Georgia Attorney General files FOIA request with FCC to ban cell phone jammers

The Attorney General of Georgia has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to a federal agency concerning the prohibition of cell phone jammers in prisons located in Georgia.

This week, the office of Attorney General Chris Carr announced that Carr has submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This action follows the agency's ongoing refusal to permit state and local law enforcement to disrupt the signals of contraband cellphones within correctional facilities. Carr's request specifically seeks all inter-agency communications pertaining to his letter dated June 4, 2024, in which he advocated for the use of cell phone jamming technology in prisons and jails. Additionally, he is requesting all documents related to the FCC's denial of the State's request, as well as information concerning the deployment of cell phone jamming devices in certain federal prisons.

Carr stated in a press release, "Law enforcement faces significant challenges in addressing the issue of contraband cellphones, primarily due to an antiquated policy that the federal government is unwilling to revise or reconsider. The remedy is straightforward: by obstructing the signals of these illicit devices, we can curtail the violent crimes orchestrated from within correctional facilities and improve public safety initiatives. If the Biden administration is not prepared to collaborate with us, they should step aside and permit our officers to perform their duties efficiently."

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) presently forbids the utilization of cell phone "blockers," a restriction that also applies to state and local authorities. However, within correctional facilities across the nation, illicit cell phones are employed to strategize and execute violent assaults and various criminal endeavors, thereby presenting a significant threat to correctional staff, visitors, inmates, and the general public.

A leader of the notorious street gang known as the "Yves Saint Laurent Squad," currently serving time in prison, utilized an illegal cell phone to orchestrate a hit that led to the murder of an 88-year-old veteran from Georgia. In North Carolina, a gang leader directed the abduction of a prosecutor's father through the use of a contraband cell phone while incarcerated. Additionally, in California, prison gangs have exploited illegal cell phones to facilitate drug trafficking and to arrange murders within the correctional facilities.

In his letter dated June 2024, Carr observes that the Federal Communications Commission's existing policy is based on a statute that has been in place for many years. He adds, The wording of 47 U.S.C § 333 does not prevent the FCC from changing its stance to permit state agencies to utilize cell phone jamming devices within correctional facilities. Moreover, the United States Bureau of Prisons has acknowledged the possible benefits of cell phone jammers and is authorized to deploy such devices in multiple federal prisons, including at least one located in Georgia.

In January 2023, Carr, along with 21 other attorneys general, called upon Congressional leaders to enact legislation permitting states to establish a cell phone jamming system within correctional facilities.

The Carrs Gang Prosecution Unit has collaborated with the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) to conduct investigations and prosecutions of individuals currently incarcerated who are suspected of participating in criminal gang activities, as well as discussions related to the packaging and transportation of contraband items into a GDC facility.