Governor helps test cell phone jamming at prisons
Gov. Martin O'Malley will be on hand at a federal prison in Western Maryland today to watch the first test of a prison cell phone jamming device. Calls to block cell phone signals in prisons to thwart inmates from ordering hits on witnesses and running drug networks from behind bars is meeting stiff resistance.
Many cell phone companies view the initiative as unnecessary and say it could jam cell phones of legitimate customers outside the prison walls. In additions, some have said it would make the job of corrections officers more dangerous because they too would be unable to use the phones. Above is a picture of confiscated cell phones from a Maryland prison, taken by The Sun's Barbara Haddock Taylor.
In September, Maryland prison officials spent a day testing similar equipment. The U.S. Congress is considering lifting a federal ban on blocking cell phone signals to allow limited deployment at prisons. Maryland authorities say that cell phones are among the items most confiscated from cells.
Here is a statement form O'Malley:
GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO VISIT WESTERN MARYLAND, ATTEND NATION’S FIRST CELL PHONE JAMMING TEST AT FEDERAL PRISON
Governor will also Tour Local Business to promote Job Creation Tax CreditANNAPOLIS, MD (February 16, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley will visit Western Maryland tomorrow, where he will attend the nation’s first-ever federally sanctioned test of cell phone jamming technology at a federal prison. Last year, Governor O’Malley and Senator Mikulski formally requested approval for the test from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Tomorrow, Governor O’Malley will visit the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, MD, where the Bureau of Prisons and the NTIA will conduct the first-ever sanctioned test of the jamming technology at a prison. Governor O’Malley and Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary Maynard will address media at the prison’s training facility following the visit.
Cell phone jamming technology will allow prisons to interrupt the signal of illegal cell phones that are potentially being used to orchestrate crimes from within the walls of the prison.Later, Governor O’Malley will visit American Woodmark, a cabinet manufacturer in Cumberland that is expanding and adding jobs. The Governor will highlight the Job Creation and Recovery tax credit, part of the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s jobs agenda to fuel innovation and drive economic progress throughout Maryland.
Categories: Confronting crime, Gangs, Prisons, Witness intimidation
Comments
The cell phone companies are so full of it. I remember last year when this idea first cropped up there was a report that they make billions off of cell phones in prisons. Because the inmates just pass the phone around and rack up huge bills blowing through the minutes.
Maybe MD's politicians will surprise us all and vote for this measure and ignore the "generous contributions" from the cell phone companies.
Posted by: Joe | February 17, 2010 10:41 AM
Why don't they just ban all cell phones in prisons? Start a new policy, no one, including guards, can bring a cell phone in the building. If a guard needs to make a call, use the land lines. Go back to using two way radios. Why keep wasting money?
Posted by: Al Dyer | February 17, 2010 11:22 AM
I agree that the jamming should be used. A1 Dyer....We are Officers not gaurds and we are already prohibited from bringing our own cellphones in to the facility.
Posted by: KP | February 17, 2010 11:33 AM
The jamming of cell phones, within the prison system is an EXCELLENT use of cheap 'off the shelf' technology to sever a dangerous connection between the predators, inside the wall and their prey, outside the wall.
Posted by: mike | February 17, 2010 12:27 PM
This was a sneaky underhanded test with no prior notice or chance for any cellular provider to monitor their systems in real-time. What no-one realizes is that both cellular companies and 85% of the police agencies in MD use 800 MHz radios. The jammer cannot differentiate between an 800 MHz police radio and a cell phone. O'Malley and Mikulski are signing a death warrant for every police officer with an 800 MHz radio.
Posted by: SkyPager | February 17, 2010 8:39 PM
Your cell phone perhaps is giving out your secrets in face with the attack of cell phone tracking devices. What can be done to ensure the information security? Fortunately, the mobile phone jammers help us to come over the troublesome problem.
Posted by: cell jammers | August 14, 2011 9:09 PM