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California state prisons confiscates over 4,130 contraband cell phones

California state prisons confiscates over 4,130 contraband cell phones

Posted: 04 Oct 2009, 00:56, by John V.

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California state prisons confiscates over 4,130 contraband cell phones

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We've heard plenty of news at how criminals in jails have managed to smuggle in cell phones from the outside. From training birds to remote controlled helicopters, it seems that there is still a need to be connected while being incarcerated. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that California state prisons have a bit of a problem with contraband cell phones – they've confiscated over 4,130 this year alone. That's more than all seized in the previous three years combined with the problem still growing due to budget cuts. Not only is this alarming, but inmates have been using these mobile phones to participate in criminal activity – such acts include planning of escapes, coordination of smuggling other contraband into prisons, and restraining order violations. There was supposed to be a proposed legislation two years ago which would have made it a crime for inmates to possess cell phones in prison, but the state's budget problems prevented it from happening. Dogs are being used to sniff out cell phones under Operation Disconnect – resulting in the increase of confiscations. There is also a federal bill being set into motion that would allow the use of wireless signal jamming within a prison. We'll have to wait and see if California's budget crisis will allow for such a thing to become a reality.

source: The Los Angeles Times via Textually

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1. bronxbomber posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:43 0 0

damm, now i cannot transport the bag of Quilo....lol

2. behold--me posted on 04 Oct 2009, 16:30 0 0

wouldnt something like a remote controleld helicopter be only a bit obvious????

3. vmatikov posted on 04 Oct 2009, 19:01 0 0

Lol this is hilarious... And ya how exactly would they have the phone delivered to them? Aren't there cameras? And guards? And carrier birds... ***

4. moss500a (unregistered) posted on 04 Oct 2009, 20:54 0 0

how would they get it past a strip search..............................................

5. vmatikov posted on 04 Oct 2009, 21:58 0 0

moss500a, i love you. Lol seriously... You like agree with all the shit I say... Like BBs and a bunch of other phones suck. And.. Ya how would they get it past the search lol... Maybe they get it when they're already in prison... Wtf. This makes no sense.

6. jskrenes posted on 05 Oct 2009, 15:22 0 0

Contrary to popular belief, they don't strip-search every inmate, visitor and guard. Contraband can be moved into a prison in a variety of ways other than 'kiestering' it (hiding it in a certain body cavity). People can drive by the prison and throw it over the gates (which could easily be coordinated with an already-smuggled in cell phone), they can pass it during visitation, or crooked guards or other volunteer can sneak stuff in. The stakes are high: a carton of cigaretts can fetch you thousands of dollars from the inmate you smuggle to, but will cost you years behind bars if you are caught. Yes, there are video cameras, searches, and the like to prevent smuggling of contraband, but if the prison system had a 1:1 ratio of guards to inmates and we strip-searched every visitor and guard and inmate regularly, you taxes would go through the roof.