Rep. Kustoff, Senator Cotton Introduce the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) today introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act. This bill will prevent contraband cellphone use in federal and state prison facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming systems to protect inmates, guards, and the public at large. 

Click here to watch Congressman Kustoff's remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives. 

"Ending the outrageous use of contraband cellphones in jails and prisons is an immediate solution to reduce crime, improve public safety, and provide relief to our overwhelmed correctional systems," said Congressman Kustoff. "The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act is a necessary first step towards alleviating the crime crisis America is currently facing. I am proud to join Senator Cotton to introduce this important legislation and I urge my colleagues to support it."

"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. This bill would fix this problem so that criminals serve their time without posing a threat to the general public,” said Senator Cotton. 

The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act has been endorsed by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Council of Prison Locals.

"Only jamming will stop the illegal use of cell phones in prisons. When someone is incarcerated, they must not be permitted to remain in day-to-day contact with a criminal conspiracy on the outside. I appreciate Congressman Kustoff's tenacity as he works to protect the country from organized crime," said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.

“Congress should pass the Cell Phone Jamming Reform Act now. Prisoners are using contraband to coordinate criminal activity from behind bars. We have the technology to increase security and stop this illicit activity, so let’s use it. I have heard no legitimate reason why we should enable criminals and allow convicted felons to further their criminal enterprises while incarcerated," said Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Background:
The use of contraband cellphones is widespread in both federal and state prison facilities. Inmates have used contraband cellphones 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. There have been incidents nationwide including: 
 

1. In South Carolina over the past five years, there have been four major drug trafficking cases where the operation was run behind prison walls through the use of contraband cellphones, with the most recent operation being directly related to a Mexican drug cartel. Additionally, in 2018, gang-affiliated inmates in a maximum-security prison used cellphones to organize and coordinate a brutal attack that killed seven inmates and injured many more.
2. In Oklahoma, 69 defendants were convicted of involvement in a “drug trafficking operation that was primarily directed and controlled by incarcerated gang members using contraband cellphones from their state prison cells.” 
3. In Tennessee, an inmate used a contraband cellphone to orchestrate drug conspiracy deals by shipping a package full of methamphetamine to his girlfriend. 
4. In Georgia, inmates used contraband cellphones to make scam calls and demand payment and even texted photos of bloodied inmates to the relatives demanding cash. 
5. According to the Indiana Department of Corrections, this past year (2022), a gang’s enforcer incarcerated within Indiana Department of Corrections ordered a double homicide hit using a contraband cellphone behind prison walls.
6. 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 cellphone.

The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act was cosponsored in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Ralph Norman (R-SC), William R. Timmons IV (R-SC), Russell Fry (R-SC), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), C. Scott Franklin (R-FL), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Mike Flood (R-NE), Austin Scott (R-GA), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Andy Barr (R-KY), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Tom Cole (R-OK), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), and Trent Kelly (R-MS).

U.S. Senators Tom Cotton, Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the companion bill in the United States Senate. 
 

Click here to read the full text of the bill.

###