What we want
We want all state and local jails, prisons, and detention center facilities in Georgia to provide fee-free communication, including phone calls, emails, and paper mail and packages. State and local governments in GA should not engage in kickback payment structures with third-party correctional system service providers.
These contracts exist at the state and local level and are governed by a multitude of local governments. There should be statewide action to restrict the fees that can be charged for phone calls in correctional facilities, and local governments should cease and be discouraged from engaging in commission-based structures that add additional fees, making communication between incarcerated individuals and their family costly.
Reasons for Reform
Georgia receives the third highest amount of communication contract kickbacks and ranks 35th in the nation for the affordability of a 15 minute call.”
–PrisonPhoneJustice.org
Many local city and county jails along with Georgia’s state prison system contract with private third-party companies that place equipment in the facility and manage communication services for incarcerated individuals. These companies generate revenue by charging high rates for basic communication methods along with other surcharges.
Local governments establish contract agreements with the company that provides for part of those revenues, often more than 50%, to be returned to the government. This creates a model that favors high prices because they generate more revenue, and that is a perverse relationship that should stop.
Hidden Fees Disproportionately Impact Low Income Families
The only way to communicate over the phone is to use the service provider, so family members must create an account and add funds to the balance in order to allow their loved ones to make a collect call. For low income individuals without a bank account, they must use money transfer services like Western Union and MoneyGram. These transfer services have established referral agreements with these telecom service providers, which results in the addition of surcharges beyond the normal market rate.
These communication fees most severely impact low income individuals and families. Fees like these often fall entirely upon loved ones on the outside. These costs also affect individuals in pretrial detention who have yet to face any charges, effectively punishing someone while they are presumed innocent.
Encouraging individuals that are incarcerated to maintain connections with their family and friends results in better rehabilitative outcomes and helps reduce some of the hardship inflicted upon their families.
Georgia’s State and Local Call Cost Information
State phone service provider: Securus
State Kickbacks
$8,062,200.60 in kickbacks were paid to the State of Georgia in 2019.
- That’s 3rd most in the nation, an increase from last year.
- Percentage of call cost going to kickbacks: 59.6%
- Interstate calls have a 0% kickback rate
- Data from FY 2018
Cost of a 15-minute Intrastate Call:
| 15 minute call | Prepaid | Debit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same state | $2.40 | $2.40 | $2.40 |
| Local | $1.95 | $1.95 | $1.95 |
Rates per minute
| Collect | Prepaid | Debit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same state | 0.16/min | 0.16/min | 0.16/min |
| Local | 0.13/min | 0.13/min | 0.13/min |
Local Jail Call Rates and Providers
This information comes from the Prison Policy Initiative and was collected in 2018.
| Facility | Provider | First Minute (instate) | Additional Minutes (instate) | |
| Aaron Cohn YDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Appling County Jail | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Athens Clarke County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Athens-Clarke County Correctional Institution | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Atkinson County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Atlanta YDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Augusta YDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Bacon County Jail | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Baldwin County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Barrow County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Bartow County Jail | ICSolutions | $0.16 | $0.16 | $2.40 |
| Bibb County – All Locations | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Bleckley County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Bob Richards RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Brantley County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Bryan County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Bulloch County Prison | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Burke County Detention Center GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Butts County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.70 |
| Calhoun County | Amtel | $0.30 | $0.30 | $4.50 |
| Camden County Jail | Legacy | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Carroll County Jail | Securus | $0.16 | $0.16 | $2.40 |
| Carroll County Prison | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Catoosa County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| CCA_GA-McRae Correctional Facility | GTL | $0.21 | $0.21 | $3.15 |
| Chatham County GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Chattooga County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| City of Acworth | Legacy | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| City of Atlanta Jail | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Claxton RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Clayton County Corrections Dept | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Cobb County GA | GTL | $0.12 | $0.12 | $1.80 |
| Colquitt County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Columbia County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Cook County Jail | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Coweta County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.10 |
| Coweta County Prison | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Crisp County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Crisp RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Dawson County Detention Center | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Decatur County – All locations | Legacy | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Decatur County Prison | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Dekalb County Jail | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| DeKalb RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Dodge County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Dooly County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Dougherty County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Douglas County | Telmate | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| East Point GA-Law Enforcement Center | GTL | $0.21 | $0.21 | $3.15 |
| Eastman YDC | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Effingham County Jail | Telmate | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Elbert County Detention Center GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Elbert Shaw RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Emanuel County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Evans County | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Fannin County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Fayette County Jail | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Floyd County Jail | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Forsyth County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.70 |
| Franklin County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Fulton County – All Locations | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Gainesville RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| GEO Group GA-D. Ray James Prison (BOP) | GTL | $0.21 | $0.21 | $3.15 |
| GEO Group GA-R. A. Deyton Detention | GTL | $0.21 | $0.21 | $3.15 |
| Gilmer County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Glynn County Detention Center GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Gordon County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Grady County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Greene County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Gwinnett County – All Locations | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Gwinnett County GA-Correction Complex | GTL | $0.21 | $0.21 | $3.15 |
| Habersham County | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Hall County Correctional Institution | ICSolutions | $0.11 | $0.11 | $1.65 |
| Hall County Jail | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Hancock Counry Sheriffs Department | Legacy | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Haralson County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.70 |
| Harris County Prison | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Heard County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Henry County – All Locations | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Houston County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Irwin County Detention Center | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Jackson County Correctional Institution | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Jackson County Sheriffs Office GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Jasper County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Jefferson County | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Jenkins County | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Johnson County | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Lamar County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.70 |
| Laurens County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.70 |
| Lee County | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Lumpkin County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Macon County Jail | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Macon YDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Madison County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Marietta RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Marion County Sheriff’s Dept | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Martha Glaze RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Mcduffie County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Meriwether County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Metro RYDC | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Milan Youth Detention Center | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Milledgeville YDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Miller County Jail | Telmate | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Mitchell County Correctional Institute | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Mitchell County Jail | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Monroe County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Muscogee Youth Detention Center | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Newton County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.70 |
| Oconee County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Oglethorpe County Sheriffs Office GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Paulding County | Telmate | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Peach County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Pickens County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.70 |
| Pierce County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Pike County Sheriff’s Dept | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Pulaski County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Putnam County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Randolph County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Richmond County Correctional Institution | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Rockdale RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Savannah RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Schley County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Screven County Correctional Institute | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Seminole County Jail | Telmate | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Smyrna City Jail | Securus | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Spalding County Correctional Institution | ICSolutions | $0.16 | $0.16 | $2.40 |
| Spalding County Sheriff | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Stephens County Detention Center | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Sumter YDC | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Tattnall County Sheriffs Office | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Telfair County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Terrell County Correctional Institute | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Terrell RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Thomas County Detention Center | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Thomas County Prison | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Thomasville RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Tift County | Amtel | $1.97 | $0.17 | $4.35 |
| Tift County Law Enforcement Center | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Toombs County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Treutlen County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Troup County-All Locations | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Turner County | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Twiggs County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Upson County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Walker County Sheriffs Dept | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Walton County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Ware County | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Washington County Jail | ICSolutions | $0.18 | $0.18 | $2.70 |
| Waycross RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Wheeler County Jail | Amtel | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| White County Jail GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Whitfield County GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |
| Wilcox County | Amtel | $1.97 | $0.17 | $4.35 |
| Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Wilkes RYDC | Legacy | $0.06 | $0.06 | $0.90 |
| Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office | Securus | $0.19 | $0.19 | $2.85 |
| Worth County GA | Paytel | n/a | n/a | $2.85 |