DALLAS, June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday,
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 972, legislation that will
make Connecticut the first U.S.
state to adopt a fully taxpayer funded model for calls made from
correctional institutions. Under this new taxpayer funded law,
incarcerated individuals and their families will not be charged for
calls, making it even easier to communicate with loved ones.
Securus Technologies, which currently operates and maintains the
secure calling systems used in Connecticut state correctional facilities,
released the following statement:
"We applaud Connecticut lawmakers for passing, and the
governor for signing, legislation that will make phone calls free
to incarcerated individuals and their families. This important
legislation not only provides relief for consumers, it also is a
bellwether for other state and local jurisdictions looking for ways
to make these products and services more affordable and more
accessible.
"As part of its own reform
program, Securus has offered both zero commission and fully
taxpayer-funded options in all contracts since last year, and the
company previously managed a seamless transition in New York City to a free-to-consumers model. As
service provider to the Connecticut Department of Corrections, we
will work to ensure a seamless transition there as well.
"To jump-start that
transition, we are pleased to have worked with state
corrections officials to implement an immediate reduction of 20% in
average call rates charged to consumers, effective
July 1. Under the legislation, calls
will be free to consumers no later than Oct.
1, 2022."
Securus Technologies has been engaged in an ongoing
transformation effort to improve access to its services and provide
greater support for those impacted by incarceration. Details about
the company's progress are available here.
ABOUT SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas,
Securus Technologies, a subsidiary
of Aventiv Technologies, serves more than 3,450 public
safety, law enforcement and corrections agencies and over 1,100,000
incarcerated individuals across North America.
The Aventiv organization is committed to providing
emergency response, incident management, public information,
investigation, biometric analysis, communication, information
management, incarcerated self-service, and monitoring products and
services in order to make our world a safer place to live. For more
information, please visit www.Aventiv.com. Aventiv is a
portfolio company of Platinum Equity. Founded in 1995 by Tom
Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with a portfolio
of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around
the world.
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SOURCE Securus Technologies