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Georgia Criminal Law Review

Document Type

Comment

Abstract

In response to widespread criticism of exploitative prison communication costs, Congress enacted the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022 (the “Act”). This legislation tasked the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) with establishing fair rates for phone and video calls made by inmates in jails, prisons, and immigration detention centers. While the Act marks a critical step in reducing financial burdens on incarcerated individuals and their families, it does not cover other widely used communication methods, such as electronic messaging, emails, and tablet-based platforms. These newer services remain largely unregulated, enabling private companies to impose excessive fees due to the lack of oversight. This Comment examines the impact of the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act in alleviating financial burdens on inmates and their families through regulation of traditional communication methods, while also highlighting significant gaps in protections for unregulated digital platforms. It begins with a historical analysis of inmate calling issues, emphasizing how private-equity-backed telecommunication companies have profited from inmates' need to connect with loved ones and used predatory pricing to trap low-income families in cycles of debt. This background illustrates the necessity for reform and the crucial role of advocacy by affected families in driving legislative change.

This Comment then assesses the achievements and limitations of the Act, noting its success in regulating phone call rates but its failure to address other digital communication tools, such as email and messaging services, widely used in prisons today. Despite the Act, private companies continue to impose high fees on unregulated services, burdening families economically and emotionally. Finally, this Comment explores the emergence of innovative, cost-free communication platforms that challenge traditional telecommunication monopolies and evaluates their effects in states that have adopted these programs.

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