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Exorbitant Prisoner Phone Rates Pass New York Constitutional Scrutiny
by David M. Reutter
On November 23, 2009, the New York Court of Appeals – the state’s highest court – affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit arguing that the contract between the New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYDOCS) and MCI Worldcom Communications for prison telephone services violated the …
On November 23, 2009, the New York Court of Appeals – the state’s highest court – affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit arguing that the contract between the New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYDOCS) and MCI Worldcom Communications for prison telephone services violated the …
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More from this issue:
- Everything Revolves Around Overcrowding: The State of California’s Prisons, by Donald Specter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Wheelchair-bound Texas Escapee Produces Pistol, Commandeers Transport Van, by Matthew Clarke
- U.S. Supreme Court: Counsel Must Advise Immigrant Defendants of Deportation Risks
- Controversy Over Texas Attorneys Charging Questionable Fees in Wrongful Conviction Cases, by Matthew Clarke
- $4.3 Million Award in Preventable Death of Cook County Pretrial Detainee, by David Reutter
- Incomplete DNA Databases Result in Tragic Consequences, by Justin Miller
- Texas Youth Commission Pays $625,000 to Settle Abuse Suit, by Gary Hunter
- Exorbitant Prisoner Phone Rates Pass New York Constitutional Scrutiny, by David Reutter
- Obama’s 2011 Budget Calls for More Prisons, More Guards, by Brandon Sample
- Aryan Warriors Prison Gang Prosecuted in Nevada, by Gary Hunter
- $500,000 Settlement in Maryland Prisoner’s Death from Pepper Spraying, by David Reutter
- Prisoner’s Homicide at Maryland Jail Not Prosecuted, by Gary Hunter
- DOJ Investigation into New York Jail Finds Unconstitutional Conditions, by Justin Miller
- California Official Resigns from State Post, Hired by Federal Receiver
- U.S. State Prison Population Declines for First Time in a Decade, by Justin Miller
- Washington DOC Pays $3,275,000 to Family of Deputy Killed by Former Prisoner
- New Jersey’s Riverfront Prison Demolished, by Justin Miller
- “Back to School” is a Guide to Success Following Release from Prison, by Gary Hunter
- ICE Policies and U.S. Deportation Laws Violate Human Rights, by Gary Hunter
- U.S. Department of Justice Releases 2008 Capital Punishment Statistics, by Matthew Clarke
- Problems Persist at Privately-Operated Rhode Island Jail, by Justin Miller
- North Carolina Innocence Commission Verifies Wrongful Conviction, by Matthew Clarke
- Maricopa County Throws Sheriff Arpaio Under Improperly Purchased Bus
- Wisconsin: Taycheedah Lawsuit Set for Trial, by Michael Brodheim
- California Prison Health Care System Plagued by Understaffing, Overtime, by Michael Brodheim
- $140,000 Settlement in Washington Jail Detainee’s Suicide
- California: Audit Finds CDCR Overpaid Employees Who Supervise Prisoner-Workers, by Michael Brodheim
- Prosecutorial Misconduct Case Pending Before Supreme Court Settles for $12 Million, by Brandon Sample
- New Picture on Violence in Federal Prisons, by Brandon Sample
- Maricopa County Detention Officer Held in Contempt for Taking Document from Defense Counsel’s File, by Matthew Clarke
- Released Prisoners More Likely to Die, by Brandon Sample
- Maryland Prison Guards Busted for Helping Gang Members, by Gary Hunter
- Louisiana Judge, Attorneys Plead Guilty to Bribery Charges, by Michael Brodheim
- New York City Jail Settles Excessive Force Suit for $62,001
- Physician Assisted in Botched Execution Attempt in Ohio, by Matthew Clarke
- Seventh Circuit: Catholic Prisoner’s Religious Diet Lawsuit Remanded, by David Reutter
- Whole Foods Farms out Fish Farming to Colorado Prisoners, by Justin Miller
- SORNA Challenges Produce Mixed Results; Supreme Court Weighs In, by Brandon Sample
- Washington Supreme Court Holds No Judicial Immunity for Non-Judicial Conduct
- Ninth Circuit: No Qualified Immunity for Refusing to Feed Prisoner, by Mark Wilson
- $145,000 Settlement by New York City After Holding Immigration Detainee Beyond 48 Hours, by David Reutter
- Washington DOC Settles MRSA Death Claim for $125,000, by Brandon Sample
- $3.5 Million Settlement to Former New York Prisoner Convicted Due to Perjured Testimony
- Kentucky Law Retroactively Applied to Award Street Credit
- Washington DOC Agrees to Pay $38,000 in Too-Much-Medicine Suit
- California Prisoner Wins Option of Kosher Meals Until Halal Meals Can be Provided
- News in Brief:
More from David Reutter:
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
- Colorado Supreme Court Announces Defendant Must Be Competent Before Undergoing Mental-Condition Examination Under § 16-8-107(3)(b), April 1, 2026
- California Court of Appeal Announces Plea Agreements Cannot Bar § 1172.1 Resentencing, Holds Merit-Based Denial of Petition Is Appealable, April 1, 2026
- Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies That Failure to Object to Ineligible Juror Does Not Constitute Waiver Unless Party Knew or Could Have Discovered Ineligibility Through Ordinary Diligence, April 1, 2026
- Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds Motion Judge Abused Discretion by Denying Evidentiary Hearing on IAC Claim Where Plea Counsel’s Affidavit Was Not Inherently Inconsistent With Colloquy Statements Regarding Immigration Advice, March 1, 2026
- Washington Supreme Court Clarifies Double Jeopardy Analysis for Multiple Assault Convictions, Holding That Assaultive Acts Occurring Over Short Time Period in Same Location Without Intervening Events Constitute Single Course of Conduct, March 1, 2026
- New Jersey Supreme Court Reverses Drug Convictions Under Cumulative Error Doctrine, Holding Combined Effect of Improper References to Television Series, Gun Violence, and Search Warrants Deprived Defendant of Fair Trial, March 1, 2026
- New York Court of Appeals Announces Coercive Police Tactics Compelling Suspect to Exit Home Constitute “Constructive Entry” Violating Payton, Holds Attenuation Analysis Applies to Third-Party Consent, March 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Digital Tablet Shift Brings Added Cost, Lost Data to Prisoners in California, April 1, 2026. Computers, Prisoner Property, Telephone Rates, Securus, Global Tel*Link Corp.
- FCC Releases Final Version of Order Gutting 2024 Phone Cap Regulations, Feb. 1, 2026. Misconduct/Corruption, Telephone Access, Telephone Rates.
- The Succession Battle for a Prison Empire, Dec. 1, 2025. Telephone Rates, Private Phone Contractors.
- An AI Model from Securus Aims to Expand Phone Call Monitoring, Dec. 1, 2025. Databases, Telephone Rates, Telephone Monitoring, Electronic Surveillance, Securus.
- Colorado Children Sue County Jail to Fight Visitation Ban, Dec. 1, 2025. Telephone Rates, Video Visitation, Children of Prisoners, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Private Phone Contractors.
- FCC Issues Proposed Rule Permitting Cellphone Jammers in Prisons and Jails, Nov. 1, 2025. Statistics/Trends, Telephone Rates, Cell Phone Access, Federal Legislation, Police State-Surveillance.
- FCC Votes For Dramatic Hike to Prison Phone Call Rates, Nov. 1, 2025. Telephone Rates, Telephone Monitoring, Cell Phone Access, Video Visitation, Securus, Global Tel*Link Corp.
- FCC Backtracks on 2024 Order to Cut Prison Phone and Video Rates by Half, Aug. 1, 2025. Telephone Rates, Video Visitation, Private Phone Contractors, Securus.
- HRDC Collaborates on Prison Telecom Cost Report to Washington Lawmakers, Aug. 1, 2025. Electronic Tablets, Telephone Access, Telephone Rates.
- JPay Loses Bid to Revoke Class Certification in Washington Prisoners’ Challenge to Crummy Products and Service, July 15, 2025. Electronic Tablets, Computers, Telephone Rates, Securus.

