Officials push for cell phone jamming

AUSTIN (AP/KXAN) - State officials from Texas and Maryland are urging lawmakers to approve legislation allowing states to jam illegal cell phones used by prisoners

In October 2008, Texas State Senator John Whitmire’s a death row inmate with a cell phone threatened Whitmire’s life numerous times. The inmate had access to a cell phone which was shared with other inmates and used to make over 2,800 calls in less than a month.

The following investigation resulted in a statewide prison lock-down, the discovery of hundreds of cell phones, and the indictment of the inmate and his mother and sister who helped provide the phone.

At the request of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Whitmire will be in Washington, D.C. this week to express his support of Hutchison’s legislation allowing the jamming of cell phone signals in prison facilities.

"Unfortunately, it took a death row inmate calling a State Senator to bring the issue to light and to force the prison system in Texas to recognize and begin to address the problem of contraband in our prisons," stated Senator Whitmire.

Maryland's top corrections official, Gary Maynard, is also scheduled to testify at a hearing about the legislation on Capitol Hill. A Maryland inmate was sentenced to life without parole this year for using a cell phone to order the killing of a witness.

But critics say jamming devices could interfere with service to law-abiding citizens and emergency response. Federal law currently doesn't allow states to use jamming equipment.

A Southern prison official said correctional leaders from more than two dozen states have signed a petition asking permission to jam cell phone signals inside state penitentiaries and thwart inmates' forbidden phone calls.

South Carolina Corrections Director Jon Ozmint said his petition was filed July 13 with the federal Communications Commission. He said it bears signatures from corrections directors in 25 states and three cities.

Ozmint said contraband cell phones allow inmates to communicate and plan other crimes. Inmates in several states have been accused of doing just that.

Under current law, however, the FCC can only allow federal agencies—not state or local authorities—permission to jam cell phone signals.

"The incident in Texas has proven that it is extremely difficult to stop all contraband in our prisons," said Whitmire. "If allowing the jamming of cell phone signals prevents another person from going through what I went through, then I sincerely hope the wireless companies will work with Congress to pass federal legislation allowing prisons to block cell phone signals within their walls."

"I look forward to sharing my personal experience on the dangers of prisoners having access to cell phones," said Whitmire. "What happened to me should never happen to another person."