Please help call NJ Assembly and Senate leaders and urge them to post the prison and jail phone rates bill for floor votes by January 11, 2016. This will be the last floor vote before the new legislative session.

Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (856) 251-9801 (West Deptford) (856) 339-0808 (Salem)
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (201) 770-1303 (Secaucus)

Here’s a sample script:

I am calling to ask [Senator Sweeney/Assembly Speaker Prieto] to post S1771/A4576 for a floor vote. It is a bill to reduce phone rates for people incarcerated in New Jersey, including immigrant detainees. Studies have shown that maintaining relationships outside of prison helps with re-entry. Also, detainees need reasonable phone rates, not only to stay in touch with their loved ones, but to help prepare their immigration cases. Government and private prison companies should not be profiting off of those who can least afford it.

Bill sponsors and status:
S1771 is sponsored by Senator Turner and co-sponsored by Senator Weinberg and passed the Senate Law & Public Safety committee unanimously in June 2015 and passed the Senate Budget committee in December.
A4576 is sponsored by Gordon Johnson and Benjie Wimberley and passed the Assembly Appropriations committee in December.