Regardless of the many incidents reported by various state prison administrators, the use of cell phones inside prisons continues because of a political snafu that has yet to be resolved. The Federal Communication Commission, denied requests from the Washington DC prison system to run a demonstration citing it is a direct violation of their rules which state in part, “willful or malicious interference” with the cell phone signal. The Commission's regulations also prohibit the manufacture or importation or sale of devices "deliberately designed to jam or disrupt wireless communications.”
The first petition to offer a counterattack on the use of cell phones inside prisons by prisoners stated “"contraband cell phones are a major security risk within correctional settings," and that "prison and jail systems across the country are confiscating these devices at an alarming rate." Plus, cell phones are used by inmates "to engage in highly pernicious behavior such as the intimidation of witnesses, coordination of escapes, and the conducting of criminal enterprises.” These arguments won the FCC over, at least then. The story printed goes on to state the “Commission gave the DC prison administration temporary authority to try out directional jamming equipment produced by the CellAntenna Corporation on January 8 2010, but the District of Columbia canceled the test run at the very last minute. A day before the trial run, CTIA, The Wireless Association, petitioned the United States Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit, asking for a stay of the FCC's go ahead. CTIA called the test "flatly illegal" and the FCC approval made "with no exigent public safety need."
That was two years ago when this petition was submitted to address illegal cell phone use inside prisons. Since that time, there has been no headway into the introduction of the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009, set up to permit state governors or the director of the federal prisons to jam mobile phones inside their prisons. The emphasis appears to be the “practice and established procedures for shutting it [cell phone service] down if a wireless company complains and can prove the jamming has reached beyond the gates of a prison or jail.” Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) introduced the legislation on January 15. 24 Republicans and two Democrats have cosponsored the bill, which has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce and House Judiciary Committees. The opposition to this bill are federal officials who“ don't want to go so far in trying to jam those communications that they create problems for nearby public safety workers or average citizens, according to a new government report. “ A possible solution: more limited technologies that would let prison officials block calls only from unapproved devices, the report said.
Today, every state prison administrator must admit they have failed miserably in stopping the introduction of unauthorized cellphones and are desperately seeking electronic assistance to jam the signals and block such activities behind bars. The training of canines to detect the lithium batteries used on these cell phones are expensive to train and cost agencies thousands of dollars. The most common drawback of these canines is their unavailability for all the prisons or jails within their jurisdiction or supervision. Although officials say inmates use smuggled cell phones for all manner of criminal activity, including running drug rings from behind bars, intimidating witnesses and planning escapes, it has not been appropriately addressed to date. The increase of cell phones in “California prisons alone has been exponential in recent years, authorities say. Correctional staff found 1,400 in 2007, when the department began to keep records of confiscations. The number jumped to 6,995 in 2009 and stands at 8,675 so far this year.” One can only imagine that if you multiply this increase proportionally for every prison or jail system nationwide, what kind of numbers one would find inside these prisons and jails.
Today, this year in 2011, the Congress must address that portion of the FCC regulations that state “specifically 47 U.S.C. 333: No person shall willfully or maliciously interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under this chapter or operated by the United States Government.” It is time to protect the citizens of those states that want to jam the illegal use of cellphones by prisoners inside prisons and jails who have rampant control of their so called restricted environment by making a call to anyone twenty four seven.
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT -SHORT STORIES - NEWS AND OPINIONS - JUST PLAIN OLD STRAIGHT TALK ~~
Wasted Honor -
Carl R. ToersBijns is the author of the Wasted Honor Trilogy [Wasted Honor I,II and Gorilla Justice] and his newest book From the Womb to the Tomb, the Tony Lester Story, which is a reflection of his life and his experiences as a correctional officer and a correctional administrator retiring with the rank of deputy warden in the New Mexico and Arizona correctional systems.
Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -
Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.
His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.
Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.
He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.
I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -
Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.
His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.
Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.
He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.
I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
