Cell Phones in Prisons

Cell Phones in Prisons

To everyday people outside the prison walls, cell phones are a normal part of life. To striking alarm, cell phones are also becoming a fast development in the prison system. This isn't a problem that just surfaced, but it is starting to increase in number like never before. The use of cell phones in prison seems impossible. However, the right tools and resources can make getting them just like going to canteen. How do these devices get into our prison systems. Once inside how are the cell phones utilized by prisoners. What are way to stop smuggling of cells phones and how to stop inmates from using them. The problem of cell phones in the nation's correctional facilities is real and growing at a rate that poses a significant risk to the lives of the professionals that work in the facilities and to the public welfare at large. Cell phones in prisons ,

One of the most interesting thing when talking about cell phones behind bars is how they get there. While the are many ways, people in prison shouldn't have cell phones. Cell phones are brought in through visitation where one would hide the device internally. Other usual entry methods consist of corrupted guards, packages hurled over the fence or bow and arrows. In California a corrupted officer admitted to receiving more than $100,000 in one year to smuggle in cell phones to inmates by charging $100 to $400 per device. Today, inmates and the counterparts are becoming more and more creative. Pigeons have been trained to fly with cell phones and take them to designated areas such as handmade nests prepared by inmates. Loaves of bread have been baked and stuffed with cell phones. In one case in South Carolina a potato gun was used to fire phones over prison walls from as far a third of a mile. Cell phones are also brought in by a inside person for instance, milk would be delivered into the kitchen containing cell phones and other contraband. The person with access to the kitchen would then retrieve those cartons of milk remove contraband and set u for next the delivery. In Mississippi a heavy bounceless ball was discovered and held 19 phones and chargers. The list of ways to get cell phones into the inmates hand is endless. The problem only intensifying because with the cell phones inmates have access to the internet to become advance in ways to smuggle in these devices.

Inmates use the cell phones once smuggled in to do an assorted variety of things. Sometimes inmates use their cell phones to talk to family and friends on the outside. Also some family members may live where pay phones don't currently exist. They prefer the these wireless device to bypass the telephone monitoring system within the prison. Cell phones provide them with an all private conversations. Inmates also have a inexpensive way of communicating as suppose to the expensive pay phones provided by the prison. For instance in a Mississippi prison-phones system fell from 296,446 to 146,855, and the revenue declined significantly by 31%. They also provide a source of additional income because the inmate can charge other prisoners just to place calls. Cell phones are used to get on facebook and connect with friends, love ones and etc. The cell phones also have downfalls to them that inmates use them for. Inmates planning attempts for escape have found that the cell phone can be just as valuable as a pair of bolt cutters. One phone to a family member or friend outside prison walls and a ride could be waiting for an

escaping inmate. In Tennessee one inmate used a cell phone to plot an escape that cause the death of a correctional officer. Cell phones have been used to carry out brutal attacks on the public. They've been used to also plot hits on rival gang members inside and outside of prison. Witness have been targeted as well as families of witness. A man in Maryland was gun downed outside his home, in front of his kids. The man was a witness in the case against the inmate which use an smuggled cell phones to carry out this gruesome crime. Senator John Whitmire, was the target of a Polunsky Unit death row inmate, which is suppose to be the securest part of the Texas prison system. It's scary to think that someone on the other end of the phone pretending to be a good