The California Senate voted unanimously Thursday to make smuggling a cellphone into prison a misdemeanor crime with up to a $5,000 fine – a bill similar to one that former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed as too weak. The senator who carried last year’s legislation, Los Angeles Democrat Alex Padilla, is also carrying this year’s version, Senate Bill 26. It was sent to the Assembly on a 39-0 vote. Prison authorities annually seize thousands of contraband […]
Prison Cell Phones
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More proof that contraband cell phones in prisons is not just a problem in the United States. Prison guards have seized and confiscated 50 cell phones, being smuggled into Ketziot Prison for Palestinian prisoners, Israel Radio said on Thursday. Israeli authorities detained three suspects, two Israelis and a Palestinian, involved in smuggling cell phones to political prisoners, according to the radio. The 50 cell phones were hidden in the food provisions sent to the inmates […]
The creativity of prisoners seeking contraband cell phones never disappoints. Perhaps if a secure prison cell phone service was available, these birds would not have been necessary! Brazilian inmates have turned to carrier pigeons in their quest for communication with the outside world. Guards have intercepted two carrier pigeons carrying mobile phones to detainees at a prison in Sorocaba, 62 miles from Sao Paolo, a spokesman for the state penitentiary system said. “Penitentiary agents found […]
This article describes how Federal prison inmates can now use email. It’s a cumbersome process, but it demonstrates how modern communications technology and tools are slowly being adapted for the unique requirements of the corrections marketplace. Eventually, the meshDETECT secure cell phone service will offer secure, controlled email along with phone calls. The Facebook page reads: “We are inmates in the federal system who are looking for someone to talk to. We have e-mail capability […]
A story about the improper use of contraband cell phones in Texas prisons. A death row inmate paid $2100 for the phone. Fourteen death row inmates were found with contraband prison cell phones. Texas State Senator John Whitmire calls it the most unusual phone call of his life. “Nothing shocks me anymore, but this would probably take first prize for the biggest, unbelievable story,” said the Senator from Houston. “No Texan should have to worry […]
Another news item about the use of dogs to find contraband cell phones in prison, this time in Ohio. According to the article, “Policy experts say efforts to reduce the effects of mobile devices in jail are less effective than having good contraband policies in place to reduce them.” We couldn’t agree more. The best way to reduce the contraband value of cell phones in prison is to co-opt the problem by offering a secure […]
Two dogs for the entire State of Florida are not going to be the solution to contraband cell phones. New cell phones will be smuggled in as replacements as soon as they are found… They can be stashed inside a bar of soap or a pair of shower shoes in state prisons. Like weapons and drugs, cellphones hidden by inmates are being found more and more inside correctional facilities around the country, and the penal […]
More of the same. Guards succumbing to bribery to smuggle cell phones into prison. You will never end it, but it can be reduced with a secure prison cell phone solution. A jailer at the Coastal Bend Detention Center in Robstown is facing federal charges for attempting to smuggle a cellphone to a prison gang member imprisoned for previously bribing jailers. Richard Montgomery was released on an unsecured $20,000 bond after he was charged this […]
This editorial makes the case that there should be stiff felony penalties for anyone caught smuggling cell phones into prisons or accepting bribes for cell phones. And that those penalties should be even tougher for prison guards. While tougher penalties may be effective, we believe reducing the contraband value of cell phones in prison will be the most effective way to reduce prison cell phone smuggling. If prisoners no longer need to pay $1000 or […]
This is one of the best articles I have seen that demonstrates the problem of contraband prison cell phones can be solved simply by providing prisoners access to telecommunications services in their prison cells. In the case of this British jail, that access was provided via land-line phones. But wouldn’t a secure prison cell phone service be simpler and less expensive? In the case of this prison, the results of the in-cell telephony experiment were […]