Georgia attorney general asks federal government to take action on cell phone jammers in prisons and jails

The Attorney General, Chris Carr, is pressing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to act without delay in allowing the use of cell phone jamming devices in state prisons and local jails. Currently, the FCC's regulations ban the use of cell phone jammers, a restriction that applies to state and local entities. Despite this, contraband cell phones are being used in correctional facilities across the country to orchestrate violent attacks and other criminal endeavors, endangering the safety of correctional personnel, visitors, inmates, and the public.

Carr emphasized, "The most straightforward approach to safeguarding the public from the threats posed by contraband cell phones is to implement cell phone jamming technology in prisons and jails, but the FCC continues to impede our efforts. This outdated directive restricts crucial law enforcement tools, creates hazardous conditions for correctional officers, and enables the proliferation of criminal networks both within and outside prison walls. Our commitment to combating violent crime in all settings compels us to call on the federal government to remove this significant hindrance to public safety."

In Georgia, a total of 8,074 contraband cell phones were seized in 2023, with 5,482 confiscated thus far in 2024. A recent case involved a leader of the infamous "Yves Saint Laurent Squad," who used a contraband phone to order a hit that led to the death of an 88-year-old veteran. In North Carolina, a gang leader was able to arrange the kidnapping of a prosecutor's father using a cell phone from prison. Furthermore, in California, prison gangs have taken advantage of contraband cell phones to orchestrate murders and engage in drug trafficking.

"There are numerous cases throughout the nation showing how inmates can utilize contraband cell phones as dangerous weapons, enabling them to carry on with their criminal enterprises. We are deeply disturbed by the measures these individuals take to persist in their activities and endanger the community," expressed Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. "As the methods for smuggling contraband cell phones into our facilities advance, the need for jamming technology becomes critical in our efforts to thwart these attempts. We value the support of Attorney General Carr in our ongoing mission to uphold public safety and maintain the secure operation of our facilities."

In his letter, Carr emphasizes that the FCC's policy is founded on a statute from the early 1990s, which predates the use of contraband cell phones by prison inmates for the purpose of planning and executing illegal and dangerous activities.

Carr further emphasizes that the language of 47 U.S.C § 333 does not inhibit the FCC from modifying its policy to enable state agencies to employ cell phone jamming devices in prisons. In reality, the United States Bureau of Prisons has identified the potential benefits of such signal jammers and is authorized to use them in various federal penitentiaries, including at least one in Georgia.