Torres is among those pushing Connecticut lawmakers to pass legislation that would make the state the first to provide free calls from prisoners. Currently, inmates or their families pay $4.87 for phone calls of up to 15 minutes, the second-highest rate in the nation. If Connecticut were to adopt the policy, the state would be following the lead of New York City, which began allowing free phone calls earlier this month. "The point of making phone calls free to community members and their incarcerated loved ones is to encourage and promote communication," Tylek said. He said the inability to make regular phone calls meant he didn't learn that he had become a father until two days after the fact.

Source: ABC News May 14, 2019 20:27 UTC