CONNECTICUT — Yesterday, Worth Rises joined incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people, their families, and other advocates in testifying in support of Senate Bill 972, a Judiciary Committee bill which would allow Connecticut residents to communicate with their incarcerated loved ones at no cost, prohibit the state from taking kickbacks from its prison telecom vendor, and protect visits for Connecticut residents with incarcerated loved ones.
“We've been fighting to pass this bill for two years, and we're tried of being asked to wait. Yesterday, people directly impacted by incarceration showed up powerfully to call on the legislature to act immediately to stop the state and private corporations from continuing to exploit the love between incarcerated people and their families,” said Bianca Tylek, Executive Director for Worth Rises. “Connecticut has an opportunity to pass historic legislation and become the first state to make prison phone calls free. But more importantly, in the middle of a pandemic, families desperately need this relief and they can’t be made to wait any longer.”
Over the course of the nearly 12-hour hearing, mothers shared gripping stories about their experiences struggling to keep in touch with incarcerated children. Formerly and currently incarcerated parents expressed grief over challenges they continue to face staying connected to their children. Advocates played recorded and recited transcribed testimonies from roughly two dozen currently incarcerated people who could not attend the hearing but wanted to make their voices heard.
“I know parents that send their children off to college for the first time. Some people send their children off to the military. Oh, how proud they must be — but they’re also worried. Did their child eat? Are they sleeping well? All the questions any parent would have when separated from their child, the greatest love they will ever know,” testified Diane Lewis, an advocate and directly impacted mother whose son was incarcerated for 14 years in Connecticut. “If you can relate to that feeling, then you can relate to me. A mother’s love and concern does not change or disappear based on where your child is or what the prosecutor alleges he did. When I had to starve or lose my utilities to speak to my son, it was just to tell him I love him… How do you ever put a price on that?”
Joshua Robillard, who is currently incarcerated in Robinson Correctional Institution, testified, “When the 15 minutes are up and your kids are upset, it affects them. They like to hear my voice. But with the cost of phone calls, it’s hard. It upsets them. My grandson will say, call me back, call me in a couple of days, but then the phones don’t work and it affects them, it affects me. It’s a tough situation. ‘You don’t love me. You don’t call me. You’re not there when I need you to be there, and I can’t call you.’ It’s a struggle.”
The testimony had an immediate impact on the legislators. Judiciary Committee Chair Steve Stafstrom remarked, “One of the things that will stick with me for a while after leaving here today is the thought of having to choose between being able to have a dad communicate with his kids and afford to eat. I can’t imagine in this country and in this state that that’s a decision anyone should have to make.”
“We can all agree that investing in children is investing in our future… We are inflicting a state-imposed barrier to providing children access to their parents, parents who can provide them the very connection and guidance they need. It’s a penalty, a financial burden, imposed on families, spouses and children after the court’s judgment has been rendered,” said Karimah Mickens, a directly impacted advocate who is also the Chair of Ella’s Fund PAC. “It’s further damage to the family that was not adjudicated by the judge — the state acting as a court of its own. I personally think it’s shameful to profit off the most marginalized among us.”
Click here to hear testimony from yesterday’s hearing.
Background: For years, Connecticut families have paid unconscionable rates to stay connected with their incarcerated loved ones. As the Connecting Families coalition pushed to make prison phone calls free, over the past year, Connecticut earned the dubious distinction of ranking last in the country in the affordability of prison calls. Last month, Governor Ned Lamont allocated $1 million to reduce the cost of prison phone calls a mere 4 cents per minute, though the State will continue to collect revenues off of the calls. Connecticut families are disappointed that Governor Lamont backtracked on his earlier commitment and looking to the legislature to create real relief for struggling families. More than 20 advocacy organizations authored a joint letter to the Connecticut state legislature, calling on lawmakers to pass legislation. For more information, please see the coalition fact sheet and read the impact stories.