East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Jim Risch, Mike Crapo, and Tom Cotton have introduced a new legislative measure aimed at preventing prison inmates from using unauthorized cellphones. The bill, known as the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act, seeks to authorize state and federal institutions to employ cellphone jamming technology to halt contraband cellphone use.

Risch highlighted the issue in Idaho, stating, "Idaho has seen firsthand the grave danger contraband cellphones pose to the public, correctional officers, and inmates." He emphasized that the act is intended to enhance community safety by blocking illegal cell signals in correctional facilities.

Crapo remarked on the behavior of inmates, saying, "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." He stressed the importance of this legislative measure as a "commonsense fix" to prevent further criminal activities from occurring behind bars.

Cotton added that contraband cellphones have long been a security threat, enabling inmates to carry out crimes from within the prison. "This legislation is a common-sense step to cut off their ability to threaten witnesses, organize drug trafficking, and endanger law-abiding citizens," he stated.

Alongside Risch, Crapo, and Cotton, several other U.S. Senators are backing the bill, including Bill Cassidy, Shelley Moore Capito, Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and James Lankford.

The unauthorized use of cellphones inside state and federal prisons presents various risks, enabling inmates to order hits, manage illegal operations, traffic drugs, and organize escapes. An incident in March 2024 in Idaho sheds light on these dangers. A contraband cellphone was utilized to orchestrate the escape of a gang member, resulting in an ambush on Idaho Department of Correction officers, with two being shot. The incident followed the confiscation of multiple phones prior to the event. Subsequent investigations confirmed that the contraband device played a vital role in planning the escape.

The introduction of this bill reflects the ongoing concerns about the use of contraband cellphones in prisons and the potential threats they pose to both prison staff and public safety.