Phones down at Ely prison

CARSON CITY - Mechanical problems with the phone system in Ely State Prison have prevented inmates from making calls from the facility since June 1, the Department of Prisons said Friday.

''At this point we don't know when it's going to be fixed,'' said Howard Skolnik, department spokesperson, who added that phone service for inmates is a privilege, not a right.

He said the prison department's phone contractor has tried resetting the system and has been working full time to fix the phones, but still has been unable to diagnose the problem.

Skolnik said the repair process has also been slowed because of the 1,000-inmate facility's remote location 240 miles north of Las Vegas.

For family emergencies only, the prison's main switchboard line is still functional at 775-289-8800.