"I just called once a week because the calls are so expensive," said Sypher, who has been out since April 17. "I really shouldn't even have called that much. A lot of guys in there, they don't have that luxury."

Depending on where inmates are and where they are calling, calls can cost as much as 69 cents a minute -- with a $3.95 service charge tacked on the front end. Service charges include the first minute of a call.

T-Netix Inc. has served the Corrections Department since December 2002. The department opted to extend the initial three-year contract for two additional one-year terms. The current contract ends Dec. 16.

"These poor families that have nothing, they're lucky if they can talk to their loved one once a month," Chuck Sypher said. "Jeff said that there were so many people whose folks couldn't afford to call them. They'd call home, and their families wouldn't take the calls. Those guys need contact in there."

T-Netix serves more than 90 jails and prisons in Kansas and about 3,000 inmate sites nationwide, said Curt Hopfinger of Securus Technologies Inc., of which T-Netix is a subsidiary. Securus, based in Dallas, identifies itself as the largest independent provider of collect, prepaid and debit calling services to correctional facilities.

The biggest complaint about inmate calls always is the cost, Simmons said, though complaints about dropped or blocked calls also come in to the department.

In response to questions from the Kansas Legislature about why calls are so expensive, the Corrections Department explained that the telephone system has several security features that add to the cost. Those include the capability to record and monitor calls, prevent forwarding of calls to third parties, and restricting calls to certain numbers.

But Simmons noted that that money goes to the Inmate Benefit Fund, which is used for programs such as sexual offender and substance abuse treatment and vocational education.

"If the commissions went away, it would reduce the amount of money we spend for offender programs. Or we'd have to find a different funding stream, which most likely would be the general fund appropriated to the KDOC by the Legislature," Simmons said.

Chuck Sypher, who lives south of Topeka, doesn't necessarily buy the commission argument. He said his son, sentenced for manufacturing methamphetamine and housed at El Dorado and Ellsworth, didn't receive help from any programs.

Simmons said the department "identifies who should receive those through the evaluation process and which programs they need based on their particular circumstances."

About 25 percent of inmates are sex offenders. Most of those will be referred to treatment, Simmons said. Likewise, 40 percent have no diploma or GED. They likely will receive educational training. About 70 to 80 percent have a history of substance abuse.

The Sedgwick County Jail uses a different provider, Global TelLink. AT&T customers who accept phone calls from inmates pay $4.10 for up to 20 minutes of call time, said Lt. Larry Bragg.

About 10 seconds into their call, the conversation was abruptly cut off, he said. If the inmate had called back, he would have faced another service charge.

Correctional Billing Services explained that he had exceeded his spending limit with his phone provider for inmate calls and needed to set up a prepaid account.

He doesn't like the way the T-Netix system works, he said. Calls are cut off and blocked too often, leading to additional service charges, he said.

"These people are standing between inmates and their loved ones with their hands out, saying 'Pay me first!' " Becker said. "If it's not illegal, it ought to be. But it's certainly immoral."

Peter Ninemire, Midwest regional trainer and organizer with Families Against Mandatory Minimums, said inmates need outside contact with family and friends.

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