Free SF Jail Phone Calls – People Over Profits Ordinance

2019 – 2020 (PASSED)

In June 2019, San Francisco was the first county to make all jail phone calls free as a result of the  advocacy of LCCRSF and our partners. Further, the county sheriff will no longer allow huge markups on commissary items (before this, the average markup was 43%). This allays the financial burden that incarceration places on thousands of low-income San Franciscans and their families.  

This 2019 victory was made permanent through the People Over Profits ordinance passed by San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 2020, which prevents the City from profiting off jail calls or commissary items in the future. 

Partners: Young Women’s Freedom Center, San Francisco Financial Justice Project, SF Public Defender’s Office, Community Housing Partnership