Across the United States, hundreds of jails have eliminated in-person family visits over the last decade. Why has this happened? The answer highlights a profound flaw in how decisions too often get made in our legal system: for-profit jail telecom companies realized that they could earn more profit from phone and video calls if jails eliminated free in-person visits for families. So the companies offered sheriffs and county jails across the country a deal: if you eliminate family visits, we’ll give you a cut of the increased profits from the larger number of calls. This led to a wave across the country, as local jails sought to supplement their budgets with hundreds of millions of dollars in cash from some of the poorest families in our society.

  • Landmammals@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Not really about an endorsement of the two-party system. When you go to the gas pump and see a picture of biden’s face with an I did that sticker, it’s a pretty safe bet that the person who put that up is a Republican.

    Likewise, when you see someone criticizing the Biden administration for things that county jails are doing, safe bet it’s a Republican.

    But apparently your definition of enlightened centerists includes people who know what the executive branch actually controls.

    Biden doesn’t have a gas price dial on his desk, and doesn’t set visitation policies for county jails.

    • ieatpillowtags@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      Or it’s one of the Russians paid to sow discord across social media platforms, same as they’ve been doing since 2016 at least.