Finally, MCI is also required to provide the State with a portion of the billable revenue generated by inmate calls. While the current DOC inmate phone system has many beneficial features over the previous methods for providing inmate phone services, there are several issues which should be addressed to improve the existing system. The fiscal impact on DOC inmate call recipients has been increasing steadily each year since FY 1992 and could mitigate any benefits attributed to the inmate phone system. Although a number of non-rate factors such as growth in the DOC system's inmate population have contributed to the increasing fiscal impact, the higher rates and long distance surcharges have also increased the fiscal impact on call recipients. If the fiscal impact on call recipients is reduced, any revenue the State could receive from the system should be retained.
Many states receive commission revenue from their inmate phone systems.
However, as in other states, the commission revenue should be used to provide or enhance programs or services that benefit DOC inmates. DIT has the necessary infrastructure and resources available to address issues related to telecommunications services and is currently responsible for the acquisition and provision of these services for the State. To further improve the inmate phone system and provide for more proactive administration, DOC should require the submission of more detailed inmate phone system data, require an independent audit of the system's operations, and implement mechanisms intended to benefit inmate call recipients. As a result, the fiscal impact of receiving inmate calls is placed directly, although voluntarily, on the call recipient and not the inmate. This review indicates that the total billable charges to call recipients have increased significantly since FY 1992.