Donate
  • About
  • Rent College Pads
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
Search
News
Opinions
Sports
Classifieds
Comics
BMA
Events
Subscribe

Monday, February 6, 2023
Print Archive

Eastern Echo
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
  • Search
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
Search

Subscribe to the Echo

Donate to The Echo

You can support the Echo by donating through the EMU Foundation and selecting to apply your gift to a specific fund. Any of the funds listed below will provide support to the Echo.

01049 -- EMU Echo Editor Endowed Scholarship:  Provides financial support for the current EMU Echo Editor.

02414 -- Scott Stephenson Eastern Echo Scholarship:  This expendable scholarship is for the benefit of student(s) in the School of Communication, Media & Theater Arts in the College of Arts & Sciences.  It will be awarded to a full or part-time junior or senior EMU student majoring in journalism and working for the Eastern Echo.  The student should be working to self-finance their education and not be eligible for need-based grants.

00825 -- Student Media Development:  Provides support for the Student Media program.

Thank you for supporting the Echo and EMU Student Media.

Give Now


11/8/2021, 7:00am

Ypsilanti urges free phone calls for inmates at Washtenaw County Jail

The Ypsilanti City Council passed a resolution requesting phone calls be free for inmates at the Washtenaw County Jail.

By Michael Dempster
Ypsilanti urges free phone calls for inmates at Washtenaw County Jail
Pamela Mohar

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

Ypsilanti City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution urging the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners to provide free phone calls for all Washtenaw County inmates on Oct. 19. 

The resolution was proposed due to the high costs of telephone calls between inmates at Washtenaw County Jail and their families outside of the facility.

The correctional telecom sector business annually generates $1.4 billion in revenue, according to the resolution. The price of phone calls from correctional facilities are being driven higher due to the wealth gap between minority groups and white individuals.

Connecting with loved ones while incarcerated can reduce the rates of recidivism, according to the resolution.

“Our criminal justice system needs much reform, and any steps to remedy its ills or reduce its negative effects are important to take,“ Ypsilanti City Councilperson Brian Jones-Chance, said. "Providing access to free calls is a small measure that the county could take to address the disproportionate impacts of an imperfect system on the Black and Latino populations as well as the poor.”

The resolution is currently being directed to the Ypsilanti City Clerk to be provided to the Washtenaw Board of Commissioners.

“It is important that the city request the County Board of Commissioners to take up the issue of free calls for those incarcerated in county facilities,“ Jones-Chance said.

Studies by the Vera Institute and the Urban Institute have pointed toward a positive connection between family communication and re-entry success after incarceration. Expensive phone calls have been shown to disproportionately reduce the odds of success for poorer inmates, mainly minorities.

“To the extent that citizens of Ypsilanti are represented in the county jail system, I expect some small positive effects in the future, should the Board of Commissioners take this up,“ Jones-Chance said.

Should the resolution be taken up by the Board of Commissioners, Ypsilanti City Councilperson Anthony Morgan said he hopes the resolution will make it easier for inmates to connect with their families.

“Hopefully in the future, crime will decrease and inmates behind bars will be able to contact their families at no cost," Morgan said. "This will ensure that even though their terms are served that they are still able to reach out to their families for support and assistance.”

Share



Related Stories

The Eastern Echo Podcast Logo Fall 2019

Podcast: Ypsilanti City Council, Board of Trustees recaps; Advice from EMU professors

By Ashlee Buhler and Jasmine Boyd

Courtesy of Sheriff Clayton.

Ypsi Votes: Sheriff Jerry Clayton seeks fourth term focusing on mental health and diversion programs

By Austin Elliott

karenandmichale.png

Ypsi Votes: Michael White and Karen Lovejoy Roe's differing priorities in Board of Commissioners race

By Austin Elliott


The Eastern Echo welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.


Most Popular


2/2/2023, 12:36pm

Michigan's official groundhog predicts early spring in Groundhog Day celebration

By Marie White

Howell Nature Center hosts an annual Groundhog Day event to celebrate the holiday.


2/1/2023, 7:42pm

Makhail Wood: A Record-Breaking Talent


1/31/2023, 8:00am

EMU's REC/IM now offering free personal training and group fitness classes


1/30/2023, 8:00am

What's the move at EMU? Jan. 30 - Feb. 5


Podcast


11/10/2022, 11:35am

TheBlockE Podcast


11/8/2022, 11:35am

Student Interview: Pritish Kokate - The Eastern Echo Podcast Ep. 5


11/3/2022, 5:58pm

Special episode: EMU Journalism Professor Dr. You Li speaks with EMU alumni Nathan Bomey


10/27/2022, 6:03pm

Interview w/ Ronia Cabansag - The Eastern Echo Podcast Ep. 3


Tweets by TheEasternEcho
Eastern Michigan Echo To Homepage
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Freelance
  • Submissions
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Distribution

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2023 The Eastern Echo

Powered by Solutions by The State News.