I could not have explained it better myself, to those who think prisoners should not have the use of a telephone (!!) and be out of touch with their loved ones the entire time. I dont understand that, because being down itself IS the punishment alone, you are not there for more punishment. Some states are worse than some others, Ive noticed. I wont say which ones but some have rules that simply make no (common) sense and seem just downright an easy way to be cruel and force the issue that you dont deserve this or that. The county jail in one of my towns will only let you call one phone number, one try, sorry if they do not answer, sorry if they try to call back a second later, etc and that number has to be FROM THAT VERY CITY. Not any other. And there are no other options available. Other than writing letters after waiting the 2-3 weeks for them to process your information and allow you access to the canteen to buy items like stamps and envelopes etc. Now, one county away from here, they have been for 2 yrs or so allowing people in that larger jail to buy prepaid phone cards (they used to be able to call collect there too, not sure if they still can but this jail in this town does not even allow that option!) But the prepaid phone cards still are badly overpriced like mad. And its not as if I can go to the local Islamic Market where they sell the cheap international rate phone cards and get one there for about a $20 difference on the same amount of time, because the ones that they are allowed to USE are ONLY the ones sold in the larger jail's own store. No others can be sent in, only bought there from them. And these are just how the jails around here work, much less the prisons in my state which I can imagine are much more crazy than what I know of them. (we have so many, for one, but that doesnt surprise me considering they have always talked about how prisons make more money so they are closing down schools and building more correctional complexes not to mention the private prisons who moved in also, I think they own at least 3 of ours here) Its really unfair and causes quite a bit of emotional upset, especially to relatives of those who are down that dont have the option of writing letters like older great grandmothers and such just not understanding why their grandson doesnt call anymore and has forgotten them. Its sad.