BUENA PARK : Jail Cells Equipped With Telephones

Inmates at Buena Park City Jail will now be able to place collect calls from inside their cells.

The City Council on Monday gave approval to enter into a one-year contract with Pay-Tel of America Inc. to install telephones in four jail cells.

“It saves time and money,” said Police Chief Richard M. Tefank.

“The main benefit to us is the jailers don’t have to take inmates out of the cell to make a phone call,” Tefank said. “The main emphasis to do it was the time savings for our jail staff.”

By law, the city must provide inmates with reasonable access to telephones, Tefank said. Tefank said Pay-Tel will install and maintain the telephones at no cost to the city.

Pay-Tel makes their money from the collect calls made by the prisoner, and the city will receive 30% of the phone charges, Tefank said.

Tefank said the money will be put into a fund to buy reading materials, board games or other items required by law to enhance the living conditions for inmates. Tefank said the items are now being purchased with general fund dollars.

Phone calls made by inmates are not monitored, but Tefank said the Police Department will have access to a printout of telephone numbers inmates call that could be used in investigations.