Congressman Kustoff, Senators Cotton, Graham Reintroduce the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) reintroduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2022. This bill will prevent contraband cell phone use in federal and state prison facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cell phone jamming systems to protect inmates, guards, and the public at large.
The companion bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Additionally, this legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives William Timmons (SC-04), Tom Rice (SC-07), Ralph Norman (SC-05) and Jeff Duncan (SC-03).
"In correctional facilities across our country, inmates are using contraband cell phones to conduct illegal activities, including running drug operations, facilitating sex trafficking, and organizing escapes," said Congressman Kustoff. "These contraband cell phones are a major problem and Congress must take action to protect the public from dangerous criminals who continue their illegal activities behind bars. I am pleased to join Senators Cotton and Graham in reintroducing this important bill that will keep our communities in West Tennessee and the United States safe."
"Prisoners have used contraband cell phones to direct illegal activities outside prison walls, including hits on rivals, sex trafficking, drug operations, and business deals. Cellphone jamming devices can stop this but the Federal Communications Act doesn't allow facilities to use this technology. My bill would fix this problem so that criminals serve their time without posing a threat to the general public," said Senator Cotton.
This legislation is supported by the Correctional Leaders Association, the Council of Prison Locals, the American Correctional Association, the National Sheriff's Association, and the Major County Sheriffs of America.
Background:
The use of contraband cell phones is widespread in both federal and state prison facilities. Inmates have used contraband cell phones to conduct illegal activities, including ordering hits on individuals outside of the prison walls, running illegal drug operations, conducting illegal business deals, facilitating sex trafficking, and organizing escapes which endanger correctional employees, other inmates, and members of the public.
Cell phones and contraband sparked the South Carolina Prison Incident, a gang fight over territory using cell phones to trade contraband sparked a brawl inside the Lee Correctional Institution near Bishopville, South Carolina, that left seven inmates dead and 20 injured.
Bureau of Prisons Correctional officer Lt. Osvaldo Albarati was murdered in 2013 for interrupting an illicit contraband cell phone business. His actual assassination was initiated by an inmate using a contraband cell phone to contact the gunman as outlined in the indictment.
A 2018 report showed an FCI Fort Dix inmate arranged murder and assault from a smuggled phone in a Jersey prison. Another inmate of the same Jersey prison was reportedly charged with possessing and distributing child pornography on a contraband phone within the prison. Six other inmates also pled guilty.
Contraband cell phones aren't only allowing violent criminals to continue their nefarious activities. The Wall Street Journal reported that Martin Shkreli, the disgraced pharmaceutical executive sentenced to seven years for securities fraud, was still making decisions at Phoenixus AG through the use of a contraband cell phone.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
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