Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia has joined 23 other state attorneys general in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to permit the use of cellphone jamming technology in prisons. The coalition is asking the FCC to revise its current rules, which interpret federal law as prohibiting jamming equipment even in secure environments such as correctional institutions.
The FCC is considering a new rule that would allow prisons to deploy narrowly focused jamming systems. These systems are designed to block unauthorized calls made from contraband phones within prison grounds, while not affecting legitimate cellphone service outside prison boundaries.
Authorities say that inmates often use smuggled cellphones to organize criminal activities, intimidate witnesses, and direct violence both inside and outside of prisons. These actions threaten the safety of correctional staff, other inmates, and members of the public.
Attorney General Miyares has previously called on Congress to pass legislation that would authorize states to jam illegal cellphones used by inmates.
Along with Attorney General Miyares, attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia have signed onto the letter addressed to the FCC.
