East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch, and Tom Cotton have introduced a bill aimed at preventing the use of contraband cellphones within correctional facilities. The proposed legislation, known as the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act, would permit the use of cellphone jamming systems in both state and federal prisons.

Senator Crapo stated, “While in prison, criminals should not be able to communicate with the outside world and continue the criminal actions that landed them there in the first place. We must pass this commonsense fix to cut off their ability to further their crimes behind bars and protect the citizens of our communities.”

Risch remarked on the specific impact in his home state: “Idaho has seen firsthand the grave danger contraband cellphones pose to the public, correctional officers, and inmates. The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act keeps our communities safe by allowing correctional facilities to block illicit cell signals.”

According to Senator Cotton, contraband cellphones have facilitated serious security threats. “For far too long, contraband cellphones have been a major security threat in our prisons, allowing criminals to coordinate crimes from behind bars. This legislation is a common-sense step to cut off their ability to threaten witnesses, organize drug trafficking, and endanger law-abiding citizens from within prison walls,” he said.

The bill also garners support from a number of other Senators, including Bill Cassidy, Shelley Moore Capito, Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and James Lankford.

Contraband cellphones in prisons have been associated with a range of illicit activities, including orchestrating violence outside of prison, operating drug networks, and coordinating escapes. An incident in March 2024 in Idaho highlighted these dangers when a reputed gang member used a contraband cellphone to facilitate an escape, resulting in the ambush and shooting of two Idaho Department of Correction officers.