Dane County community demands free communication into and out of the jail that is accountable to the public!
Welcome to the fight.
Community members incarcerated in the Dane County Jail deserve dignified and accessible communication with their support networks on the outside. At present, a private communications company stands between community members and their incarcerated loved ones, extracting profit from every phone call, video call, and email sent in and out of the facility. In 2025 alone, this contractor leeched around $950,000 from working class Dane County families.
Incarceration disappears people from their homes, workplaces, and communities. Its isolation is dangerous. Reliable communication is necessary to keeping loved ones connected through uncertainty. Yet, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has put forth a contract which would perpetuate the unjust status quo, forcing families and jail residents – who are disproportionately poor and pretrial – to pay for basic communication.
The Dane County Board of Supervisors voted DOWN this contract on 5/14/26. However, the fight is not over. Our community needs a new system. Numerous local and state governments nationwide, including in Wisconsin, have already adopted varying degrees of free jail communication services. The Public Protection and Judiciary Committee has released a new request for proposal (RFP) to solicit bids from telecommunications companies to provide free or subsidized jail communications services. Tell your Dane County District Supervisor to assure free communication into and out of the jail that is accountable to the public!
Take Action!
The Public Protection and Judiciary Committee has released a new request for proposal (RFP) to solicit bids from telecommunications companies to provide jail communications services. This RFP includes language to prioritize free and/or county-subsidized communications.
Find your Dane County District Supervisor and tell them to ensure free communications for incarcerated community members and their families in the upcoming jail communications contract.
Watch this space for more actions!