Ameelio

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission voted to end the exorbitant cost of calls for incarcerated individuals, which will significantly reduces the burden that they face when communicating with their loved ones. Decades ago, the fight for this decision emerged out of one grandmother's struggle to communicate with her incarcerated grandson. Now with reduced costs, families across the country no longer have to face the same financial barriers that obstructed connection. Read our full post to learn more about this win for justice : https://lnkd.in/e6PKcsHT

Ameelio is excited to announce that the Federal Communications Commission has unanimously approved new rules to end the exorbitant voice and video call costs that have burdened incarcerated individuals and their friends and families for decades! Today is a day for celebration for all the families separated from their incarcerated loved ones – the FCC’s ruling marks the beginning of a new era for protecting families' ability to stay connected. “It is really no secret that the market has been plagued by predatory fees, predatory practices. And today’s action puts a stop to these abuses”, shared FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks today. Consistent communication with family and friends is fundamental for maintaining relationships, reducing recidivism rates, and, ultimately, increasing successful reentry upon release. As the only nonprofit Incarcerated People's Communications Services provider in the industry, Ameelio looks forward to working with prisons and jails to assist in implementing the FCC’s new rules. We are deeply honored to have provided the commission with data to inform these new rates and for our CEO Dan (April) Feng to have met former Commissioner, Mignon Clyburn, who made this all possible.

NPR’s hit podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money, is the most recent news platform to highlighted the high prices incarcerated individuals and their friends and family pay to make phone calls. But this is not a problem without solutions. Check out Ameelio’s blog post in response to NPR’s podcast: https://lnkd.in/eJpc93eb

NPR’s hit podcast, The Indicator from Planet Money, is the most recent news platform to highlighted the high prices incarcerated individuals and their friends and family pay to make phone calls. But this is not a problem without solutions. Check out Ameelio’s blog post in response to NPR’s podcast: https://lnkd.in/eJpc93eb

On June 26th, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it will vote to end exorbitant phone and video call rates currently paid by incarcerated persons and their families. Ameelio is delighted by the FCC's intervention into the prison telecommunications industry and applauds the FCC for taking this historic step towards justice and equity. The FCC’s proposed rules will significantly lower existing per-minute rate caps for out-of-state and international audio calls while also applying those rate caps to in-state audio calls. The FCC’s proposed rules will also establish rate caps for video communications. Ameelio commends the FCC for its tireless effort to include stakeholders in developing its proposed rules for reducing calling costs for incarcerated persons. Ameelio urges the FCC to continue to work with stakeholders to reduce calling costs for incarcerated persons and their friends and family to zero. Ameelio is proud to provide free communication services in over five state correctional systems, demonstrating that this model not only improves the well-being of incarcerated individuals but decreases recidivism and improves reentry outcomes. Ameelio looks forward to collaborating with the FCC in its work to reduce calling costs for incarcerated individuals. Check out the FCC’s Announcement here: https://lnkd.in/e3_nZigw #MarthaWrightReedAct #PrisonReform #StayConnected #Techforgood #CriminalJustice #Telecommunications

Ameelio is excited to share that the Boston Globe Media published a letter to the editor from our CEO, April Feng, highlighting Massachusetts' latest work increasing access to technology for incarcerated individuals across the Commonwealth. The introduction of tablets in state prisons, combined with the Commonwealth’s recently enacted No-Cost Calling law creates fertile ground where correctional facilities can equip incarcerated individuals with the tools to develop digital literacy skills. Access to digital tools is not just about staying in touch, but creating a gateway to education, job training, and, ultimately, stronger communities. At Ameelio, our mission is to ensure that accessible and affordable communication and education are available to all incarcerated individuals. We look forward to collaborating with the Commonwealth to leverage its resources to further the reform it has initiated. Together, we can create a future where innovation and compassion work hand-in-hand to support the incarcerated and their communities. Read our full letter here: https://lnkd.in/eTcjSZXe #Ameelio #CriminalJusticeReform #CommunicationForAll #DigitalLiteracy #JusticeReform

An exciting update: the American Society of Health Economists (ASHEcon) awarded a research project on Ameelio! The project, "Calls and Conduct: The Impact of Free Communication on Prison Misconduct," by Panka Bencsik from Vanderbilt University, won the Program Chair Award in the Crime & Health category. 🏆 This award is only given to one project per area, and we are incredibly honored to be recognized at this level. This award underscores the significant impact that free communication can have on the well-being of incarcerated people and correctional staff. Many thanks to ASHEcon for this recognition, and congratulations to Panka Bencsik and everyone involved in this research! Together, we're making a positive change in the criminal justice system.

🚀 Join us for an Exclusive Webinar! 🚀 Ameelio, in partnership with the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, is excited to present a webinar on Rehabilitative Technologies in Corrections! 🗓 Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 🕑 Time: 2:00 PM ET 🖥️ Where: Zoom We will dive into strategies for successfully introducing and integrating tech solutions into correctional facilities’ existing infrastructure, policies, and rehabilitative programs.: ✅ Benefits and challenges of new technologies ✅ Best practices for change management ✅ Impact of digital tools on reducing recidivism 🔗 Register now for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/eQ_7gavc Don't miss this opportunity to explore innovative solutions that can transform correctional facilities and enhance post-release outcomes. See you there! 🌟 #Webinar #Corrections #Technology #Rehabilitation #Ameelio #Justice #Innovation #DigitalTransformation

🌟 Ameelio and CLA on the Hill celebrate the Second Chance Act's 15th anniversary! 🌟 Last week the Ameelio team traveled to Washington DC and had the incredible opportunity to participate at the CLA on the Hill conference. A big thank you to Derek Howell, Kevin Kempf and Liliana Coronado, for organizing such a pivotal event – the 15th anniversary of the Second Chance Act with its original author, Rep. Danny K. Davis. It was an honor to also be at the center of important discussions with leaders from correctional agencies across the county, senators and house representatives, as well as fellow change makers in criminal justice. These conversations are crucial as we work towards meaningful reform and innovation in corrections. #CLAontheHill #CriminalJusticeReform #SecondChanceAct #Ameelio Dan (April) Feng • Sonja English • Subrata (Bobby) Routh

🎉 Exciting News from Ameelio! 🎉 We are happy to share that Dr. Panka Bencsik from Vanderbilt University will present her impactful research on Ameelio at the 13th Annual Conference of the American Society of Health Economists (ASHEcon) in San Diego, CA. Her study highlights the significant benefits of Ameelio's free communication technology in reducing infractions and recidivism rates across Iowa’s prison facilities. This groundbreaking study underscores the critical need for criminal justice topics within academia. It highlights the immense value of rigorous, data-driven studies in shaping a more effective and equitable criminal justice system. We look forward to seeing the academic community continue to explore these vital issues to drive meaningful reform. Read here for the full press release: https://lnkd.in/eJYwDzxa #Ameelio #CriminalJusticeReform #TechForGood #ASHEcon2024