Another article about the corrupting influence of contraband such as cell phones on guards in prison. Interestingly, this guard, “charged $200 to get drugs into the jail, $200 for a carton of cigarettes and $250 for a cell phone.” Is the ability to communicate with loved ones while in jail more valuable to prisoners than drugs or cigarettes? On Monday a former District of Columbia Department of Corrections officer pleaded guilty to charges of accepting […]
Prison Cell Phones
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An article discussing a New Zealand prison’s plans to install landlines in each prisoner’s cell, similar to what has been done in two British prisons. The reason it is being considered is because, according to the article, “Evidence shows that prisoners are less likely to re-offend if they keep in touch with their families and have good family support when they are released.” Wouldn’t a secure prison cell phone service like meshDETECT be a simpler […]
Contraband cell phones are big business in state and federal prisons. Unfortunately the only ones making money off the smuggled wireless devices are the corrupt guards and the prisoners who cell airtime to other prisoners. Clearly it is time to consider a different approach. One that co-opts the legitimate demand to stay in contact with loved ones and provides a secure cell phone service to reduce the contraband value of smuggled prison cell phones. A […]
This article on California’s contraband prison cell phone problem speaks for itself…But a key statement is, “Both prison officials and inmates we spoke with agreed that a large majority of inmates are using the phones to stay in contact with loved ones.” A secure prison cell phone service will reduce the contraband value of smuggled cell phones and allow detainees to keep in contact with loved ones. The smuggling of cell phones into California’s state […]
Another report on the international issue of contraband prison cell phones, this time from India. This prison will up its number of cell phone jammers from 9 to 23 to combat smuggled wireless phones. However 80 cell phone jammers are really needed Illegal use of mobile phones in Asia’s largest prison requires more than 80 jammers to combat it, yet the prison is equipped with only nine. This was brought to the notice of Delhi […]
This article regarding the rate increase for Michigan’s state prisoner telephone services offers the following insight, “Criminologists report that prisoners with strong social bonds are less likely to re-offend or exhibit anti-social behavior. Prisoners able to talk more with their families display the higher signs of rehabilitation than prisoners who converse less frequently.” A secure prison cell phone service would increase the ability of prisoners to communicate with their families while reducing the contraband value […]
This brief article mentions that 104 contraband prison cell phones had a prison value of $50,000. That’s $480 per smuggled prison cell phone. Ironwood State Prison (ISP) Warden Timothy Busby announced the donation of 104 cell phones, cell phone chargers and other cell phone related items to the “Cell Phone for Soldiers” Organization. It was founded in 2004 and it turns old cell phones into prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas. They are […]
The California legislation making the possession of contraband prison cell phones a crime has been approved in committee. Will this stop the flow of smuggled cell phones into jails? Has the fact that drugs are illegal stopped them from being smuggled in to jails and prisons across the country? Senate Bill 26, authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), was approved by the Assembly Public Safety Committee today on a unanimous bipartisan vote. SB 26 would […]
More evidence of the worldwide nature of the contraband prison cell phone problem, this time from Costa Rica. A police raid at Costa Rica’s La Reforma prison turns up large amounts of contraband, and reveals criminal networks operating within the jail. Police on Thursday seized 580 homemade knives, large quantities of liquor, marijuana and crack, cellphones and other forbidden items during a raid at Costa Rica’s trouble-plagued La Reforma prison 20 km northwest of the […]
Contraband cell phones in prison are on a par with drugs in terms of the ability to corrupt guards. Prison guards who smuggle contraband cell phones into jails do so because of the high price placed on smuggled wireless phones. Reducing the contraband value of cell phones by offering a secure prison cell phone service minimizes the temptation to smuggle in the first place. The Fulton County Sheriff expects more arrests of his staff before […]