The Criminal Cost of Talking to a Loved One Behind Bars
For years, states have worked with private phone companies to charge high rates on phone calls to and from prisons. Now activists are trying to force the FCC’s hand to do something about it.
Leticia is a writer based in California. She’s covered immigration, prison reform and juvenile justice for Colorlines Magazine and produced a woman of color-centered radio program at KZSC in Santa Cruz. Her work has been reprinted by Racialicious, truthout and Race-Talk. These days you can find her working as the strategic communications coordinator for the Media Literacy Project in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
After July 1, all Puerto Rican-born citizens will be required to have a new birth certificate. Why? Because the State Department of Puerto Rico announced there is an identity fraud crisis that compromises national security. Last December, Luis Fortuno, Puerto Rico’s Governor, signed a law that invalidates all Puerto Rican birth certificates.
Just as Katrina evacuees started to leave their home to start new outside of New Orleans, police deparments in neighboring “host” cities – San Antonio, Phoenix and Houston – accused survivors of bringing crime into their communities.