p2pnet news view Crime | Mobiles:- Cell phones are big business in US jails.

State and federal jails across the country are grappling with what officials say is an epidemic of cell-phone use among inmates, says Time.

“The problem has quickly gotten out of control nationwide,” it has congressman Kevin Brady of Texas, “who in January introduced a House bill that would permit the jamming of cell-phone signals within prison walls,” stating.

Why?

Because, “Criminals are using cell phones even from death row to threaten victims and harass lawmakers,” says the story, which goes on that a California a prison staff member, “admitted to earning more than $100,000 last year by selling cell phones to inmates”.

Maryland, Virginia, California and Pennsylvania prisons use, “specially trained dogs to sniff out phones hidden inside cells and squirreled away in common areas,” says Time, going on:

“In many prisons, cell phones have become as valuable as drugs, if not more so. In a recent sting operation in Texas, an undercover officer was offered $200 by a prisoner for a cell phone and only $50 for heroin. California officials say inmates currently fork over between $100 and $400 to obtain a smuggled cell phone.”

Now, “many prison officials believe the only surefire way to combat the problem is to jam cell-phone signals within prison walls,” the story says, adding:

“Yet any jammer for the slammer would run afoul of the Communications Act of 1934, which prohibits intentional interference with radio signals. Brady’s proposed bill (and a companion bill in the Senate) would amend the act to permit targeted interference of mobile-phone service within prisons, while ensuring that emergency calls or other commercial signals near the prison aren’t affected.”

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Time – Guess Who’s Calling? Prison Cell-Phone Use a Growing Problem, May 26, 2009