New York is the first major city to allow free calls from prison

"For too long, people in detention face obstacles that hinder certain basic aspects of daily life and can contribute to the creation of more humane prisons," said de Blasio in a statement.

Prisoners were previously required to pay 50 cents for the first minute of a phone call and five cents for any extra minute. The correction department will now cover the cost of more than 25,000 calls from New York prisons, the city said. Residents of the general population will be able to call every three hours anywhere in the United States for 21 minutes in total.

"Thanks to free phone calls, we … ensure that detainees have the opportunity to stay in touch with their lawyers, their families and the support networks they need to return to their communities," said de Blasio. .

The Department of Corrections stated that it was already offering free calls to detained persons in a limited way. Inmates were allowed three calls per week and sentenced to two calls per week. Phone calls to 311, legal aid lines and confidential informants were also free, depending on the city.