Georgia – Attorney General Chris Carr has become a major player in pushing for federal legislative action in response to growing concerns about contraband cell phones in prisons and jails. Representing a bipartisan coalition of 31 state attorneys general, Carr is urging Congress to pass laws permitting the use of cell phone jamming equipment in correctional institutions throughout the country. Embodying House Resolution 2350 and Senate Bill 1137, this suggested law aims to enable states to fight the widespread problem of inmate illegal cell phone use.
Led by Tennessee Congressman David Kustoff and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, the project draws attention to a major weakness in the safety and security of both prison institutions and the public. Illegal cell phones in prisons have been connected to planning crimes from murders to kidnappings, hence undermining the enforcement capabilities of law enforcement agencies.
“Contraband cell phones are killing people, and this has to stop now,” said Carr.
“We have heard from law enforcement throughout the state that our most effective solution is to jam the signal and make contraband cell phones obsolete, yet federal policies continue to block our efforts. We’re committed to combating violent crime wherever it occurs, which is why we’re once again calling on Congress to remove this substantial barrier to public safety,” Carr added.
Citing a decades-old law, the FCC has traditionally prohibited the use of jamming devices. However, the relevance of this policy is questionable today as the landscape of criminal activity has evolved significantly.
Carr noted in a June 2024 letter to the FCC that even the U.S. Bureau of Prisons acknowledges the potential benefits of cell phone jammers; several federal prisons, including one in Georgia, are already using such policies. Despite these individual approvals, a more general authorization for state facilities is still lacking, which puts many institutions at risk from the dangers of unregulated inmate contact with the outside world.
Recent events highlight the terrible effects of inaction. A gang leader in Tattnall County, Georgia, ordered the murder of an 88-year-old veteran using a stolen phone. Similar incidents have sprung up around the nation, including a drive-by shooting in Georgia that killed two young children and an abduction planned from behind bars in North Carolina.
H.R. 2350 and S. 1137, the suggested measures, are carefully drafted to solve these problems without compromising 9-1-1 and other emergency communication services. Their acceptance would be a major step forward in giving authorities the power to use jamming systems, which might significantly lower the rate of crime planned from behind prison walls.
With more than 15,500 illegal cell phones and 150 drones seized last year alone, the Georgia Department of Corrections’ own experiences underline the magnitude of the issue. These devices are often used not only for communication but also to manage the illegal entry of other contraband into facilities, complicating the efforts of law enforcement.
Attorneys general from the following states have also signed the letter: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Support from such a broad coalition might be very important as the legislative process develops in overcoming the historical obstacles to using this crucial technology, so indicating a potential turning point in the fight against prison-based criminal businesses.
