By Jason Renard Walker, NABPP Minister of Labor 

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Clements unit to suspend visitation, a memo was created, giving all prisoners access to one five minute free phone call bi-weekly. The prisoner was supposed to be allowed to call anyone regardless of if the person was on their OTS call list or visitation list. 

To my surprise the sergeant handling our calls skipped over the phone key that said ‘free call’ pressing the key to place a collect call instead. After I asked why I wasn’t given my free call, he showed me a same-day-created memo, saying that at that point all calls would be collect calls. An enraged prisoner announced that his family was charged $21.00 for a five min phone call. I’m not sure if the call was $21.00 but I made one as well to my girlfriend, Noelle. [Update: Noelle was charged $21.74 for a five min call]

I’m asking that the Human Rights Defense Center and all concerned individuals investigate the collect call rate and demand that those charged be given their money back or a substantial reimbursement. We were told we could make a free phone call, but upon making the call it turned to a collect call. This is clearly a scam, bamboozle and federal felony phone fraud, embezzlement and conspiracy to scam the public charges. Given that they knowingly used a pandemic to advance this crime,all responsible officials should be fired,charged and sent to jail for taking advantage of the public’s trust and using their integrity for financial gains. If you are a U.S. prisoner experiencing this scam, contact: 

Prison Legal News 

Attn:Kathy Moses

P.O. Box 1151 

Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460 

and via email:KMOSES@HUMANRIGHTSDEFENSECENTER.ORG

Dare to Struggle, Dare to win!

All power to the people! 

Jason Renard Walker 1532092 

Clements Unit 

9601 Spur 591 

Amarillo, Tx 79107