New York Becomes First US City to Offer Free Calls from Jail
August 14, 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — New York is becoming the first major city in the U.S. to offer free phone calls from jails. The New York Times says Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a bill into law on Monday. It takes effect in nine months. Currently, local calls from Rikers Island cost 50 cents for the first minute and 5 cents for each additional minute. About three quarters of people in the city’s jails have not been convicted of a crime and are there awaiting trial. Many are poor. The move is part of a nationwide push from prison-rights groups,