The prisoner phone system is so incredibly fucked up that it infuriates me to even think about. It's not only prohibitively expensive for the prisoner, but for the family members they're trying to stay connected with.
I used to work for a company that produced some of those pre-paid, "refillable" debit cards that you sometimes see in gas stations. We specifically targeted low-income and fiscally-irresponsible users, with our bullshit "no fees" advertising. Whenever they'd call in with questions about their balance, we'd sometimes have to go over their transaction histories with them. It was very common for some of these people to have hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent every month on calls to prisons. These people, who already have basically nothing to begin with, are tasked with spending every last cent to their name just so that their kids can say "Goodnight" to dad twice a week.
It makes me want to fucking puke knowing that there's some cunt out there riding around on a yacht that was paid for by some of the most vulnerable people in the lowest points in their lives.
Ugh, I hate sad endings.