"When a parent is incarcerated, specifically a father, a family’s income drops by an average of 22 percent,” Kane said. “As a result, mothers and caregivers report being unable to pay for their children’s basic necessities, including food, utilities, rent and medical care, often creating reliance on state aid programs and services. It is also these same mothers and caregivers that are paying for the phone call that we are speaking about today.”  - Brittany Kane, a program coordinator for the CT Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative on behalf of proposed bill in Connecticut which advanced on 4.9.19 

We're not asking for much. Just one free 15 minute phone call a day. All other calls by all means, charge whatever. But to not be able to speak to your children or any loved ones because there's not enough money is absolutely absurd. We can work with the phone companies instead of against them. Not asking for all free just one call each day. 

My husband has no way to contact me other than by phone. Our circumstances are unusual as most married couples get to see and speak to each other daily. He needs to have family support to continue to encourage his connections out here. It's statistically proven that the men and women which are incarcerated who have continued family support and can communicate with loved ones have lower re offending rates. This could change lives significantly for the better.