Costs Weigh on Prisoners’ Families as CFPB Cracks Down (Correct)

Already juggling child care, student loans and rent on a solo income, Monica never imagined that the cost of staying in touch with her husband while he served a minimum 15 years in prison would be what drove her most agonizing budget decisions.

“I couldn’t tell him when I didn’t have enough money for both groceries and calls, so I would put the money on the phone first and figure out food second,” the 36-year-old said. She spoke to Bloomberg Law on condition of anonymity out of fear that prison staff could retaliate against her husband.

But phone calls, video ...