Prisoners secretly use has been the biggest problem facing prison. So how to effectively prevent this behavior? The warden gave us a good answer. The U.S. prison system has negotiated with the FCC to get a license to use jamming devices on a large scale in prisons The Department of Justice released a report that declared a solution to prevent criminal activity from happening within prisons: it successfully tested a cell phone jammer that would block mobile signals from smuggled cell phones inside a Maryland prison.
Throughout the corrections world the news spread fast
For South Carolina Corrections director Brian Stirling, the news affirmed his beliefs:to stop the flood of mobile phones streaming into prisons, jamming technology was the best, cheapest, and most efficient way to go.
"The results indicate the potential for localized impact of this micro-jamming technology," Williams said. "That is an encouraging sign that brings us closer to a solution that will make our communities safer and help prevent the continuation of criminal activity from inside prison walls."
- The signal blockers were originally made by law enforcement officers to intercept terrorists and criminals messages.
- Today, the cell phone jammers are largely being used for official purposes to fight against terrorism.
- Right from suppression of communication as a preventive measure for organized crimes, to neutralizing remote controlled bomb explosions.
- It is even believed that the effort to assassinate influential leaders was nullified with the use of jammers.
- There is no doubt that disciplinary institutions now demand for this kind of small equipment is very large.
- At the same time this kind of equipment would really solve the punishment has been faced with the problem
The emergence of this equipment to disciplinary institution reorganization disciplinary security brought great confidence. “These promising test results mark a step forward countering the security threat posed by contraband cellphones,” said Assistant Attorney General Beth Williams of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy. “The results indicate the potential for localized impact of this micro-jamming technology. That is an encouraging sign that brings us closer to a solution that will make our communities safer and help prevent the continuation of criminal activity from inside prison walls.”
The data in the report will be used by BOP and the Department to understand the efficacy of micro-jamming, conduct further evaluation of jamming technology, and develop recommendations for strategic planning.
Micro-jamming technology was tested last year at a federal prison—where officials said they were able to shut down phone signals inside a prison cell, while devices about 20 feet (6 meters) away worked normally—but a decades-old law says state or local agencies don’t have the authority to jam the public airwaves.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is free to use jamming technology, though the AP separately reported earlier this month it hasn’t been used outside of limited testing. In both federal and state penal facilities, contraband access to cell phones is common, which prison officials have long alleged they need more tools to address.
The use of cell phones by prisoners has posed significant challenges to prison management and security worldwide. In response to this issue, prison authorities have been exploring various measures to effectively prevent inmates from using smuggled cell phones to communicate with the outside world.
One notable solution that has gained attention is the use of jamming devices within prison facilities. The United States prison system, in particular, has sought authorization from regulatory bodies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy jamming technology on a large scale in prisons. This move is aimed at blocking mobile signals from contraband cell phones inside prison walls.
The successful testing of cell phone jammers in a Maryland prison has garnered praise and support from corrections officials and law enforcement agencies. South Carolina Corrections director Brian Stirling, among others, has advocated for the adoption of jamming technology as an effective, cost-efficient means to curb the influx of mobile phones into prisons.
The use of signal blockers, originally developed by law enforcement for intercepting criminal communications, has evolved to address various security threats, including organized crime and terrorism. By disrupting communication channels, jamming devices have proven effective in preventing criminal activity both inside and outside prison facilities.
The promising results of micro-jamming technology testing have bolstered confidence in its ability to enhance disciplinary security within prisons. Assistant Attorney General Beth Williams highlighted the potential impact of this technology in making communities safer and reducing criminal activity originating from within prison walls.
While federal prisons have the authority to utilize jamming technology, state and local agencies face legal barriers due to existing laws prohibiting the jamming of public airwaves.
