Why do they let them use phones?

I wonder where these inmates found the time to do this? They must have found a couple of minutes in between TV time, library, and weight lifting sessions. Aren't they busy getting rehabilitated while they are incarcerated?

Sirmixalot - LOL! I agree, just send 'em to jail.

Yeah, watch out for *72 (and if you're at a business, #90):
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/forw...
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This was probably something similar, although it may have involved spoofing phone numbers within the prison PBX.

Post Script...
You must be called and asked to press *72 followed by a telephone number. I don't want to freak everybody out and imply that anyone can own our phones just by using this tactic.

Sounds like the old *72 scam...
Pressing *72 activates a call forwarding feature on phones. Every call made to your number from then on will be forwarded to a pay phone or other involved third party. However, you are responsible for the charges incurred because the calls are being forwarded from your number.
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Here's how it works-
Star(*)72 is a custom feature for call forwarding. When the customer dials *72 followed by a telephone number, it activates the call forwarding feature causing all your incoming calls to ring at another number.
At the end of the other line -- whether calls have been forwarded to a landline, a cell phone or a payphone -- the original caller's partner-in-crime is able to accept all collect and third-party calls, while telling your own legitimate callers that they have the wrong number. You get billed for all calls made because your number is the one from which they are forwarded.
Scammers use the following scenarios most often as they try to play to the sympathies of their victim.
An inmate calling and saying he or she needs you to call their mother for them (they called you "accidentally" and say they can't make another call).
An inmate calling and saying he or she was arrested for a minor traffic ticket and needs to call a relative to pick up his or her children from the police station (again, calling you "accidentally").
Someone calling and pretending to be a phone-company technician who needs to check your phone line for a problem. In order to receive "remote access", they ask the victim to input a code of *72.
A person calling and impersonating a police officer, telling the victim that a close friend has been injured in an auto accident. In order to find out more information, the con artist says the victim must call another officer by pressing *72 followed by another phone number.
A person calling from a payphone and saying they don't have the additional change needed to make an emergency call, then asking you to forward their call.
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Not intended to be a tutorial post, just thought everyone should know about this one.

I say send them to jail

Two comments and It goes from "inmates investigated for phone scam" to "steal land from the indians"
What am I missing here...

Ok, garyprimer...
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1. Steal the land from the Indians.
2. Blackmail the territorial governor to get a good gravel-bearing plot of land.
3. Bribe the railroad survey crew to run the track right next to your land.
4. Conspire with business cronies to fix the price of gravel.
5. Hire a few Huber inmates to run your Binford Gravelmaster 5000 and save on payroll.

Too much time on their hands. Put them to work making gravel the old-fashioned way.