DuPage County Jail

Telephones

Interview with Sam and Ron


JM: Did you have regular access to telephones?
Sam: Yes, you have access to phone all the time but you do not have access to a phone in the holding cell.
Ron: Yes. There were 3 phones on R pod and it wasnt hard to get some time on them. Not like Cook where you practically have to knock someone out to get a phone call. They are expensive as hell though to whoever you call so if you want to be considerate of them get a phone card from commissary.

JM: What types of charges applied for calling people?
Sam: I really don't know because I did not pay the bill. I know you can buy a calling card at the jail.
Ron: Ridiculous rates. When you are in jail they will stick their hands into the pockets of you and anyone else they can, including your loved ones.

JM: Did you need to buy phone cards to call out?
Sam: You do not need them but you can purchase them if you wanted to.
Ron: No but its a lot more considerate to use a phone card than to stick your friends and family with those huge fees.

JM: Did the jail screen your calls?
Sam: Oh, I am sure they did.
Ron: Oh yeah. Every time you make a call it tells you that the calls are screened. I was told that they dont just sit and listen to every call but that certain key words would trigger a recording device for later screening by security. Seems plausible as thats basically what the FBI and homeland security do to regular citizens.