 9,600 More Prisoners, Aug. 15, 2013
- Valley Fever Declared a Public Health Emergency at Two California Prisons; Court Orders Prisoner Transfers, July 15, 2013
- Plata and Coleman Showdown in California, June 15, 2013
More from these topics:
- “Safe Inside” Review Paid for by DOJ Found Prisons Grew Much Deadlier in Five Year-Period, Aug. 1, 2026. Work Conditions/Safety, Statistics/Trends, Cost of Prison Systems, Staffing, Assaults on Staff.
- Three Detainees Die in Four Days at the Tarrant County Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Wrongful Death, Compassionate Release.
- Prison Policy Initiative Updates Its “Money of Mass Incarceration” Report, Aug. 1, 2026. Statistics/Trends, Cost of Prison Systems, Forfeiture, Effects of Mass Incarceration, Ability to Pay.
- GAO Report Finds Rampant Sexual Abuse in Federal Prisons, Most Cases Unresolved, Aug. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Prisoner-Prisoner Assault, DOC/BOP misconduct, Corrections Audits, Prison Rape Elimination Act.
- Audit of Louisiana DOC Finds Fault with Prisoner Release Calculation System, Aug. 1, 2026. DOC/BOP misconduct, Corrections Audits, Credits.
- DOJ Issues Memorandum Over BOP Employees Abusing Their Law Enforcement Credentials to Illegally Purchase Personal Firearms, Aug. 1, 2026. DOC/BOP misconduct, Gun Laws/Crimes, Definitions.
- Tulsa Jail Shutting Down After Investigative Reporting on Detainee Deaths, Aug. 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Staffing, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- BOP Supervisor in Colorado Indicted for Smuggling Over 400 Vapes, July 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- Colorado Prison Wardens Participated in Longstanding Racist, Homophobic Group Chat, July 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Racial Discrimination, Gay/Lesbian, Employee Litigation.
- Rikers Island Captain Nicknamed “Terror of the Tombs” Indicted for Extortion, Wage Theft, July 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Threats by Staff, DOC/BOP misconduct, Bribery/Extortion/Theft, Fraud and Deceit.

