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Prisons Aim to Change Ban on Phone Jamming

Rampant cell use facilitates crimes committed behind bars

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 8, 2008 11:03 AM CST
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(Newser) – Cell phone use is a growing problem among prison inmates, but the obvious solution—signal jamming—is illegal under a 74-year-old federal law. Prisoners can easily smuggle the increasingly tiny handsets, and for the unrepentant among them, “whatever illegal activities you were doing outside, you can continue that uninterrupted,” said a corrections official. Some local and state authorities are pushing for a change to the law.

FCC officials say they are “open” to revisiting the 1934 law, which allows for hefty fines on local and state entities that interfere with federal airwaves such as the ones that carry cell calls. Interest is especially high in Texas, where a death-row inmate threatened a state senator's family. The senator cuts to the chase: "Jam the damn things and let’s see what happens."

Cell phones are a growing problem in prisons.
Cell phones are a growing problem in prisons.   (Shutterstock)
Increasingly tiny cell phones are easier to smuggle into prisoners.
Increasingly tiny cell phones are easier to smuggle into prisoners.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Prisons are hoping to gain authority to jam cell phone signals.
Prisons are hoping to gain authority to jam cell phone signals.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Dec 14, 2008 5:42 AM CST
I completely agree. While we're at it, I believe that internet usage, television viewing and other 'luxuries' that you get on the outside need to be stripped away as well. Prison these days is too much like a dangerous luxury hotel. You get taken away from the outside world, but on the inside of the prison walls you still have all sorts of luxuries that shouldn't be given out. Sure, prison is a dangerous place; but who landed you your spot in prison to begin with? You want to watch TV and surf MySpace for an hour out of the day? Don't go to prison.
dolcevita
Dec 7, 2008 11:40 PM CST
Use of the phone to connect with the outside world is a privilege and should be restricted for convicts as long as they are "guests" of the government. Prisoners should NOT be allowed to use cell phones freely while incarcerated. If smuggling is a problem, then step up observation of visitors and of inmates, do more searches, prison isn't a hotel with amenities!!!

Texas prisons seek $66M to stop cell smuggling
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The prison cell-phone epidemic
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cell phones • FCC • prison • cell phone jammers

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