WADOC Inmate Release Phone Program is Helping Reduce Recidivism

RESTON, Va., April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GTL, an innovation leader in correctional technology and payment services solutions for government, today announced that a program which provides prepaid mobile phones to Washington Department of Corrections (WADOC) inmates upon their release has been a success. The phones are used to facilitate communication with family and to manage logistics, like finding employment, which studies have shown help reduce recidivism. GTL donated $25,000 to WADOC to establish the program.

The money donated by GTL paid for the first 150 phones and six months of service for each of the phones. At the conclusion of the six-month period, inmates can either assume responsibility for the service, which costs thirty-five dollars per month, or they can return the phone to WADOC for reuse.

C & C Communications (ccComm), a mobile phone service provider in Washington State, supplied the phones and has been instrumental in helping activate and provision the phones. 

"GTL has been a long-time proponent of initiatives that help reduce recidivism, and we are particularly excited about the WADOC program," said Jane Newman, Northwest Account Executive at GTL. "WADOC should be lauded for their vision and successful implementation of the program."

The inmate release phone program provides released individuals with a vital tool to help them return to normal life, including finding gainful employment. Having a phone to ask about an employment opportunity or being able to provide a contact number to a potential employer is a prerequisite for any person trying to find a job. It is in everyone's benefit to have individuals successfully transition into mainstream society, and these phones will go a long way in helping them achieve this goal.

Given the success of the pilot, WADOC will look to making the program permanent using a state or federal grant. "GTL is proud to have been a part of this pilot program, and we look forward to hearing the many success stories brought on by this forward-thinking state DOC initiative," concluded Ms. Newman.

About GTL
GTL leads the fields of correctional technology and government payment services with visionary solutions and customized products that integrate seamlessly to deliver security, financial value, and ease of operation for its customers. As a trusted industry leader, GTL provides services to 32 state departments of corrections, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and 73 of the 100 largest city/county facilities, including 39 of the top 50, which comprise 1.9 million inmates nationwide. To learn more about GTL, please visit www.gtl.net or our social media sites on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Press Contacts: Vinnie Mascarenhas
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[email protected]

Jeremy S. Barclay
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SOURCE GTL

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