(NSW) Provide Unlimited Free Personal Phone Calls From Prisons
- Enora Richard, Eren Olmez & Scarlett Morrissey
- Jun 30
- 8 min read
Author: Enora Richard, Eren Olmez & Scarlett Morrissey | Publish date: 30/6/2026
P: In NSW, a 10-minute mobile phone call from prison costs $2.60.
S: The NSW Minister for Corrections should amend Regulation 120 of the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 (NSW) to give inmates unlimited free calls from prisons to nominated numbers.
E: Yung Prodigy (YP): ‘We call on the NSW Government to: Provide an unlimited number of free phone calls to nominated numbers from prisons across the state’.
Problem Identification:
Subclause (1) Regulation 120 of the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 (NSW) (the Regulation) stated that ‘the cost of a telephone call made by an inmate … is to be met by the inmate.’ ‘Subclause (1) does not apply to … the first local call made in any week by a convicted inmate’, nor does it apply to other essential calls, such as to Legal Aid.
According to YP, an organisation dedicated to mobilising young people impacted by parental incarceration, this means that the Regulation ‘places an undue financial burden on families [who must] … choose between communication and other necessities.’
Context:
Advocates have noted that phone calls remain the most accessible and simplest form of contact. In NSW, call rates from prison have been in accordance with the contracts set by Telstra and its partners since 2018. Although NSW prisoners have access to free video calls, About Time reported that from NSW prisons, mobile phone calls cost $2.60 per 10 minutes and $0.25 for landline calls. According to Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW), all ‘personal’ inmate calls are ‘monitored and recorded.’
They further detailed that a standard 5-day 30-hour week wage in a NSW prison may range from $24.60 to $70.55. Separate reports suggested wages could be lower, noting that inmates used their wages to ‘buy food and hygiene products’ alongside calls.
Booth et al. (2025) found that sustained familial contact, including phone calls, was associated with ‘more emotional and instrumental support after release’ and a ‘reduced chance of recidivism’. YP also noted that ‘regular contact is crucial for the emotional well-being of children with incarcerated parents’, and that it is a key factor in disrupting cycles of intergenerational incarceration.
Arguments:
YP identified that phone calls from prison are unaffordable for most inmates. According to advocates, ‘a single 10-minute call costs nearly $3’. A former inmate explained they didn’t have the funds to call their mother more than twice a week, already spacing out their funds to afford 2 phone calls. Dr Rory Gillard from the Community Restorative Centre (CRC) identified ‘the cost of phone calls in prison can sometimes force people to make heartbreaking decisions between buying basic essentials they need in prison and maintaining regular connections with their loved ones.’
YP explained that ‘the high cost of calls also places an undue financial burden on families’. They noted that families often send money to their loved ones to stay in touch. YP further highlighted that some families ‘maintain a landline in their home for the sole purpose of receiving calls from an incarcerated loved one’ as they are cheaper than mobile calls. They explained that these families experience financial stress paying for a landline service ‘they wouldn’t need if [mobile] calls from prisons were free.’ Prisoner rights activist Joanna Scriven noted that prison phone call prices are ‘feeding the poverty cycle’, with families who cannot afford to feed themselves burdened by phone call costs.
Some have justified the current prison phone call cost structure, as Zoom calls are available at no cost to people in custody. However, a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology noted that in Australian prisons, access to video calls is limited. CSNSW detailed that access to the video call system ‘is granted to approved users at the discretion of the Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW’. According to My Criminal Lawyers, if a family or friend is unable to attend the scheduled meeting, they may be banned from future bookings. The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (CECFW) also noted that video calls are ‘difficult to set up, with calls to mobile [being] much easier.’ For these reasons, both the Human Rights Law Centre’s (HRLC) managing lawyer and the former CEO of the CECFW expressed concern about video calls being inaccessible.
Advice/Solution Identification:
YP, HRLC, CRC, and the Justice Reform Initiative have called for the NSW Government to ‘provide an unlimited number of free phone calls to nominated numbers from prisons across the state.’ CECFW stated ‘easy and free’ access to mobile phone calls could ensure family connectivity and reduce recidivism. YP emphasised free calls would allow parents to ‘call their children and say “I love you” any time, and as many times as the child needs to hear it.’
Precedent:
There is international precedent for making mobile phone calls from prison for free. In various states in the USA, 'prison phone calls are now free’.
Public Support:
The following legal experts and organisations were signatories to the Yung Prodigy’s 2025 open letter to NSW Ministers and the Commissioner of Corrective Services advocating for an unlimited number of free phone calls to nominated numbers from prisons across the state.
This list reflects publicly stated positions and should not necessarily be taken as endorsement of this specific brief.
News Coverage:
ABC - “Cheaper to call Vatican City: Why is it so expensive to make phone calls from prison?” This article reported on high phone call costs limiting inmates' ability to stay connected with family, promoting advocacy for cheaper or free calls due to their impact on rehabilitation and well-being. By: Kate Ahston | Tuesday 6 June 2023 - Read the article here.
About Time - “'Shedding More Light: Phone Call Costs in Prison”. This article reported on how expensive prison phone calls continue to undermine family connections and rehabilitation across Australia. By: Damien Linnane | February 2026 - Read the article here.
The Guardian - “NSW prison phone call costs made it hard for Chris to stay connected to his family. Advocates say they should be free”. This article reported on the financial barriers prisoners in NSW face in maintaining contact with family due to high phone call costs. By: Eelemarni Close-Brown | Monday 1 Sep 2025 - Read the article here.
SBS News - “The 'damaging' $7 charge prisoners face – and the push to have it dumped”. This article reported that expensive calls undermine family relationships and have long-term social consequences for rehabilitation and reoffending. By: Ewa Statszawska | Monday 27 May 2024 - Read the article here.
National Indigenous Times - “Open letter urges Victorian government to cover the ‘exorbitant’ cost of prisoner phone calls”. This article reported on the legal and community groups criticising the current high costs, arguing they prevent family contact, disproportionately harm Aboriginal people and undermine rehabilitation and reintegration. By: Dechlan Brennan | Monday 13 May 2024 - Read the article here.
About Time - “'They Really Can’t Afford It’: The Prohibitive Cost of Making Phone Calls in Prison”. This article reported on how the high cost of prison phone calls exacerbates existing inequalities and worsens reintegration outcomes. By: Denham Sadler | September 2024 - Read the article here.
Where to go to learn more:
(2025) Freedom on the line | Yung Prodigy - This campaign called for free prison phone calls in NSW. They highlighted the financial burden placed on incarcerated people and argued that call costs act as a barrier to maintaining family contact. View the campaign here.
(2024) Free Phone Calls in Prison | Human Rights Law Centre - This article recommended making prison phone calls free, presenting a human rights-based argument. It emphasised the social, economic and rehabilitative benefits of maintaining consistent family contact during incarceration. View the article here.
(2024) Young Children’s Contact with their Parents in Jail and Child Behavior Problems | Journal of Offender Rehabilitation - This research paper studied links between parent-child contact and child behaviour problems. It highlighted the importance of maintaining contact for child wellbeing. Read the full article here.
(2024) Re-offending Statistics | NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research - This website provided data and insights into re-offending trends in NSW. It contextualised the relationship between post-release outcomes and factors such as family contact and social support for reducing recidivism. View the report here.
(2019) Corrective Services NSW Fact Sheet 7, Corrective Services Industries | NSW Government - This fact sheet outlined employment and conditions for people in custody, including information on prison industries and associated wages. Read the full fact sheet here.
Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 (NSW) - View the full Regulation here.
Human Perspective:
Marcus is 32 and served time in a NSW prison, working in the laundry for about $25 a week. He called his 9-year-old son whenever he could, but at $2.59 for a 10-minute mobile call, each conversation came at a cost. Most weeks, he could only afford 2 calls, sometimes less if he needed additional hygiene items. On numerous occasions, he had to forfeit a toothbrush so that he could speak to his son. His partner reserved a portion of their weekly income to transfer into Marcus’ prison account so that he could call. This added pressure to their already tight budget. Over time, the gaps between calls grew. Marcus began to feel the distance settle in, replaying missed conversations in his head – his son's first day of school where he was rushed for time on the phone, his partner recounting how their son was making friends. On one occasion, the phone hung up mid-sentence while his son was giggling about his school crush. Marcus' account had run dry and he had no money left to afford the extra minute to say goodbye. This life continued for years. Marcus began to worry whether his son would forget the sound of his voice as the distance between them grew. He felt concerned about how their lack of contact could affect his son’s wellbeing and development. Marcus noticed his son became quieter and more withdrawn. This made Marcus feel even more isolated and stressed, unsure how he would rebuild his relationship with his son – one that had been strained over countless years by fleeting moments of contact and connection.
To protect the anonymity of those involved, this is a fictionalised account drawn from an amalgamation of real-life stories, experiences and testimonials gathered during the research process for this brief. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.
Conflict of interest/acknowledgment statement:
N/A.
Support
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Disclaimers
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Reference list:
Booth, A. T., Welsh, E. T., Jayasinghe, A., Elliott, A., Tsorlinis, K., Story, K., Lefebour, L., & McIntosh, J. E. (2025). Family-Centered Support for Women Prisoners to Reduce Recidivism Risk: The ‘Strengthening Connections’ Service. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 10.1177/0306624X251389984
Chanthivong, A. (2024, October 22). Government response: Free phone calls from prisons. New South Wales Parliament. https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tp/files/189656/Government%20response%20-%20Free%20phone%20calls%20-%2022%20October%202024.pdf
Close-Brown, E. (2025, September 1). NSW prison phone call costs make it hard for Chris to stay connected to his family. Advocates say they should be free. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/01/prion-phone-call-costs-made-it-hard-for-chris-to-stay-connected-to-his-family-advocates-say-they-should-be-free-ntwnfb
Corrective Services NSW. (2026). Frequently asked questions. https://correctiveservices.dcj.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/frequently-asked-questions.html
Corrective Services NSW. (2019, May). Corrective Services Industries [Fact Sheet]. https://correctiveservices.dcj.nsw.gov.au/documents/csnsw-fact-sheets/corrective-services-industries.pdf
Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 (NSW). https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/cosr2014439/s120.html
Linnane, D. (2024). Shedding More Light: Phone Call Costs in Prison. About Time. https://www.abouttime.org.au/news-and-investigations/shedding-more-light-phone-call-costs-in-prison
Sadler, D. (2024). ‘They really can’t afford it’: The prohibitive cost of making phone calls in prison. About Time. https://www.abouttime.org.au/news-and-investigations/the-campaign-to-make-prison-phone-calls-free
Sadler, D. (2025). Victoria and ACT Cut the Price of Prison Phone Calls in Half. About Time. https://www.abouttime.org.au/news-and-investigations/victoria-and-act-cut-the-price-of-prison-phone-calls-in-half
Hanley, N., Duursma, E., Conley Wright, A., Simpson, H., & Metcalfe, L. (2024). Video visitation in Australian prisons (Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice No. 683). Australian Institute of Criminology. https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-03/ti683_video_visitation_in_australian_prisons_0.pdf
Hurley M., & Schwartz, S. (2024, April 18). The case for free phone calls in prison. Human Rights Law Centre. https://www.hrlc.org.au/updates/free-phone-calls-in-prison/
JUST Connect. (n.d.). JUST Connect Terms and Conditions. https://justconnect.justice.nsw.gov.au/terms
My Criminal Lawyers. (n.d.). Prison Visits. https://mycriminallawyers.com.au/service/prison-visits-in-nsw/
Staszewska, E. (2024, May 27). The ‘damaging’ $7 charge prisoners face – and the push to have it dumped. SBS News. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-damaging-7-charge-prisoners-face-and-the-push-to-have-it-dumped/z8wxrhxo4
Yung Prodigy. (2025, May 11). Dear Minister & Corrections [Open letter]. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/84e3c0c6-1512-4293-b848-483a3a959833/Dear%20Minister%20%26%20Corrections_yp%20.pdf
Yung Prodigy. (2025). Campaigns. https://yungprodigy.org/campaigns
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