In Re Grimes

Opinion

NEWSOM, J.

Respondent, together with other inmates at the Humboldt County Jail, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, claiming that appellant violated his constitutional rights by replacing direct dial pay telephones in the jail with collect-only telephones. The essence of respondent’s complaint is that the public defender’s office and some private attorneys and other county offices refused to accept collect calls from jail inmates, thereby compromising his access to counsel and the courts.

After several hearings were conducted at which evidence was taken, including petitions,…