Vermont § 802a - Telephone use; debit and collect call systems

§ 802a. Telephone use; debit and collect call systems

• (a) Upon admittance to a correctional facility, the inmate shall within 24 hours be allowed
  access to a telephone for outgoing telephone calls at the expense of the inmate. (b) An inmate shall be allowed easy access in placing collect telephone calls upon admission
  to a correctional facility under reasonable conditions determined by the Commissioner,
  unless the inmate has been prohibited under provisions of section 853 of this title regarding punishment for a breach of the rules and regulations of the correctional
  facility in which an inmate is confined. (c) When an inmate requests and receives a list of parties approved to receive telephone
  calls, the inmate shall be provided the option of using a debit or collect call system
  to place such calls. Under the debit system, the inmate shall pay for telephone service
  at the time of use, and the cost of such service will be automatically deducted from
  an account maintained by the inmate for that purpose. (d) Any contract to provide telephone services to inmates in State correctional facilities
  shall be negotiated and awarded in a manner that provides for the lowest reasonable
  cost to inmates, to their families, and to others communicating with inmates. (Added 1995, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 50, eff. May 22, 1996; amended 2001, No. 61, § 79, eff. June 16, 2001.)