Westmoreland County Prison inmates get free weekly phone call

Inmates at the Westmoreland County Prison can have free weekly chats with loved ones thanks to a new program instituted by Global Tel-Link Corp., the jail’s communication provider.

Everyone incarcerated there will get one free 5-minute phone call weekly. Warden John Walton said the program started Monday. Inmates can use their call at any time during the week.

“Then it resets itself,” he said.

GTL spokesman Randy Brown said the new program will be permanent.

The company announced the offering, which includes two free weekly messages for jails that have tablet service, last week for county facilities that contract with them. Weekly free calls and messages were instituted last month for state prisons around the country that use GTL. Pennsylvania’s state prison inmates get the two free messages because GTL does not provide phone services, Brown said.

In-person visitation has been banned at the Hempfield jail since March in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among inmates and staff. GTL offered weekly video visitations for free starting in May and the county has since taken over at a maximum of $6 per call.

Telephone call costs paid by prisoners range from $2.30 to $4 to connect plus 20 cents to $1 for each minute, according to the Westmoreland jail’s inmate handbook. Phone time is sold through the jail’s commissary in $5 increments.

“We want to ensure that every individual that uses a GTL solution to communicate with their loved ones has a way to connect each week regardless of their financial situation,” said Deb Alderson, president and CEO, in a statement. “This means all incarcerated individuals at GTL facilities will be able to maintain regular contact with their family during incarceration, leading to stronger relationships upon release and a more positive re-entry experience.”

Walton said Tuesday that the jail housed 460 inmates. The population dropped by 30% in the spring from 613 inmates on March 1 as a result of the pandemic in a combined effort that included expedited guilty pleas, fewer arrests and bond reductions. The number of new commitments has been on the rise in recent months. Walton praised GTL’s move.

“It’s a great gesture on their part,” he said.