Thank you to our Vice President, Lucretia Murphy she/her/hers, for shedding light on an important issue affecting people who are incarcerated and their families. A recent #bipartisan bill in #Florida proposed offering people in prison one free 15-minute phone call per month, a lifeline supported by fees collected from incarcerated people themselves—meaning there would be no additional cost to taxpayers. Sadly, the bill was vetoed. The ability to maintain family connections, even through a short call, is crucial for successful #reintegration upon release. Research shows that regular communication helps families stay connected and supports #reunification and reintegration, ultimately benefiting the entire community. At Jobs for the Future (JFF), we are committed to #NormalizingOpportunity, including access to basic, humanizing supports like communication with loved ones. Join the movement and sign up to receive updates on our work and learn how you can help normalize opportunities for people with records: https://lnkd.in/etX_v7JU
Florida's legislature passed bipartisan legislation so people could, with "good behavior" receive free 15 minute phone calls per month. Governor DeSantis killed the bill with the shortsighted and reactionary argument of not wanting to reward people in prison with something "not available to law-abiding citizens." His argument is not accurate: The "free" calls are actually paid for by fees collected from incarcerated people. It costs the taxpayers nothing. Phone calls seem simple, but when people are are incarcerated a phone call is a life line. Research is also very clear that regular phone calls maintain the connections that enable reunification and reintegration when people get home. It relieves significant costs and pressures on families. This is an example that meanness is the point. We deserve better than this, Governor DeSantis! https://lnkd.in/eDv-bkXh