DeJoy cites inflation as the justification for another price increase. Mail is the most common way that people in state prisons with minor children keep in touch with their kids, according to recently-released BJS data:ĭisappointingly, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently announced his intent to seek yet another rate hike in the coming months. Mail is also crucial for incarcerated people to maintain family ties. Incarcerated people must still use paper for basic activities that have migrated online for many segments of society - activities like filing tax returns… submitting documents in judicial proceedings monitoring credit reports for purposes of preventing identity theft staying on top of personal finances and laying the groundwork for post-release jobs or educational programs. Mail is the primary channel by which people in prison and jail can conduct personal business. Not only are postal rates a substantial burden for someone earning 10 cents an hour, but incarcerated people depend on the mail much more than the average person does in today’s online world.
We submitted comments last month in conjunction with the Commission’s study, explaining how high mailing costs hurt incarcerated people and their families. The following year Congress directed the Postal Regulatory Commission to study how this new rate structure impacts consumers. In 2020, the US Postal Service obtained the legal authority to raise first-class postage rates faster than the rate of inflation (previously, rate increases had been capped at the consumer inflation rate). But for someone in prison, it could take six hours of work to pay for one postage stamp - and that cost is about to go up even higher.
Postman: It’s time to create a special postal mail rate for incarcerated people Congress has created reduced postage rates for special groups in the 's time for it to create one for incarcerated people and their families.īetween paying bills online and the convenience of “forever stamps,” it’s probably been a while since most readers have thought about the cost of mailing a letter.
0 kommentar(er)
