Prisoners are being priced out of speaking to their loved ones and this cost of connection is harming their chances of rehabilitation. 

The right to communicate freely and securely with loved ones is a basic human right that many of us take for granted, but not everyone is so lucky. 

For inmates in NSW prisons a 10 minute phone call to a friend or family member can be prohibitively expensive because of changes the Government made last year. The cost of calls from the inside were raised from $0.25 to $2.59, but many inmates simply can’t afford this. The cost of connection is harming inmates and their loved ones. Some families are forking out hundreds of dollars each week to stay connected to their loved ones on the inside, to provide them the support they need to get through their time. 

Studies show that sustained connection to the outside world is one of the most critical factors in an inmate's rehabilitative journey, and significantly reduces the rate of reoffending. In Minnesota, one study found that just one video call with friends and family per week reduced the post-release reconviction rate by 22%. 

We know that meaningful connection during a prison sentence makes reoffending less likely, because nobody can get their life back on track without the love and support of family and community. Access to free and secure calls will improve and literally save lives. That’s why the Greens are supporting inmates who are calling on this Government to provide free phone calls for every inmate in this state. 

Following the tabling of an inmate-led petition with over 1,000 signatures calling on the Government to abolish the cost of phone calls for inmates, the pressure is mounting on NSW Labor to change the way inmates are able to connect, but we need to get louder. 

With your help, we can trigger a debate in Parliament and make this an issue NSW Labor can no longer cast aside. 

Sign up now to receive a link to the formal inmate-led Legislative Assembly E-petition.