Active Campaign
Maryland
Families and allied advocates are organizing to pass legislation that would make prison phone calls free
Families in Maryland are struggling to maintain critical connections with their incarcerated loved ones simply because they cannot afford the excessive cost of phone calls.
The impact is devastating:
Marylanders spend over $12 million annually to stay connected with incarcerated loved ones.
One in three families with an incarcerated loved one goes into debt to afford communication services and visits.
87% of those carrying this burden are women — largely Black and brown women.
One in 28 children have a parent incarcerated, and many cannot afford to hear “I love you”.
Strong family connections and community ties improve facility safety, support rehabilitation, and increase successful reentry — or, in other words, they boost public safety. We should be encouraging communication and connecting families — not exploiting it.
We are working to re-introduce legislation in the upcoming 2027 legislative session to make communication free for incarcerated Marylanders and their families.
