Last year a pilot program detected over 2,500 unique wireless signals and blocked another 24,000 “unauthorized communication” attempts in two of its 33 prisons, California prison officials report.
The Managed Access System was designed to test a new technology in order to stop the widespread unauthorized inmates use of cell phones.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the emergency legislation, SB26, authored by Sen. Alex Padilla.
The legislation now makes it a misdemeanor for anyone who has a cell phone or wireless communication device with the intent to give it to an inmate. The crime is punishable by six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 per device.
Visitors who bring these wireless devices or any related components into the prison without the intent to place them in an inmate’s possession would have the devices or components temporarily confiscated.
Brown issued an executive order directing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to conduct more thorough searches for contraband communication devices and to increase the penalty for inmates who are found guilty of possession of contraband devices.
Prison officials have re-defined cell phones as dangerous contraband. Inmates found guilty of possession of a cell phone or wireless communication device will be subject to loss of “good time” credit of up to 90 days.
The new legislation and its corresponding change to prison regulations comes at a time when the number of cell phones confiscated each year by prison officials has increased by the thousands.
CDCR reports prison officials seized 261 cell phones from inmates in 2006, nearly 1,400 in 2007, approximately 2,800 in 2008, about 6,995 in 2009, another 10,761 in 2010, and 9,935 from January to August of 2011.
