The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is finalizing a new statewide contract that will govern how people in prison make phone calls, send messages, participate in video visits, and access tablets.
This decision will shape how thousands of people stay connected to loved ones—and MI-CEMI is urging the state to get it right.
Alongside several advocacy partners, MI-CEMI submitted a formal memo responding to the current Request for Services (RFS‑171‑250000002079‑4). Our message was clear: communication systems must be affordable, accessible, and designed to serve—not exploit—incarcerated people and their families.
Key Recommendations from MI-CEMI’s Memo:
- Require competitive pricing and meaningful cost transparency.
- Eliminate predatory fees that place undue financial strain on low-income families.
- Ensure all services—calls, messaging, tablets, and video visits—are accessible regardless of income or location.
- Uphold strong privacy protections, especially for legal calls and personal conversations.
- Involve directly impacted people and community stakeholders in evaluating vendor proposals.
These systems affect more than just convenience. Communication with loved ones is linked to better mental health, stronger family relationships, and lower rates of recidivism. But without safeguards, the financial and emotional burden falls hardest on families already stretched thin.
MDOC’s bidding window closed June 27. Decisions made in the coming weeks will determine whether Michigan’s prison communication systems support stability and connection—or deepen harm.
The post What’s at Stake in Michigan’s Prison Communications Contract first appeared on Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration.