Families currently pay about $6 to accept a 20-minute collect call made by an inmate in a New York state prison.

The state Department of Corrections brings in more than $20 million a year off this deal with MCI. When MCI's contract expires in May, it should be replaced with a much fairer system.

Legislation that recently cleared the state Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Corrections and Crime would require the state to contract with the lowest bidder for prison telephone service contracts and would prevent the state from profiting from any deals.

Charging prisoners' families wildly unfair rates to keep in touch with their loved ones also hurts efforts to keep prisoners from ending up back in jail. Many studies have shown that prisoners who maintain regular contact with their families are less likely to become repeat offenders.

- The Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester

Gov. George E. Pataki's proposal to spend nearly $200 million on civil confinement of sexual offenders is premised on gubernatorial actions that now lack legal basis.

The governor has taken it on himself to continue civil confinement of violent sex offenders when they are released from prison. Using the state's mental health law, he has ordered inmates who have completed sentences imposed by courts under state law to be held in psychiatric facilities indefinitely.

More than 40 sexual offenders have been civilly confined under the state's involuntary commitment law. But a state appeals court is considering a challenge to the legality of the confinements, which are not included in current penal laws.

Pataki's actions are an end run around the state Legislature, which has responsibility, with the governor's approval, to set criminal penalties.

- The Daily Times, Watertown