Local organization creating campaign for Silverdale inmates
Breaking the Silence campaign would give inmates free hour of phone service
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — For those inside Silverdale who want some extra time speaking to their loved ones over the phone, the Hamilton County Community Bail Fund is hoping to make it possible.
The Breaking the Silence campaign is coming to Hamilton County on June 19.
Manager Avery Fairburn says the campaign serves two purposes — to connect detainees to loved ones and to bring “awareness to the expense of jail calls” that must be paid.
“On Juneteenth, we will be giving an hour of phone time to every person who is incarcerated in the Silverdale Detention Center as a protest against the really exorbitant, exploitative phone call rates that are charged for inmates and their family members,” Fairburn said.
In addition, the Community Bail Fund also wants to see the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department end its contract with Securus — the company behind inmate phone calls in Silverdale.
Fairburn says the company charges 19 cents a minute per call, amid other call-related charges, leaving some families unable to afford to speak with their loved ones.
“If you want to do the cheapest option, you have to create an online account and add funds to that online account — there’s a fee for that,” Fairburn said. “If you don’t have a credit card, there is a fee to transfer money through Western Union or MoneyGram. All sorts of fees and they’re not made public, so you never really know how much you’re going to pay to speak to your loved one who is in jail.”
Fairburn says the Community Bail Fund often serves low-income residents and is asking for donations from the community to help aid the campaign.
It could help an inmate who’s trying to get in touch with their employer, with their family, or with their children.
“It’s really hard to manage your life and keep everything going from behind bars when you can’t even afford to make those phone calls when it costs 19 cents every single minute that you’re calling to try and work that stuff out,” Fairburn said.
The Bail Fund is currently working with Secerus to make an hour at the phone possible on Juneteenth.
The campaign is estimated to cost anywhere between $11,000-12,000.
Fairburn says contact has been made with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and that they are, “working on it,” as well.
