Emergency offerings to help keep families connected and support re-entry include 32.8 million free phone calls totaling 260.0 million free minutes; 5.7 million free video connections; 18.2 million free JPay Stamps; 196,919 free news subscriptions; 682,031 free game downloads
Securus Technologies today released its weekly update detailing the total number of free calls, video connections, JPay Stamps, news subscriptions and game downloads it has provided since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The offerings are part of an emergency program Securus deployed with its correctional partners on March 13, when the pandemic was declared a national emergency. It was developed to support re-entry efforts and help incarcerated individuals stay connected with loved ones during this challenging time.
To date, those free offerings total:
- 32.8 million free call credits for incarcerated individuals and their families, resulting in 260.0 million free minutes of phone connections;
- 5.7 million free video connections to friends and families of incarcerated individuals;
- 18.2 million free JPay Stamps for electronic messaging;
- 196,919 free monthly subscriptions to Newsstand;
- 682,031 free game downloads;
- Total accommodations for 404 agencies and 748 sites across the United States.
In addition to this ongoing assistance, Securus is offering compassion credits designed to accommodate incarcerated individuals who fall ill with COVID-19. Those credits, which are uploaded onto prepaid cards and distributed by correctional facilities, allow additional free access to Securus phone calls and video connections throughout an individual’s medical care. The company is also making free calls available to public defenders at many locations.
For those facilities enabled with Securus tablet technology, the company has introduced select free movie and game titles during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been downloaded almost 2 million times. This expanded assistance is in addition to the no-cost resources, including educational offerings, free eBooks, podcasts and other self-help tools that are always available free of charge.
“Aventiv is proud to offer these free and discounted communications to help ease the burden of the pandemic on incarcerated individuals and their loved ones this holiday season,” said Dave Abel, President and CEO of Aventiv Technologies, parent company of Securus Technologies. “These connections are critical, now more than ever before, as technology continues to play an important role in keeping families and friends connected amid the spread of COVID-19.”
The program is an element of an ongoing transformation effort by Securus Technologies to improve access to its services and provide greater support for those impacted by incarceration. The company continues to work with its partners to garner feedback about the situation on the ground. All support from Securus will be in accordance with the latest public health guidelines to ensure that the support is tailored and responsive to the unique needs of the incarcerated community.