Charging Inmates for "Administration" Fees - YEAH RIGHT! Please sign! - Page 2

Phil in Paris · #26 07-30-2004, 05:51 AM

Knock on wood, fingers crossed !!!!

Thanks for letting us know Cathy.

Phil

Moodysgirl · #27 07-30-2004, 05:57 AM

Signed

MizzCandy · #28 07-30-2004, 06:33 AM

Signed # 332

liza05 · #29 07-30-2004, 06:42 AM

I signed it too #333.

Phil in Paris · #30 07-30-2004, 07:43 AM

OK, I sent an e-mail to Jeff Straley at Inmate Bank, I've known him for 2 years now, and he's a friendly guy.

This is the e-mail I sent him:

Hi Jeff

It's been a long time, and I hope you and yours are fine.

I've heard a "rumor" stating that you might stop charging the inmates $6 a month to process their money orders. Could you please tell me whether it's true or not ??

Thank you very much.
Phil

And this is his answer:

Yep we are doing well, thanks.

The fee you are referring to was passed in House Bill 1875, which is the Departments Appropriation Bill. This will allow a charge for banking services of up to $6.00 per month. The fee has been set at $4.00 per month. The fee will be applied on the last working day of each month and if the inmate has insufficient funds a hold will be placed on the account and will be collected next time a deposit is received. The funds collected will be deposited into a Grants and Donations Trust Fund and will be used to offset the cost of the Department's operations.

Also Phil there has already been a Class Action Lawsuit to have an injunction granted to stop from charging the fee. We are awaiting word from our Legal Department on whether we are going to collect the fees. This is the last working day of the month so if Legal does not give us the go ahead we will not be deducting the fees tonight.

Jeffrey R. Straley
Professional Accountant Supervisor
Bureau of Finance & Accounting
Inmate Trust Fund Section
Phone (850) 410-3612
Fax (850) 487-0949

CAGirl · #31 07-30-2004, 11:05 AM

This is so great, Phil, how awesome that you have a "connection"!

Please keep up posted, if you would, as you know more from Jeff. This would be awesome if their Legal Department decides not to deduct the fees!!

~Jillian

skyblue · #32 07-30-2004, 11:59 AM

My PP has shall we say been a little "ill" lately, This banking stuff has just sent him over the edge. I am so soooooooooo angry.$6 is a fortune to some of these guys and their freinds and families who as other have rightly said, are having to pay.

Eric's Homegirl · #33 07-31-2004, 02:00 AM

Signed # 2721

CathyFL · #34 07-31-2004, 03:53 AM

Thats wonderful Phil!!

That was what my son was telling me about .I sure hope they dont get charged it hurts all of us !

Bombina · #35 07-31-2004, 07:40 AM

Signed #338. Thanks Phil & everyone!

Charlie's Mom · #36 07-31-2004, 09:26 AM

Thanks Phil, I would love to know who filed the class action. Can we join? That is great news.

Phil in Paris · #37 07-31-2004, 09:39 AM

Jillian

Mr Straley can be reached easily by anyone at Inmate Bank. Before they sign the agreement with Western Union for international money orders, Inmate Bank lost one of my regular french money order ( $100 !!!!

), and Mr Straley did get out of his way to help me out !! I have kept his info ever since, and never fails to send him and his family my good wishes for X-mas New Year etc...

I know that he also was helpful to some other PTO members, so I suggest you to contact him should you have a problem with Inmate Bank.

straley.jeff@mail.dc.state.fl.us

By the way, he didn't e-mail me back last night, meaning that at least for August, they won't charge our loved ones !!!

Charlie's mom,

I don't know who filed the class action, I'm sorry

Thank to all who signed this petition, and thanks to Sweetpea for bringing it to PTO.

Phil

spyda · #38 07-31-2004, 08:02 PM

I also signed....awhile ago. Silly me for never posting!

Shavsha · #39 08-01-2004, 09:49 AM

Shavsha · #40 08-01-2004, 09:58 AM

My name is Minister Elayna Monts and I wrote the petition for the Lolits. I was told about this group by Sweetpea, whose loved one is incarcerated and is held at the same prison as my son. She can attest to my determination to fight this fee. Ask her about the sign on my car and the reaction of the Asst. Warden....she'll can also tell you how I sat in my car trunk (to keep the red ants from eating my legs off

...and collected 50 names after visitation!)

I can't thank you all enough for standing up and signing the petition with us. But, know this.......For those who are unable to sign the petition online I am posting an address where folks can send their objections in writing. We are in touch with Randle Berg (the lawyer who filed the class action lawsuit and Mr. Copeland who runs a minsitry and is working with Mr Berg. We have agreed to assist in collect names/letters opposing the banking fees and send them to Mr. Copeland for inclusion in the suit against the DOC.

Please ask you family members who are incarcerated as well as any freeworld friends and family to write to:

Lemke
PO Box # 14343
St.Petersburg,Florida, 33733 - 4343

Again, thanks so much for speaking out!!!

~e~

Snapdragon · #41 08-01-2004, 09:51 PM

Signed 347 - This is really an outrage to say the least. And may I add, if Florida gets away with it the other states will soon follow. IMO

So best to nip it in the bud right off the git-go and set the precedent. And what a place to start but on the PTO.

Andi

TeddyGirl · #42 08-02-2004, 09:48 PM

I signed 358

rwflboy · #43 08-03-2004, 05:12 PM

I just registered and just signed. If everyone that doesn't sign would please send me 10% of what they will pay in fees next year I could afford a good attorney ( no such thing ) for my girlfriend.

Nawna · #44 08-03-2004, 07:26 PM

Signed #369 thanks to all! angela

Charlie's Mom · #45 08-04-2004, 10:12 AM

I spoke with my son and he confirmed nothing has been withdrawn from his commissary this month so far.

Shavsha, if I signed the petition do I need to write to the address also? Where can I send a dontation to assist with the legal costs for the class action?

Eric's Homegirl · #46 08-04-2004, 11:15 AM

YEAH!!! I DID IT FINALLY!!! SIGNED 377

Phil in Paris · #47 08-04-2004, 01:22 PM

Congrats Suzi, and THANK YOU !!!

Phil

Buccaneer · #48 08-04-2004, 08:17 PM

I Just Got Off The Phone With My Son. He Told Me He Receive A Note From Inmate Trust Fund That $4 Was Taken Out Of His Account 07/31/2004

angiesmom · #49 08-05-2004, 02:37 PM

I signed. # 383

This is an outrage!

Don't DOC get enough of a kickback from MCI??????

thedorisopen · #50 08-06-2004, 04:14 PM

I know that I personnally am going to be affected terribly by this. It is very hard to support my family on my income alone, send money for him and the cost of visitation itself. I struggle some weeks to find the gas money just to get to the prison. It is only two hours from my home. I do not understand how all this is possible. They are not charging inmates but the families that are struggling bad enough on the outside. I guess its one more way for them to imprison us also.