LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to pass a motion spearheaded by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to provide free phone calls to people incarcerated in County jails.

“We did it! Los Angeles County will now provide free phone calls to those incarcerated in our jails. Today’s motion is my third attempt at easing the financial burden of the family members who have a loved one in our jails. There was an effort to delay this action through an additional report back. Additional report backs mean delays to something we know is worthwhile, an investment in the reduction of recidivism, and an investment in families. With the support of advocates, including those who were formerly incarcerated, I want to thank my colleagues for backing my proposal and not prolong our community’s call for action,” said Supervisor Solis. “The data is crystal clear – one-third of families go into debt trying to maintain contact with those who are incarcerated, and this primarily impacts low-income people of color, specifically Black women and Latinas. Free phone calls are about transforming how Los Angeles County goes about business.  We should not be in the business of burdening families already struggling to cope and survive. Rather, we need to be about creating safety nets that break the chains of systemic racism and inequities. Other jurisdictions across our nation have taken bold steps in establishing no-cost phone call policies in their jails and prisons. It was only humane and just for Los Angeles County to follow suit.”

The motion also moves forward with revisiting existing policies and procedures to allow for more community-based programming, including reentry and educational opportunities for people incarcerated in County jails.