The Minnesota Department of Corrections is now providing free phone calls for those incarcerated in state facilities. In May, Governor Walz signed the Judiciary and Public Safety Budget bill, which allocated $3.1 million per year to eliminate the cost of phone calls, making Minnesota the fourth state in the country to offer no cost phone calls for incarcerated persons. The free phone calls began on July 1, 2023.

Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell said studies show strong family connections through regular phones calls and visits can reduce the chance an incarcerated person will end up behind bars again and even improve outcomes for kids with incarcerated parents. 

Additionally, the financial burden can be enormous. The cost of a 15-minute phone call in Minnesota prisons was $0.60. Costs add up quickly for regular communication between an incarcerated person and their family. More than one-third of families with an incarcerated family member goes into debt because of prison phone costs and visits, according to the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

Kathleen Martin, 37, has been incarcerated at the MCF-Shakopee for the last two years for an assault and burglary charge. Although she has been able to afford phone calls with her six children, to whom she speaks with every day, she is excited for this change. “I’m now able to save the money that I would use on phone time toward acknowledging birthdays or Christmas, and helping my kids pay for their daily needs,” Martin said.

In Minnesota, 76% of those incarcerated are parents; 66% of men and 77% of women incarcerated are parents to minors. Children of incarcerated parents are more likely to turn to delinquency than children without incarcerated parents and are at greater risk of themselves being imprisoned. Investing in stronger family connections through free phone calls will help to break the cycle of intergenerational criminality, stabilize families involved in the criminal justice system, and help children lead healthier lives. (Source: Economic Policy Institute)

“Our transformative work to help better people who come into our prison system is best achieved when people are able to maintain strong connections to families and support networks,” Commissioner Schnell said. “By eliminating fees on phone calls, we aren’t only helping one person or family, we are helping all our communities. We know strong connections to loved ones helps people and makes their transition from prison to their community a more successful experience. We all do better when communities are stronger and eliminating barriers to stronger community connections creates a better and safer Minnesota.”