smuggling

46 posts

Alcatraz island prison under a cloudy sky, illustrating California's out of control phone smuggling

Prison Cell Phone Smuggling Called ‘Out Of Control’

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 […]

Aerial view of a city capitol building at sunrise, illustrating California's phone ban clearing committee

Legislation to Ban Cell Phones in Prison Approved by Key Policy Committee

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 […]

The California state capitol building, illustrating GOP push for a stronger phone bill

GOP Asks For Stronger Cellphone Bill

An update on the contraband prison cell phone legislation currently being considered in California. According to the article, S.B. 26 is Senator Padilla’s fourth attempt to criminalize smuggling and possession of cellphones in prison. A quote from the article, “This cell phone issue is a huge problem in our prison system, and (S.B. 26) is a good start to begin to address it” is no doubt accurate, but the law should be augmented by a […]

A group of four different colored cell phones, illustrating Israel seizing phones at a prison

Israel Seizes 50 Cell Phones At Prison

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 […]

A wooden gavel rests on a closed book, illustrating an inmate pleading guilty to smuggling

Inmate Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Cell Phones

This article shows what a business operation the smuggling of cell phones into prison has become. Contraband cell phones have become as desired as drugs in prisons and jails. The contraband value of these smuggled cell phones can be reduced by providing an alternative, prison sanctioned, secure cell phone service. Update (8/9/12): Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced that a former correction officer at Northern State Prison in Newark was sentenced to prison today for […]

Person holding smartphone beside tablet computer, illustrating phones smuggled into prisons

Cell Phones Smuggled Into Prisons

At $1000 per smuggled cell phone, more laws aren’t going to stop the contraband cell phones from being smuggled into jails. Only reducing the value of the contraband cell phone will reduce the efforts to sneak them in for prisoners. meshDETECT provides a secure prison cell phone service that manages and controls the use of cell phones in prison. Put criminals in prison, and we’re all safer, right? Not so fast. Here’s the problem. Cell […]

A person's face behind prison bars, illustrating an editorial against phones in cells

Get The Cell Phones Out of Cells

This editorial makes the case that smuggling contraband prison cell phones should be illegal in California. And of course, that is correct. But laws making cell phone smuggling illegal don’t address the demand factors that cause contraband prison cell phones to be so valuable. Providing a controlled and secure prison cell phone service for legitimate prisoner use, much like current prison payphone service works, will go along way to reducing the contraband value of smuggled […]

The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad against a backdrop of mountains, illustrating jamming phones in Peshawar jail

Peshawar Jail to Jam Cellphones

This article demonstrates that illegal prison cell phones are a problem around the world, with most prison authorities turning to cell phone jammers to block the signals of contraband prison cell phones smuggled into penal institutions. The authorities at Peshawar, Pakistan central jail will soon install jammers to sever cellphone link of hardened criminals and militants with their accomplices outside the facility. “Criminals stay in touch with their accomplices from inside the prisons and issue […]

Statue of justice, gavel, and open book on table, illustrating a guard facing trial for smuggling

Prison Guard Faces Trial For Smuggling Cellphones

A former guard at the Cimarron Correctional Facility in Cushing, OK was ordered Monday to stand trial on a charge of bringing two cell phones and several pouches of tobacco into secure areas of the private prison in Cushing. Danny James Galbreath, 24, of Broken Arrow, waived his right Monday to a preliminary hearing on the felony count of bringing cell phones into the prison — which are considered contraband in a penal facility. Galbreath […]

Alcatraz prison building by the water with a dock, illustrating phones as the hottest contraband

Prison Cell Phones Become Hottest Contraband Commodity

A visit to California State Prison Corcoran was cut short Sunday when investigators smelled marijuana on a woman as she passed through security, a prison spokeswoman said. Tisha Diane Holt was found with more than 2 ounces of concentrated marijuana hidden in her belongings. She consented to a search by prison staff and was arrested when they found the drugs, prison spokeswoman Teresa Cisneros said. Holt, a certified nursing assistant from Los Angeles, was booked […]