Our local jail charges for personal visitation, you get 2 visits per week free but can pay a "nominal" fee to stream additional conversations over the Web. Let's just say that fee was ridiculous. I can't find the link for it was $30 for 15 minutes I think.
As a former foster parent that was just trying to connect with the birth parents while they awaited trial, yeah those prices suck.
But hey, who cares about people accused of crimes, right? That's the American way.
Some jails have tried to eliminate all in-person visitation entirely and move to a system where you'd still have to physically go to a jail, but they'd use video streaming, and naturally charge you for the "service."
Their stated reasoning is, drugs, or similar. Even though prisoners are already searched after the visitation, and guards are a common conduit for illegal drugs in jail.
The whole criminal justify industry in the US is sick. Seriously needs a top to bottom shakeup.
Honestly refusing in person visits by default should be outlawed on the grounds of being cruel and unusual punishment. But America loves to be cruel, so I doubt modern courts would establish a Constitutional right to in-person visitation.
Too bad, because imho video-only visitation is a human rights abuse.
A great number of Americans seem to think religion is the cure for crime, so that's not a surprise. Consider instead how well mental health, education, and social support fare.
As a former foster parent that was just trying to connect with the birth parents while they awaited trial, yeah those prices suck.
But hey, who cares about people accused of crimes, right? That's the American way.