Posted on 08/08/2009 10:43:51 PM PDT by Cindy
Senate Seeks FCC Approval To Jam Prison Cell Phones
Legislation aims to stop organized-crime members from using smuggled cell phones to conduct criminal activities from prison.
By W. David Gardner InformationWeek July 15, 2008 04:00 AM
With strong bipartisan support to permit the jamming of cell phone signals in prisons, the issue will head to the Federal Communications Commission, which has had longtime jurisdiction over wireless jamming and interference measures.
The debate has received widespread attention this week in hearings conducted by the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. The Safe Prisons Communications Act, co-sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), calls for the FCC to give correctional facilities a waiver to operate cell phone signal jamming devices at their prisons.
The hearings produced several horror stories of prisoners using contraband cell phones to order assassinations and harass state legislators from death row.
Senator Mikulski discussed how organized-crime members in prisons used smuggled cell phones to conduct criminal activities.
(Excerpt) Read more at informationweek.com ...
re: Why are there cell phones in a prison... in the first place?
Exactly my thoughts as I read this!! WTH, this is prison, if you can’t keep something like a cell phone out of there what chance to do you have of controlling other aspects of a prisoner’s existence. I would just have the ability to monitor any cell phone conversations originating on the property, then use tapes of the talks to indict and convict those who plan murders from there via their cell phone.
Either way though, I find it disturbing that they don’t have control over what someone locked up has access to or in their possession. I know there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye, especially the eye of someone as lacking in knowledge and understanding of prison life, but gosh it seems like they could keep things out of their possession.
Perhaps someone who is experienced in the field could enlighten us on why our expectations are not reasonable. I would like a quick lesson on prison life.
Thank you for the additional info allmost.
An already-legal answer is to set up local cell phone “towers” on the prison grounds, having directional antennas so that the prison’s neighbors are not affected. The connection between this tower and the outside network can be censored or watched at will. I’d hate to be a guard and find it impossible to use a cell phone in an emergency.
Cell phones are smuggled in by various methods. Visitation, bad officers, etc.
Another answer is the Faraday cage. Embed sufficiently fine metal mesh in walls, doors, and windows. This physically contains the signal.
Pre and Post release experiences are available at DU.com
Too expensive.
Won’t work.
Does not allow prison employees to use their cell phones.
We have an either/or here between the “won’t work” and “does not allow prison employees to use their cell phones.”
There ain't no law in prison. There's just as much dope there as there is on the streets.
I’m waiting for the FCC to shut down YouTube so people can’t see the union thugs in action, and the librats hiding from their consitiuents.
There is law, perhaps unwritten.
I'm concerned with written laws and the lack of enforcement versus appeasement.
However, if you speak of elected "officials/representatives", then I sadly must defer to you.
I trust inmates more than I trust them.
The "union thugs" are also being played.
We won't see an internet shutdown in our lifetime.. unless tar and pitchforks are outlawed (and why would that happen?)
Considering the track record of our legislators...
I would expect them to outlaw cell phones.
... and those that we elect never question why that is
The phones are smuggled in.
Yeah, I know. Drugs, smokes, all kinds of ‘goodies’. Makes some COs a nice little profit on the side. It’s endemic in most places to some extent.
Another answer is the Faraday cage.Really ... REALLY!!??
Where can I find my local 'Faraday cage dealer' then?
(Pssst - RedNeck: Faraday cages per se ONLY block electrostatic/electric fields, NOT magnetic fields and so TECHNICALLY SPEAKING would not work in this case SINCE propagating RF energy contains a balanced E-H field.
You MIGHT be referring to a 'screen room' or screening (shielding) techniques which is what we in this field actually call it. Google Lindgren for a primer on the subject.)
Just turn off the electricity to any area that prisoners are allowed to be. In a day or two, all the cell phones will be dead.
Why do they need electricity anyway? It’s prison. It’s supposed to be a place that is brutal and cruel.
I don’t care how hot or cold they get. They don’t need lights at night.
Prison should be a dank dismal place without comforts of any kind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.