" Has anyone thought that there happen to be some innocent people in prison? My husband is in prison now for a crime he didnt commit, and not only is he being punished, but our 6 children as well...they need and want to talk to their father...without their mother struggling to pay the outrageous price of hearing his voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" I read people's comments and some people shouldn't say anything unless they are in the situation. Yes inmates are in jail for a reason. But not all inmates belong there. They are people too and some are more educated then you'll ever be. People make mistakes and deserve a second chance. Everyone has done something in their life that was wrong. Maybe you just got away with it. I'm not saying that murders,rapist,etc.. derserve a chance but they are still someones son,daughter,etc... I dont know why people are making this about the inmates. The families pay for the calls. The families are the ones who suffer because their loved one made bad choices. Some of you really need to think before you talk. You never know maybe someday someone will need to make a collect to you. Or maybe you'll be the one making the call. "

" I am appalled at some of the comments on this site. No, I do not agree with people breaking the law and, yes, they should have to pay for their crime. Unfortuantely, most of the time, other people have to deal with the consequences as well. The families of inmates did nothing wrong. Why should they have to pay for someone else's mistakes? NYS just likes to tax everything they can think of. No, I am not part of a family that is affected by this but I do feel sorry for the parents out there who have to support their children alone, raise them alone and still do their best to help them maintain a relationship with the other parent while they are incarcerated. Dealing with the everyday stress is hard enough without having to worry about the high cost of a phone call and wondering which you will have to choose - letting your child talk to their parent or putting food on the table. It isn't right and I agree with Spitzer. THIS IS COMING FROM A WORKING AMERICAN! "

" I used to be a close-minded individual too... if anyone had told me about 3 years ago that I would even be interested, let alone effected by this (or any prison-related topic), I would have told them "You are out of your mind"... I only pray that the people here (and throughout the entire US) who share the opinions with the uniformed, irrational folks in this forum never have to learn by going through it! Just remember - yes... they may have broken the law (in some cases THAT'S not even true) and need to pay for their crime, but as I am sure you ALL know - you can not control another person's actions. I wasn't there when my loved one broke the law (and in no way condone it), but communication is an essential element to curtail recidivism. The issue here is not where will the money that was being taken from these phone calls come from (and, yes, I am a taxpayer too - matter of fact, I work two jobs now - so I am paying taxes and for these calls - where's the justice in that?), but what can we (as caring, concerned people) do to prevent the overcrowding of our prisons and contribute to the decline in the recidivism rate... KAY - these phone calls are by NO MEANS free! I agree that the soldiers in our armed forces should be able to call home for free - what are you doing to make that a reality? Have you done anything besides whine about it? WA-C-YA - you refer to the "GOOD" people of this state... like who? I can say with certainty that each and every person in this country has broken the law to some extent or another. So, you want to take a stand, do you?!?! That's great! Bet you won't though! P.S. I voted for Spitzer and am VERY glad I did - he has done some wonderful things for the "little" people (you know, the middle class) in our state already - hey! Maybe people will COME BACK TO LIVE IN NY NOW!!! "No rights under common law" - hmmm, that's an interesting thing to say - did you give that even one second's thought before you publically published it? Poor fool... Millie - "MUST be an inmate's wife" - yeah! We all know what it COSTS to be with a man - don't we, honey? I am so sorry that there are people who just want to sit and gripe and don't REALLY stand up for what they believe in. That is what the families of these inmates did -they TRULY TOOK A STAND! And I am happy that our Govenor finally heard us (GOOD BYE PATAKI!!!!) "

" Everyone continues to say that inmates do not deserve cheaper phone calls. I belive that its not all about the inmates. The majority of these inmates are parents and need to keep contact with there childeren. My husband is an inmate with a sentence of 1 to 3 hes not going to be gone forever and my children still need to keep a bond with there father. We the family have paid enough its about time we get a break somewhere. I am a full time mother and employed full time. We are not all of welfare sitting home on our butts. I belive that is what a lot of people belive of inmates and families of inmates "

" Listen to your Comments I cant beleive how foolish and Selfish you are. Do you have family in jail.. My husband is not a Scumbag look at your Own life before jusgding others. Jerk. GOD DONT LIKE UGLY this life you live is a Test of Gods will. Praise the Lord.. Phone call should be lower I amnot a Prisioner But never will I doubt I can become one in this day and time and I would like to have those rights to Cheaper bill. One never knows where there life will end up so dont judge others "

" I vote for the Bill to be Lower I am an Inmates Wife. And we should not have to pay for theier crimes yes they choose to have gone there themseleves but President Bush Choose for the Army to serve our Country and they are not calling Collect and Have there Freedom and Rights. The Inmate is paying for their crime by there freddom taking away and Serving thier Sentence - We the Tax Paying People shouldnt have to pay a TELEPHONE company more money on calls to keep in contact with a Loved on in Jail. My 4 year old son needs and Loves to talk to his Father and I should not have to pay 8.00 per phone call It becomes very Costly. So those against it You never know when you will be on the otherside - leave a Wedding Drunk Drive and you'll see "

" FIRST OFF THE INMATES ARE NOT PAYING THE PHONE BILL THIER FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE PAYING THE BILL WHICH ARE DOUBLE TO TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF WHAT A REGULAR COLLECT CALL IS! SECOND NOT EVERY BODY INCARCERATED HAS BROKEN THE LAW NEED I MENTION THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE LET OUT OVER A PERIOD OF 7 YEARS BECAUSE OF WHAT DNA CAN PROVE TODAY AND YES SOME HAVE COMMITTED HORRIBLE CRIMES, BUT ITS UP TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO ACCEPT THESE CALLS OR BLOCK THEM NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND OUR TAX DOLLARS PAY FOR THE SECURITY WHICH ARE C.O'S AMONGST OTHER THINGS LIKE RESERVES BUT JUST LIKE THESE SERVERS OF OUR COUNTRY CHOSE TO SIGN UP THESE CRIMINALS CHOSE TO BREAK THE LAW I HAVE FAMILY IN BOTH PLACES JAIL AND ARMY AND BOTH OF THEM CHOSE THEIR SPOT WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT,BUT THEN AGAIN SOME TIMES PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE! "

" Its an easy fix. The took some innocent persons rights why not take theirs. Dont let the child molestion murdering abusive people use the phones at all...give them a pen and paper...... "

" When does the working man get a break you know...the guy that has enough brains to stay out of jail. Who cares is a inmate stays incontact with his or her family, they should have been with there family instead of breaking the law.....now we should all feel sorry for them??? ,,,,,,NOT!!! spitzer is for the working new yorkers...just another that was able to fool us all...as far as i'm concered the inmate gave up his right to a phone the minute he decided to break the law..Lets not forget some of these are murders ....but they decided who ever they murdered didn't need to stay in contact with their family so why should these low life....and yes if your in prison and not out supporting your family You are a low life!!!!!!! "

" paid for years MUST be an inmate's wife "

" Where will funding come from to offset the loss of the 57% the State collected on the calls? Probably an increase in the DOCS budget. And who pays for that, yup, the taxpayers! "

" our tax dollars don't pay for the inmates? You are clearly the one that is uninformed. Look up how much it costs PER INMATE to feed, cloth, and put a roof over their heads. Yes, the families pay the phone bills. Yes, the employees do get paid for doing their jobs - heaven forbid! I'd like to see you work in a prison. - Ya think it's easy? (And no, I don't work in a prison). "

" Did any of you who have "commented" read the article. The fact is, the families of the incarcerated pay the phone bill. "IF" you are really "upset" about your tax dollar, educate yourself and realize that the system employs thousands and "THAT" is what YOUR tax dolloar pays for. Ther is interesting and lively debate that can be enjoyed from this "prison" subject, but interesting and lively debate does not happen with uninformed, closed minded, uninvolved, purely opinionated people. You only seek to argue, not to "fix" anything. "

" Here starts Spitzers barage on the GOOD people of this state. Anyone who voted for him should be ashamed of themselves. Wait till you see what we're in for. "

" This is really great, lets give these poor criminals a break. They are only in there for one reason,they broke the law in a big way!We as taxpayers pay their way anyways.It's time we make a stand and DO NOT give these scumbags any rights! Once they are inmates they should have no rights under common law. Let them pay,thats the reason they are in prison in the first place!!! "

" NYS INMATES SEEMS TO HAVE MORE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEDGES THAN OUR NYS ARMY GUARD IN IRAQ. SURE WOULD BE NICE IF OUR SOLDIERS RECEIVED FREE PHONE CALLS. "