The National Institute of Justice's 2013 Technology Institute for Corrections will be held on August 27-29, 2013, in Annapolis, MD. This Institute is dedicated to the issue of contraband cell phones in correctional facilities. For more information and to apply please click here:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a notice of proposed rulemaking which includes a number of steps intended to remove barriers to the deployment and viability of existing and future technologies used to combat contraband wireless devices. Feedback on the proposed rulemaking is desired.
According to this report online at WSBTV News, a Georgia inmate, already convicted once before for organizing armed robberies using a contraband cell phone while incarcerated, is suspected in another crime again facilitated by a cell phone.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has implemented a managed access system at the Metropolitan Transition Center, according to this report in the Baltimore Sun. The prison is adjacent to the Baltimore City Detention Center which is under scrutiny following indictments alleging that gang leaders organized a lucrative smuggling ring from the jail, placing orders and receiving payments using contraband cell phones.
The Ohio Department of Corrections wants the state to approve the purchase of 33 free-standing cell phone detectors. According to this article appearing in the Columbus Dispatch, the agency wants to buy the CellSense detectors to help find contraband cell phones in its facilities.
According to this NBC-Connecticut report, the Connecticut Department of Corrections is using K-9's to combat contraband cell phones.
Inmates across the country are blatantly using contraband cell phones to make posts on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
This Baltimore Sun article describes such activity that appears to have been generated by an inmate at the Baltimore City Detention Center.
According to the WSMV-News website, the Tennessee Department of Correction launched investigations in 14 prisons and disciplined 70 inmates following a news report that showed inmates using drugs and partying behind bars and showing it off on Facebook.