Sheriff’s Office inks new deal for lower-cost inmate phone services

Change results in no increase to Lake County taxpayers, sheriff says

WAUKEGAN – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office recently announced a new partnership with Global Tel Link for inmates to have the ability to communicate with loved ones.

After months of negotiations, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reached a deal with GTL that results in significantly lower costs for inmates and their families, according to a news release. Additionally, those wishing to place funds on an inmate’s account will no longer have to pay any additional service fees.

GTL will become the provider of the jail’s inmate communications services effective Aug. 2.

The change results in no increase to Lake County taxpayers, officials said.

The cost of making a domestic call will be 7 cents a minute, down from 15 cents a minute. The cost of remote video visitation will be 25 cents a minute. Inmates will receive a free telephone call and a free remote video visit each week as part of the deal reached with GTL. These costs are among the lowest in the nation for inmate telecommunications, officials said.

“I believe it is incredibly important to be fair with everyone we serve,” Sheriff John Idleburg said in the release. “Not only does this include the public we encounter in the community on a day-to-day basis but it includes the inmate population we are responsible for. Maintaining connections with family and loved ones is critical for inmates preparing to return to their community, and this technology will help to maintain those connections without creating undue financial hardship.”