During COVID-19 visitation restrictions, Fayette inmates get free calls to attorneys
Calls and video conferences between inmates at the Fayette County Detention Center and their attorneys will be free while visitation is restricted over the new coronavirus, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton announced Wednesday.
Gorton reversed a new policy that “unintentionally caused inmates to have to pay” for communications with their lawyers, according to the announcement Wednesday. The city learned about the issue through an inquiry from the Herald-Leader.
The Fayette County jail was closed on March 10 to visitors in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The visitation restriction was extended on March 19 to include attorneys.
“Our only intent was to make the jail safer for inmates and corrections officers,” Gorton said in Wednesday’s announcement.
The jail charges 14 cents per minute for audio calls and $7 for each video conference call. Those charges will no longer apply to communications with attorneys, according to Wednesday’s announcement.
“People in jail cannot work,” Gorton said. “Because of that, their families may already be having financial difficulties. Our intent was to improve safety, not increase the burden on these families.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 4:52 PM.
