1,000+ Phones Provide a Lifeline For Our Patients Leaving Jail
Donated phones and service plans connect people to Health Care, Housing, Jobs, and Family.
Robert, a father of two and grandfather of eight in his sixties, realized the importance of family while detained on Rikers Island.
“My children and my grandchildren are the only things that really mean anything to me because… you really find out who got your back, who loves you when you find yourself in [jail,] the hospital, or places where you can’t really do for yourself,” said Robert, who was discharged last November.
These days, he uses the free wireless plan he received from NYC Health + Hospitals/ Correctional Health Services (CHS), the direct provider of health care in New York City jails, to call his loved ones on a daily basis.
“I love to speak to my grandchildren, because I’m up in age and I don’t play a lot of games, but when my grandchildren are doing great, I love to be in their lives and to share in their progress,” he said.
Robert is one of more than 1,000 former CHS patients to receive a free smartphone and one-year service plan immediately upon their release from Rikers. These critical lifelines have helped individuals—many with significant medical and mental health needs—remain engaged in health care and stay connected to loved ones upon their return to their communities.
Since officially launching at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first-ever reentry service center on Rikers in July 2023, CHS has distributed 1,014 phones and counting, covering the cost of the discounted service plan for each device. Donated by T-Mobile, the phones feature customized software, which was developed by Premier Wireless as part of its Connecting People to Resources, or “CPR3,” program. Each phone comes pre-programmed with applications and phone numbers to help users navigate housing, employment, and health care in the community.
Eligible recipients initially included persons with serious mental illness, individuals who received complex medical care while in jail, and other special patient populations. Eligibility criteria expanded in November 2024 to include all women and all patients enrolled in CHS’ substance use services.
“Having smartphones makes it easier for our patients to connect with the medications, health care services, other community resources, and support networks they need, with a tap of a screen,” said CHS Senior Vice President Patsy Yang, DrPH. “I am so grateful to our CHS reentry staff for providing people with the information and the tools to make the return to their communities as smooth as possible.”
According to testimonials shared with CHS, phone recipients have used their phones to:
- Complete an intake interview for a substance use disorder inpatient facility;
- Connect with the Doe Fund to find employment;
- Select a pharmacy for their post-release medications;
- Navigate to a case management office for housing assistance;
- Make an appointment at a NYC Health + Hospitals PORT clinic, which is designed for patients who were recently incarcerated; and
- Stay in contact with family members.
CHS’ smartphone access program builds on its robust reentry and discharge planning services, including the reentry center and the Point of Reentry and Transition (PORT) Line, a peer-led helpline for people currently incarcerated on or recently released from Rikers. NYC Health + Hospitals is grateful to T-Mobile and Premier Wireless for their partnership.
