Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin are leading a 23-state coalition in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of a proposal that would allow states to use jamming technology to combat contraband cell phones in prisons and jails.
From a recent press release:
Current FCC policy prohibits the use of jamming equipment, even in highly controlled environments like correctional institutions. This blanket restriction fails to account for the unique security needs of these facilities and relies on a decades-old statute that was enacted long before contraband cell phones were an issue. Today, inmates routinely use smuggled phones to conduct violent crimes and scams, including murder, child sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, kidnapping, aggravated battery of law enforcement officers, money laundering, wire fraud, and identity theft.
- In Tattnall County, an incarcerated leader of the infamous street gang, “Yves Saint Laurent Squad,” used a contraband cell phone to order a hit, which resulted in the death of an 88-year-old Georgia veteran.
- In Atlanta, two 13-year-old boys were killed in a drive-by shooting that was ordered by an incarcerated gang leader in a Georgia state prison.
- In Macon, inmates learned they could defeat the prison’s Wireless Containment System by dialing 911. Using contraband cell phones, they were able to successfully overwhelm and shut down the entire 911 center, which is part of the largest 911 system in the state and encompasses 13 Georgia counties.
These activities compromise the safety of correctional staff, other inmates, and the public at large. In 2024, the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) seized and processed over 15,500 cell phones and more than 150 drones.
This new proposal, filed by the FCC on Sept. 30, makes clear that while the jamming of authorized radio transmissions is not permitted, signals from illegal mobile devices smuggled into prisons are prohibited and thus can be actively blocked by FCC-approved devices.
Joining Georgia and Arkansas in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
In a press release, Carr said:
“Inmates are using contraband cell phones to direct violent crimes, and innocent Georgians are losing their lives. We fought the Biden administration on this very issue for years, and we’ve prosecuted the violent gangs that are operating in our prisons. Our efforts to combat this public safety crisis are unwavering, and we’re grateful to finally have a partner in the White House who’s willing to work with us to protect the people of our state.”
Find a copy of the letter here .
