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<title>Prison Policy Initiative - December 14</title>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=title2><font size=4 color=white face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:white'>Prison
Policy Initiative updates</span></font></span><font size=1 color=white
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:white'> <span class=date2>for December 14, 2017</span> </span></font><span
class=blurb2><font size=1 color="#e0e0e0" face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Showing how mass
incarceration harms communities and our national welfare</span></font></span><font
size=1 color=white face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:white'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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color=white face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:white'><img width=170 id="_x0000_i1028"
src="http://i3.cmail19.com/ti/r/96/BD2/CD4/004412/archive/logo_white_on_nothing_cropped.png"
alt="Prison Policy Initiative"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><img width=600
height=1 id="_x0000_i1029"
src="http://i2.cmail19.com/ti/r/96/BD2/CD4/004412/archive/androidfixer.gif"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color="#4c4c4c" face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#4C4C4C'><a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-c/"><font
color="#4c4c4c"><span style='color:#4C4C4C'>The Guardian and Colorado
Public Radio raise urgent questions about the video calling industry</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=attrib style='margin-top:0in'><font size=1 color="#a5a5a5"
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>by Lucius Couloute<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Virtual jail "visits"
are quietly sweeping the country. Fortunately, a surge of hard-hitting
journalism is pushing back, illuminating the exploitative practice of
eliminating family visits in favor of video calls. In two new pieces from <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-q/"><i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Guardian</span></i></a> and <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-a/"><i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Colorado Public Radio</span></i></a>, the
technological glitches, emotional toll, and human rights violations
stemming from an expanding jail video calling industry take center stage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
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href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-f/"><img
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href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-f/"></a></span></font><font
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<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>In Shannon Sims' <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-z/">deep dive</a>
into the video calling industry for <i><span style='font-style:italic'>The
Guardian</span></i>, she investigates the switch from in-person family
visits to expensive video calls in one jail outside of downtown New
Orleans:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #A5A5A5 1.5pt;padding:
0in 0in 0in 8.0pt;margin-left:15.0pt;margin-right:0in'>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>The guards tell me they think the new system will
be an improvement - "it's better because you can do a video visit from
home now" - but since it is so new, they can't say for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>They suggest I check out the new "Video
Visitation Center", located about a 10 minute drive down the freeway.
For those without access to a smartphone or a computer, the new visitation
center is their only option.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>There, an old elementary school building has been
converted into the center. Inside, three guards are gathered and laughing
around a cellphone behind a glass wall, but outside the parking lot is
empty. No one is visiting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>As we've detailed <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-v/">before</a>,
it's unlikely that people will actually enjoy driving to a jail or offsite
terminal just to visit with a computer screen - the entire experience is
dehumanizing. But video calling from home - at $12.99 per call - wasn't
much better for Tiffany Burns, who Sims visited as she was attempting to
receive a home video call from her boyfriend Chrishon Brown:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #A5A5A5 1.5pt;padding:
0in 0in 0in 8.0pt;margin-left:15.0pt;margin-right:0in'>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>"OK, so he is supposed to call in eight
minutes I guess," she says, staring at her phone, which blinks 6.52pm.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>This is her third attempt to video chat with
Brown. The first time, she did not know she needed to schedule the call far
ahead of time, and the second time, all the slots were filled for the days
she was off work. Now, with her slot scheduled and her earphones in, she's
wondering if it will all work out.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>Finally, she sees a call coming through.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>Her face lights up and then slowly fades as she
realizes Brown can't hear her. She fiddles with her headphones, waves,
tries gesturing to him, but ultimately, he never can hear her voice. The
two end up simply giggling at the screen image of each other for the
remainder of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>Later, I speak with Brown by phone and he explains
that he believes he was only the third inmate to try to use the video
program at the Jefferson Parish jail, and that the other two also said it
didn't work properly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>"We had to pay money for something that
didn't work," he complains. "I couldn't even hear what she was
saying, and I couldn't really see her."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>A thousand miles away in
Denver, Colorado, Michael Sakas of Colorado Public Radio <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-e/">explores
the emotional toll</a> that eliminating in-person visits has taken on one mother's
incarcerated son, who has attempted suicide multiple times while behind
bars:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #A5A5A5 1.5pt;padding:
0in 0in 0in 8.0pt;margin-left:15.0pt;margin-right:0in'>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>"He is having an emotional breakdown right
now because he can't wait to give me a hug . . . So he wants to plead
guilty because he wants to go to prison so that he can give me a hug
again."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>Since 2005, the only way to
speak to an incarcerated person in Denver's jails has been through video
chats. But a new movement, sparked by grassroots leaders and a <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-jh/">report</a>
from Denver's Office of the Independent Monitor, is putting pressure on the
local sheriff's office, which is now considering a reinstatement of
in-person visits. The downtown detention center was built without
visitation space, which would make reinstating visits expensive, according
to jail division chief Elias Diggins. But the city is moving forward with a
$1.4 million dollar contract to update the video calling system.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #A5A5A5 1.5pt;padding:
0in 0in 0in 8.0pt;margin-left:15.0pt;margin-right:0in'>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>"Can you imagine being in a cell all by
yourself, and only being out for a couple of hours everyday? I mean, I
couldn't handle it. Could you?"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-style:italic'>The
Guardian's</span></font></i> article raises another important point that we
haven't raised in our own work or seen raised elsewhere: does international
human rights law require jails to allow in-person visitation?<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #A5A5A5 1.5pt;padding:
0in 0in 0in 8.0pt;margin-left:15.0pt;margin-right:0in'>
<p style='margin-top:0in'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:10.5pt'>"Internationally, multiple legal instruments
indicate that it [does]. UN rules call for the allowance of visitors, while
the European Prison Rules emphasize that while all forms of visitation may
be monitored, maximum contact is the underlying goal: 'Prisoners shall be
allowed to communicate as often as possible by letter, telephone or other
forms of communication with their families, other persons and
representatives of outside organisations and to receive visits from these
persons.'"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color="#4c4c4c"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt'>This reminder about
international human rights law adds an international layer to the clear
national consensus -- including agreement from <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-jk/">editorial
boards</a>, <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-ju/">public
citizens</a>, <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-tl/">professional
organizations</a>, and <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-tr/">policymakers</a>
-- that erecting unnecessary barriers between incarcerated people and the
outside world is bad policy. It's time for American sheriffs to join the
rest of the country, and the world.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span class=storyspacer><font
size=2 color="#4c4c4c" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:10.5pt'> </span></font></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<td style='padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black'>Support our work<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color="#1e1e1e" face=Georgia><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#1E1E1E'>A group
of donors will match the first $100,000 we can raise, and we are
three-quarters of the way there. Can you <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-ty/">make a
gift today</a> to support our work for justice reform in 2018?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><font size=2 color=black
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black'>Recommended reading<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:7.5pt'><font size=1 color="#1e1e1e"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";
color:#1E1E1E'>For more local and national coverage of the video calling
industry, we recommend:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:10.5pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2 color="#1e1e1e"
face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1E1E1E'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1 color="#1e1e1e"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";
color:#1E1E1E'><a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-tj/">Video
visitation is replacing in-person visitation in jails</a>, <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Huffington Post</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:10.5pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2 color="#1e1e1e"
face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1E1E1E'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1 color="#1e1e1e"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";
color:#1E1E1E'><a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-tt/">Mecklenburg
jail visits are now solely by video</a>, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>The
Charlotte Observer</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:10.5pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2 color="#1e1e1e"
face=Symbol><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1E1E1E'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1 color="#1e1e1e"
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";
color:#1E1E1E'><a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-ti/">You may
hug the screen</a>, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Bloomberg
Businessweek</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:10.5pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font size=2 color="#1e1e1e"
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face=Georgia><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";
color:#1E1E1E'>See also: <a
href="http://news.prisonpolicy.org/t/r-l-jrtkiity-ddjytyayh-td/">our report
and blog posts on video calling.</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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