On February 19, 2014, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) lowered the rate that individuals incarcerated in BOP facilities pay for their direct long distance calls. This change is in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling in August 2013, which set guidelines to reduce the cost of interstate phone calls made by individuals incarcerated in prisons.
Phone contact allows individuals to maintain their relationships with their children, family, and friends. Studies show that these relationships are important to an individual’s reentry success, and also have positive implications for the communities to which they return and the children of incarcerated parents. Lower phone rates may help these children stay in contact with their parents and reduce the risk of these challenges. To view the new rate, click here. To learn more about the FCC ruling, click here.
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Apply Now for Resident Analyst Program to Increase Data Analysis Capacity at Departments of Corrections
Corrections leaders balance the complex priorities of maintaining public safety, operating secure facilities, providing needed care and services to the incarcerated population, and coordinating with other agencies.
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The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center has launched the Collaborating for Youth and Public Safety Initiative (CYPSI) in partnership with six states: California, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island. The initiative will help states develop, fund, and effectively implement a research-based service continuum to improve public safety and behavioral health, education, and other outcomes for youth.
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In April 2025, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a package of bipartisan criminal justice legislation into law, which is designed to increase public safety and improve community supervision. The legislation passed nearly unanimously.
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