A Tennessee congressman is calling for the prohibition of illegal cell phone usage among inmates, arguing that such devices enable the planning of violent acts, the operation of drug rings, and the management of criminal enterprises.
Representative David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) is planning to introduce a bill in the upcoming congressional session that would facilitate the use of cell phone jamming technology in state penitentiaries.
The ability of cell phone jammer to block cell phone signals is recognized; however, their application has been restricted in state prisons due to the provisions of the 1934 federal Communications Act, which predates the invention of cell phones.
While introducing similar legislation last year, Rep. Kustoff remarked to his fellow Congress members, "This technology is intended to protect inmates, correctional officers, and the general public." He further asserted that "State attorneys general across the nation have identified contraband cell phones in prisons as one of the most significant threats to public safety that prison administrators are currently dealing with."
It has been reported by correctional experts that inmates throughout the country have employed contraband cell phones to engage in dangerous criminal activities while in prison. Kustoff provided an example from Tennessee, where an inmate used a cell phone to arrange a drug deal, which involved sending a bag of meth to his girlfriend.
In a session on Wednesday, State Senator Jackson informed both lawmakers and Tennessee Department of Corrections Director Frank Strada that Representative Kustoff is evaluating the interest in the bill from the leaders of the state's correctional institutions. Strada indicated his complete backing of the measure.
Strada expressed, "The jamming of a cell phone will ultimately convert it into a non-functional object, akin to a brick, in a prison environment. I believe I speak on behalf of many correctional officers, whether at the state, federal, or local level, who regard jamming as a vital support mechanism in our correctional facilities."
Over the years, there has been a concerted effort by state legislators to legislate against the possession of banned cell phones in prisons. A notable bill introduced in 2021 by former Senator Paul Ross (R-Kingston) and former Representative Brandon Ogles (R-Franklin) sought to establish that possessing a cell phone as an inmate would be classified as a Class E felony.
Representative Kustoff is preparing to propose a cell phone jamming bill in the next session of Congress. He has conveyed to state lawmakers that additional Tennessee congressional representatives have signed on in support of the legislation. Kustoff has previously championed similar bills, the latest being last year, but that effort did not advance beyond the committee level.
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