# The true cost of prisons and jails is higher than many realize, researchers say – Georgia Public Broadcasting

> A new report from the advocacy group FWD.us estimates that having a loved one in prison or jail costs families across the U.S. nearly $350 billion annually, roughly four times the government's operati…

**Published**: 2026-07-20
**Source**: https://gps.press/gps-news/the-true-cost-of-prisons-and-jails-is-higher-than-many-realize-researchers-say-georgia-public-broadcasting/
**Author**: Georgia Prisoners' Speak

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A new report from the advocacy group FWD.us estimates that having a loved one in prison or jail costs families across the U.S. nearly $350 billion annually, roughly four times the government's operating costs for the system. On average, families spend about $4,000 per year on incarcerated relatives for phone calls, travel, and commissary items, with the burden falling hardest…