Cell Phone in prison

[Andy Taylor]

Thought I would ask the LEOs here abou this. There has been a lot of talk of inmates using cell phones in prisons/jails lately. Obviously that is a problem. The thing that I don't get why can't the prison/jail just jam the cell signals? A quick Google search turns up lots of jammers, some specifically marketed towards such institutions. I understand that individuals can't use these legally, but a prison should be able to use one. I would think that Corrections Officers and other staff would communicate via two-radio and would have old fashioned land lines available if they needed to phone outside the institution.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Some prisons do have equipment to jam cell phones.

[ke6guj]

it is normally against federal law to jam cell phone signals. FCC regs. I do not know if there is an exemption for prisons and jails from those regs.

[Jonathan Doe]

Most prisons/ jails are built with tons of bricks, concrete and steel bars. Most cell phones do not work inside anyways from my experience.

[jamesonamac]

There is also logistical problems. Jammers work in a specified "zone." In order to cover the entire prison, you will inevitably jam signals outside of the prison property. You can't have 911 blocked for motorists traveling by the prison. Cell phones work just fine in prison.

[john.t.singh]

There is also logistical problems. Jammers work in a specified "zone." In order to cover the entire prison, you will inevitably jam signals outside of the prison property. You can't have 911 blocked for motorists traveling by the prison. Cell phones work just fine in prison.

yup some inmates even have 4G service, probably get internet faster than u

[ace_31]

What policies are in place that prohibit the inmates from using cell phones? Are there actual rules/laws or is it some sort of oath an inmate is supposed to adhere by? What kind of repercussions would there be for cell phone use?

[Peter W Bush]

What policies are in place that prohibit the inmates from using cell phones? Are there actual rules/laws or is it some sort of oath an inmate is supposed to adhere by? What kind of repercussions would there be for cell phone use?

My ex-employee got busted with a cell phone he bought from a guard. He got 3 days of alone time and bought another phone when he got out. $700 buys you a regular prepaid phone, $1000+ for smart phones

[Heiko]

My ex-employee got busted with a cell phone he bought from a guard. He got 3 days of alone time and bought another phone when he got out. $700 buys you a regular prepaid phone, $1000+ for smart phones

Yup. With over 10,000 phones confiscated from California prisons in 2010, one has to ask how many of those are being brought in via keester and how many are actually brought in staff lunch bags. Same with dope. I'm just saying....

[M&P40FAN]

Yup. With over 10,000 phones confiscated from California prisons in 2010, one has to ask how many of those are being brought in via keester and how many are actually brought in staff lunch bags. Same with dope. I'm just saying....

Keep in mind that prisons have just as many "free staff" or more, than there is custody staff. I'm talking about educational volunteers, psych techs, maintenance, cooks, vocational instructors, countless medical personell, lawyers, visitors etc...

People live next to prisons, the phones can't be jammed because it will jam phones in the surrounding areas. Posession of a cell by an inmate is not a major offense. They are not going to get more time for it.

Unfortuntaely it is only a misdemeanor to smuggle a cell phone to an inmate. When law makers get with the times and make it a felony offense to smuggle a cell to an inmate, the problem will likely decrease.

[Heiko]

Keep in mind that prisons have just as many "free staff" or more, than there is custody staff. I'm talking about educational volunteers, psych techs, maintenance, cooks, vocational instructors, countless medical personell, lawyers, visitors etc...

People live next to prisons, the phones can't be jammed because it will jam phones in the surrounding areas. Posession of a cell by an inmate is not a major offense. They are not going to get more time for it.

Unfortuntaely it is only a misdemeanor to smuggle a cell phone to an inmate. When law makers get with the times and make it a felony offense to smuggle a cell to an inmate, the problem will likely decrease.

Good point. That's why I used the term "staff" instead of singling out any particular group. I'm sure the sympathetic volunteer teacher could bring in a cell phone or dope just as easily as a CO.

There was a news article about prisoners harassing victims via Facebook and email all from prison. These kinds of happenings will hopefully speed some new or amended laws.

[meaty-btz]

Unfortuntaely it is only a misdemeanor to smuggle a cell phone to an inmate. When law makers get with the times and make it a felony offense to smuggle a cell to an inmate, the problem will likely decrease.

Great! Just what we need, more Felonies for Felons who don't care.

yeah, that will work. While we are at it let's make speeding a felony, as well as every other crime. We will remove the right to travel and convert the whole continent into a giant prison. We then can use forced labor and ensure no gun rights. I FULLY SUPPORT THIS......

[M&P40FAN]

Great! Just what we need, more Felonies for Felons who don't care.

yeah, that will work. While we are at it let's make speeding a felony, as well as every other crime. We will remove the right to travel and convert the whole continent into a giant prison. We then can use forced labor and ensure no gun rights. I FULLY SUPPORT THIS......

I'm referring to making it a felony to smuggle a cell phone INTO an institution, not for an inmate to be in posession of one. I would also like to see all future retirement benefits to be stripped from anyone that works for the state that gets caught smuggling a phone or anything else to an inmate!

I'm sure you would be all for it being a felony if your daughter were raped by some scum bag, who then received a cell phone in prison and used it to further harass her.

[Peter W Bush]

Yup. With over 10,000 phones confiscated from California prisons in 2010, one has to ask how many of those are being brought in via keester and how many are actually brought in staff lunch bags. Same with dope. I'm just saying....

There is no reason they would keester it when the "staff" sells it to them.

[larryb]

There is no reason they would keester it when the "staff" sells it to them.

You would be surprised what an inmate can keester to smuggle it back onto the facility. Everyone likes to point fingers at staff right away but that's not the case majority of the time. And yes prisons do have dirty staff that are greedy and will bring inmates phones and drugs to make a buck but its a very small percentage that will sink to that level.