Press Release: House Passes Delegate Irene Shin’s Jail Cost Reform Legislation

RICHMOND, Va. – Last Friday, the House of Delegates passed Delegate Irene Shin’s Jail Cost Reform Legislation (HB 1053).

Currently there is a vast disparity in prices, revenue, profits, and commissions relating to the operation of jail canteens, commissaries, and communication services from facility to facility in the Commonwealth.

Many incarcerated people pay exorbitant prices for critical goods and services in jails, ranging from clothing, hygiene products like soap and toothpaste, supplemental food, and telephone services. Additionally, studies show the positive impacts of family contact for those behind bars, including significantly decreased levels of recidivism.

For the vast majority of incarcerated people, the cost of these supplemental products and services are bornebourn not by the inmates, but by their families, who are predominantly women, people of color, and low-income.

Delegate Irene Shin’s legislation will establish a work study group to gather stakeholders to address these disparities, and determine a way to reduce or eliminate many of these costs.

Statement of Delegate Irene Shin:

“The criminal justice system must acknowledge the humanity of those incarcerated, and offer a path for rehabilitation, re-connection, and return to society. The overwhelming majority of prisoners in a local Virginia jail will be released, and we must design a pathway that prevents recidivism, and does not burden the families of the incarcerated with what is, essentially, an egregious, regressive tax.

“HB 1053 will start the process of reform for jail canteens, commissaries, and communication services. This legislation will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to reform jail costs going forward.

“No incarcerated person, or their family, should be forced to buy goods or services from an unregulated monopoly provider at a cost that exploits their captive status. Common-sense reforms can limit unchecked price gouging, and establish affordable and accessible communication services to benefit incarcerated individuals and their families.

“I’m proud to have brought forward this bipartisan reform legislation, and I look forward to continuing to work towards the meaningful results that will come from this much needed first step towards jail reform.” 

---