Called to Task

Called to Task

February 26, 1998

Alan Prendergast’s “Reach Out and Gouge Someone,” in the February 5 issue, was typically way out in left field. Okay, fine, so inmates have to pay toll charges “among the highest allowed by law.” So what? Taxpayers still have to pay for their cost of incarceration, which far exceeds the toll charges. Your article states that they have the choice to call collect or have the monies deducted from their prison accounts, but they also have a choice to write a letter. And more important, they had a choice not to commit the crime that sent them to prison. Life is not always fair, and I refuse to be all broken up about criminals paying extra for phone calls. Their families may be unfairly burdened, but they do not have to accept calls.

So give it a break, will you?
Timothy D. Allport
Littleton

Original link: http://www.westword.com/1998-02-26/news/letters/2/