Over 2 million Americans are in prison or jail, and a disproportionate number are people of color.

Locked out of sight and isolated from their families and communities, prisoners are vulnerable to a wide range of abuses, and the population of people who are incarcerated continues to grow. The ACLU's Racial Justice Program, National Prison Project, Women's Rights Project and other projects work to ensure the humane treatment of incarcerated people.

What's Happening in Maine:

On behalf of family members of inmates in Maine prisons, the ACLU of MAINE took on the state Department of Corrections over the vastly inflated prices it charges inmates and family members to make telephone calls.  While the generally-available rate for local calls in Maine is $.03/minute, the Maine Department of Corrections charges family members $.30, as well as fees ranging from $.95 to $8 to access the telephone system.  The Department has acknowledged that the telephone rates include a 50 percent surcharge (or commission), which produces revenues to the Department of Corrections beyond the cost of providing the phone service. 

Attorneys for the complainants, including ACLU of MAINE Legal Director Zachary Heiden and Alan Stone, of Skelton, Taintor and Abbott, argued before the PUC in June, 2008 that the system of phone charges to be subject to review by the state Public Utilities Commission.

We think PUC review is necessary here because it is unfair that the families, friends and attorneys have to pay these rates that are 1000 percent higher than the usual rates, while the Department of Corrections makes a profit, said Heiden.  That is simply not right.  The PUC agreed with the ACLU of MAINE position, and asserted that it did have jurisdiction on the issue of prison phone rates.  That move was challenged by the Department of Corrections and argued before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.  Earlier this year, the Court decided that the PUC did not have jurisdiction over prison phone rates.

What's Happening Nationally:

To learn the latest what the ACLU is doing to protect prisoners rights, please visit The ACLU National Prison Project.

The ACLU Prison Project is the only national litigation program on behalf of prisoners.

Since 1972, the NPP has represented more than 100,000 men, women and children. The NPP continues to fight unconstitutional conditions and the "lock 'em up" mentality that prevails in the legislatures.