A great many of the people in prison in the US, VT, are there on drug convictions. Until we develop a more enlightened approach to 'recreational' drug use, that is not likely to change.

But I think you are off base in citing phone call charges. Those rates are not set by the penitentiary but are because of the pen's policy of requiring that only collect calls can be made (Can you imagine the mess otherwise?).

Have you made or received a collect call recently? Pricey.