HARTFORD, CT — Today, the Connecticut House passed SB 972 in a 94-51 vote, sending the legislation on to the governor’s desk. If SB 972 is signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont, as advocates expect, Connecticut will become the first U.S. state to make prison communication free, following a growing number of counties that have adopted similar policies in their jails. Worth Rises joins the rest of the Connect Families Connecticut coalition in celebrating this historic move to bring prison phone justice to the state. Governor Lamont has five days to sign SB 972 into law or it becomes law by default.
Saving Connecticut families more than $12.2 million annually (before fees and taxes), SB 972 will reconnect struggling families and improve reentry outcomes by allowing incarcerated people to communicate with their support networks at no cost. Importantly, SB 972 would also protect prison visits from being replaced by new communication technology, as many have feared.
“Today, the Connecticut legislature made history by becoming the first state legislature to green light free communication in its state prisons. Once signed into law, SB 972 will bring an immense amount of much-needed relief to Connecticut’s most marginalized families – those supporting incarcerated loved ones,” said Bianca Tylek, Executive Director of Worth Rises. “We are grateful to our legislative champions in the House, especially Representative Steve Stafstrom and Representative Josh Elliott, for carrying this bill through, and we’re eager to see Governor Lamont sign SB 972 into law in the coming days.”
“Expensive prison phone calls isolate incarcerated people from their families and support structures,” said Matt Ritter, Speaker of the House. “I’m glad to support the passage of this bill and help fulfill our promise to Connecticut families and their incarcerated loved ones.”
“Incarcerated individuals and their families shouldn't be burdened by exorbitant costs to simply keep in contact with each other. We cannot understate the importance of staying connected to family. We know that incarcerated individuals can maintain the vital connections that will ease their transition back to society,” said House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D – East Hartford, Manchester. “This bill corrects a regressive policy that senselessly indebts families and turns the revolving door of recidivism. As our state focuses on criminal justice reform, this bill could not be any more timely.”
“I’m grateful to the families and advocates who brought SB 972 to our attention,” said Steve Stafstrom, State Representative and Co-Chair of the Judiciary Committee. “I was personally moved by the testimonies of the families with incarcerated loved ones who shared during the public hearing on SB 972. It’s heartbreaking to think that a father can’t say goodnight to his child because they can’t afford it. I’m proud that Connecticut has voted to end this today.”
“It is a privilege to be a part of such an important fight alongside incredible community members. After years of relentless advocacy, Connecticut is decisively moving toward setting an example for the rest of the country in promoting communication in its prisons, and we’re on the right side of history,” said State Representative Josh Elliott. “Neither corporations nor our own government can be allowed to exploit the love between incarcerated people and their families any longer – not in our state, not on our watch.”
“SB 972 will save Connecticut families like mine more than $12 million a year. I'm so glad to see our state showing up to protect vulnerable families with incarcerated loved ones from being exploited by prison telecom corporations anymore. No one should have to pay to tell your child you love them, even behind bars,” said Diane Lewis, an advocate whose son was incarcerated for 14 years. “Thank you to the Connecticut legislature for acting to make our state a national leader in prison phone justice. All of Connecticut is looking to Governor Lamont now.”
Venezia Michalsen, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Justice Studies, Montclair State University said, “By voting yes on SB 972, the Connecticut legislature has gotten us closer to keeping loved ones separated by prison walls connected and communicating, which both research and common sense show are best for Connecticut's children, families, communities and taxpayers. Once the Governor signs SB 972, Connecticut will finally go from last to first in prioritizing the lives and futures of our most vulnerable children and families.”
“Connecticut has benefited for far too long from the pain and suffering people were forced to endure at the expense of having to pay to stay connected with there love ones inside through a phone call. This pain and suffering contributes to generational trauma that plagues our communities; something that is always overlooked. Passing this bill to me means the exploited voices of the community are starting to be heard and acknowledged,” said Jewu Richardson, Co-Director of the Connecticut Bail Fund.
“Passage of SB 972 is a huge step toward improving child health and wellbeing outcomes when that child’s parent is incarcerated. Parent-child separation causes toxic stress and PTSD-like symptoms in children, while maintaining contact reduces the most harmful effects of trauma associated with parental separation,” said Aileen Keays, Project Manager at CT Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative.
Shelby Henderson, ACLU of Connecticut Smart Justice leader said, “When someone is incarcerated, a phone call is a lifeline to hope, and that lifeline should never depend on how much money is in someone’s pocket. Phone calls are vital for families to stay connected, and that connection is necessary for the mental health and wellbeing of people who are inside and the people who love them on the outside. We applaud the Connecticut legislature’s passage of this bill and urge Governor Lamont to sign it now.”
“Thank you for having the courage to invest in people over profit. This legislation underscores our commitment to successful reentry and reducing recidivism by removing the financial barrier of connecting incarcerated people to their families,” said Karimah Mickens Webber, Chairperson, Ella’s Fund PAC.
“This urgent legislation will keep our families connected, helping dismantle an unjust system that is transferring wealth from heavily-policed communities to the private company that is profiting off their struggle. Connecticut is on its way to becoming the first state to eliminate charges on prison communication, but know this: it will not be the last. This movement is just getting started,” said Brian Highsmith, Social Policy PhD student, Harvard University.
Background:
For years, Connecticut families have paid unconscionable rates to stay connected with incarcerated loved ones. In the last year, Connecticut earned the dubious distinction of ranking last in the country in the affordability of prison calls.
The proposed legislation was initially introduced by Rep. Josh Elliott as HB 6714 in 2019. While it passed out of both the Judiciary and Appropriations Committees, it was ultimately tabled when lawmakers failed to allocate funding. Democratic leadership committed to address the issue in 2020.
Advocates continued to pressure Governor Lamont and Connecticut lawmakers to keep their promise to prioritize the prison phone justice bill in 2020. The bill was introduced again as promised, but before it could get a public hearing, the legislative session was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the start of the 2021 legislative session, the tide changed, Senator Martin Looney reintroduced the legislation, which was then taken up by the Judiciary Committee as SB 972. Following a 12-hour public hearing during which formerly and currently incarcerated advocates and their families testified in support of SB 972, the bill was passed out of the Judiciary Committee. Shortly thereafter, the Appropriations Committee funded the legislation in its proposed budget by allocating $11.4 million, and passing the bill in a 46-2 vote. SB 972 was passed out of the Senate in a 29-6 vote in May.