Every time an individual gets turned down for parole he or she is not the only one who suffers. The family of the individual are victims also. They Are hoping that their loved one makes parole. Some families and inmates have suffered for more than 20 years with the turn down of parole. The D.O.C. says they encourage communication and unified relationships between inmates and their family and loved ones, yet the cost for inmates to communicate with family and/or loved ones by phone is "outrageous." The phone calls are higher than any phone call in America. My family lives 45 minutes from where I'm incarcerated. My calls to them cost $7.50 for 20 minutes of conversation. It is cheaper for my family to drive 45 minutes than it is for me to call them. 

The food in prison is at its worst, it's hardly bearable to eat, and that puts more burdens on family and friends to see that their relative/loved one gets to eat a suitable meal, which has to be purchased from the Commissary. The cheapest food that they (the Commissary) sale is noodles, which is full of salt and sodium. (see Articles)

Prison inmates haven't had a raise since 1989. The prices of Commissary items has gone up at least 10 times since 1989, and in the month of October 2008, every item in the Commissary went up 5%. (see Privatization)

This is just another way to drain the families of inmates out of more money. Some families will go without, in order to take care of and feed an incarcerated family member, as if their tax dollars are not enough for the state to feed inmates adequate meals.

Family members need to take a stand. There are over 2 million people incarcerated in America. How many family members do you think this effects? And how many dollars do you think are being sent in here by these families, just so their loved ones can have adequate meals and the efficiencies of life? Where is this going to, and where does it stop?

It's going to continue until taxpayers take a stand to where their tax dollars are spent!