Washington state has collected millions of dollars from incarcerated people through fees for phone calls and other services, money that is supposed to be used for improving prisoner welfare. As of June, the Incarcerated Individual Betterment Fund had grown to about $12 million, increasing by $1 million in the past year.
However, advocates, prisoners, and their families claim that much of this money is sitting unused, and some argue that the state should be funding these programs directly instead of relying on these fees.
State Sen. Drew Hansen introduced legislation this year to make prison phone calls free, which would have cut off a major source of revenue for the fund. Hansen believes charging prisoners for basic services is not reasonable.
Last fiscal year, the state raised $4 million for the fund, mostly from phone call fees. A quarter of this money went to the crime victims compensation program, while the rest funded programs like travel reimbursements for families and holiday decorations.
The Department of Corrections acknowledges that the fund grew significantly during the pandemic and says it is planning to use the money, but family members of prisoners argue that the state has long failed to spend these funds effectively or inform prisoners about their existence.
Welfare funds like Washington’s exist across the country. In some places, these funds are misused or simply left untouched. The Department of Corrections has approved proposals for arts programs and wellness activities but has been criticized for narrowly interpreting what the funds can be used for, limiting their impact.
Incarcerated people and their families are frustrated by the lack of clear processes for requesting funds and the agency’s poor communication. Despite some programs funded by the betterment fund being helpful, many families don’t know they exist due to a lack of promotion.
Some question whether the fund should even exist, arguing that the money collected should be used directly for supporting family visits and other important services. Although efforts to make phone calls free failed this year, the state is exploring how other states have managed to do so.
Families hope that the Department of Corrections will start spending the existing money more effectively, but communication issues remain a significant barrier.