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Allegations of Conspiracy Between Michigan County Governments and Prison Phone Companies
Recent legal action carried out by the Civil Rights Corps, an organization dedicated to combating systemic injustices in the US legal system, has shed light on disturbing allegations of collusion between county governments in Michigan and prison phone companies. The lawsuits, targeting St. Clair and Genesee counties, reveal a nefarious “quid pro quo kickback scheme” aimed at eliminating in-person prison visits to increase profits for these companies, with a share of the proceeds allegedly funneled back to the county governments.
The St. Clair Lawsuit
The lawsuit filed against St. Clair County implicates the county officials, including Sheriff Mat King, in a covert agreement with Securus, a leading prison phone provider. As part of this arrangement, the county implemented a Family Visitation Ban, prohibiting face-to-face visits between inmates and their loved ones. In exchange for enforcing this ban and channeling families towards Securus’s paid communication services, the county stood to receive a substantial portion of the company’s revenues, as outlined in the litigation.
On September 22, 2017, St. Clair County officials decided to implement a new policy: a Family Visitation Ban prohibiting people from visiting their family members detained inside the county jail…The County’s decision was part of a quid pro quo kickback scheme with Securus Technologies, a for-profit company that contracts with jails to charge the families of incarcerated persons exorbitant rates to communicate with one another through “services” such as low-quality phone and video calls. The County officials agreed to prohibit in-person visits at the jail in exchange for a substantial cut of Securus’s future revenue.
The Genesee County Allegations
In a parallel set of claims, Genesee County is accused of engaging in a similar conspiracy with Securus initially and later with ViaPath, formerly known as Global Tel*Link Corporation. The litigation asserts that county officials orchestrated a Family Visitation Ban under the guise of public safety concerns, all while striking backroom deals with these companies to profit from prisoners’ families. The switch to ViaPath did not alleviate the exploitative nature of the arrangement, with the county continuing to benefit from the revenue generated by paid inmate phone calls, as detailed in the lawsuit.
At then-Undersheriff (now-Sheriff) Christopher Swanson’s direction, in 2018, the jail’s captain told an account executive for Global Tel*Link Corporation (GTL)—the other major jail telecommunication company in the country—that the County Defendants wanted to make more money from phone and video calls than the cash-incentive arrangement with Securus: “We need the best deal you can do,” he wrote. And he got it.The County Defendants switched providers for the jail, negotiating and then signing a contract with GTL in 2018. Under that contract, which remains in effect, GTL pays the County Defendants $180,000 per year from the company’s phone call revenue, an annual cash payment called a “technology grant” of $60,000, and 20% of the cost of every video call…GT…
Attorney Cody Cutting from Civil Rights Corps emphasized the urgency of addressing these cases, particularly due to the impact on children and families affected by the absence of in-person visits. The broader ethical question raised by these lawsuits challenges society’s tolerance for a criminal justice system that allows such exploitation to occur unchecked.
Responding to the allegations, ViaPath and Securus have denied any wrongdoing, asserting their readiness to defend against the claims in court. While the legal battle unfolds, the implications of these lawsuits extend beyond the confines of Michigan, prompting reflection on the ethical boundaries of profit-seeking practices within the corrections industry.
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