TO PROVIDE FOR A SURCHARGE TO BE ASSESSED ON INMATE PHONE CALLS TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF SECURITY NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH INMATE COMMUNICATIONS.

House Bill 1953 proposes to add a surcharge to telephone and video calls made by inmates in Arkansas. This surcharge would be assessed on calls from both state correctional facilities and county jails. The Department of Corrections would assess a surcharge for state facilities, while county sheriffs would have the option to do so for county jails. The funds collected from these surcharges would be specifically used to offset the costs of security needs associated with inmate communications, such as equipment and operations.