"State AGs urge passage of legislation allowing for cell phone ‘jamming’ systems in prisons"

[KC3ECJ]

https://www.pahomepage.com/news/state-ags-urge-passage-of-legislation-allowing-for-cell-phone-jamming-systems-in-prisons/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Eyewitness_News_WBRE_WYOU&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2MTqXgca0xd1xoFARrv1cc6CLvyG-wMSg6wrrXpmjD6qwPSbip_mk0too_aem_IZfADVCTwIHhsBHinHw8QQ

"(WKBN) – Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has joined a bipartisan coalition of 26 state attorneys general calling on Congress to pass legislation allowing states to deploy cell phone “jamming” systems in prisons.

“Jamming” involves the interruption of cell phone signals, which would disable non-emergency calls.

The legislation — H.R. 2350 and S. 1137 — regards contraband phones and would not impact individuals’ usage of landline phones at prisons, according to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office."

 

[ladn]

The legislation — H.R. 2350 and S. 1137 — regards contraband phones and would not impact individuals’ usage of landline phones at prisons, according to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office."

I wonder if the FCC will chime in on this?

 

[MTS2000des]

Bad idea. Most devices that jam also put out hash and trash in part 90 spectrum. One of my RFSS is co-located next to a state juvenile facility. Now I know where to look if I get illegal carriers there.

 

[mmckenna]

There are ways to do this that aren't "jamming", and as stated, still allow emergency calls. I suspect either the AG or the media doesn't know the difference and are just using an easy to recognize term.

 

[KC3ECJ]

There are ways to do this that aren't "jamming", and as stated, still allow emergency calls. I suspect either the AG or the media doesn't know the difference and are just using an easy to recognize term.

But what if an EMS crew uses cellular to call a hospital directly or uses cellular Internet to connect to a hospital?
What if either or both of those are blocked when they respond to a prison?

 

[mmckenna]

But what if an EMS crew uses cellular to call a hospital directly or uses cellular Internet to connect to a hospital?
What if either or both of those are blocked when they respond to a prison?

Something the individual prisons will need to work out with responding agencies. Likely after the fact….

 

[MTS2000des]

The solution is better control of your staff. Creating intentional interference is a liability, as others have stated, part 90 gets interference, it's life safety of the very staff one may be attempting to assist. Not to mention, if these jamming devices impair the macro networks, then they are not only in violation but could disrupt/impair communications outside the walls of the institutions.

 

[MUTNAV]

Seems like there may be better technical solutions to what they are aiming at overall.

If finding the people with the cell phones is the key, then maybe something like this behind each cells wall might be helpful to pinpoint where they are.

Fed Detector

The F.E.D. detects digital RF emissions

techlib.com

(I assume there is a cavity behind each cells wall for plumbing, ventilation, electrical runs etc...)

Considering the trouble cell phones and amplified speakers had caused, while TRYING to keep the noise out of them,... it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch to just find the offenders to begin with

Thanks
Joel

 

[mmckenna]

In simplified terms:

https://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/docs/summits/Combating-Contraband-Cell-Phones-in-Prison-Handout-v4.pdf

Small cells internal to the prison broadcasting carrier info so phones connect to that system. The system acts as the gateway into the cellular networks with connections to each of carriers. The gateway will block unknown phones.

Prisons usually have their own medical teams, so someone needing emergency medical care would be removed to an on site medical facility. EMS isn't going to be wandering around the inside of a prison with a big box full of drugs.

The gateways can be programmed with info for agency owned cell phones, so they can work from inside if needed. A master kill switch can be set up to temporarily allow all calls if necessary.

But agencies are going to rely on their own radios, not personal cell phones. EMS would be transporting a patient to an outside hospital where such a system wouldn't be a hindrance.

 

[prcguy]

If they do this and someone dies as a result of not being able to summon help, there will be a huge lawsuit and they will stop the jamming. No different than any other stupid idea.

 

[mmckenna]

I imagine so.

There are a number of places running neutral carrier systems. Federated Wireless has been doing this for a while. A number of big university campuses are running their own LTE systems on CBRS with gateways back into the cellular carriers. This isn't really that different, just blocking phones that are not allowed to use the system. Easy enough to allow 911 to pass through.

 

[SurgePGH]

I think a variation of the Stingray Cellular system would be something to look in to. It would allow cellular traffic to pass but can analyze the traffic to determine if it is coming from inside the facility walls. EMS typically isn't permitted inside of the prison. The guards will get the inmate to a medical portion of the prison and turn over patient care at that point. There a million variables to the scenario. What did EMS do 40+ years ago BEFORE cellphones? Build the new prisons as giant faraday cages!

 

[mrsvensven]

In simplified terms:

https://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/docs/summits/Combating-Contraband-Cell-Phones-in-Prison-Handout-v4.pdf

Small cells internal to the prison broadcasting carrier info so phones connect to that system. The system acts as the gateway into the cellular networks with connections to each of carriers. The gateway will block unknown phones.

Prisons usually have their own medical teams, so someone needing emergency medical care would be removed to an on site medical facility. EMS isn't going to be wandering around the inside of a prison with a big box full of drugs.

The gateways can be programmed with info for agency owned cell phones, so they can work from inside if needed. A master kill switch can be set up to temporarily allow all calls if necessary.

But agencies are going to rely on their own radios, not personal cell phones. EMS would be transporting a patient to an outside hospital where such a system wouldn't be a hindrance.

I think a prison near me has this. The prison is next to a busy highway interchange, and every time I drive by my phone stops working despite having full signal (in this spot, there is literally line of site to a cell phone tower less than a mile away). I have no idea how it's been allowed to continue in such a busy area for so long. I imagine that most people just haven't figured out that such a system exists and have not thought to complain to the cell company and/or prison about it. To them, it's just another dead spot in the cell network.

 

[AM909]

I think the key is going to be having the "kill-switch" with reliable remote control be part of the protocol for a mass-casualty or other type of event that would require unregistered phones to be able to work. Doesn't do much good to chase down and imprison the guys at the top if they can just continue to easily run things from inside.

 

[MUTNAV]

I think the key is going to be having the "kill-switch" with reliable remote control be part of the protocol for a mass-casualty or other type of event that would require unregistered phones to be able to work. Doesn't do much good to chase down and imprison the guys at the top if they can just continue to easily run things from inside.

Thats why I was suggesting to go and actually get the phones themselves. I don't know how difficult it would be, but even with cell service not available, there are lots of things that can be done with a phone (stored movies, video games, etc...).

Thanks
Joel

 

[BinaryMode]

If I'm not mistaken, El Salvador uses cell jammers in their prisons. And with good reason, too! Other central American countries may do the same.

In my opinion, something like this SHOULD be done, but in an effective manner that doesn't disrupt the civilian use of cell phones. I'm not sure if juvenile facilities need call jammers though. I realize some of these kids are gang members though...

 

[speedway_navigator]

I favor the local cell site to capture onsite phones, could be lots of intel captured in those texts, some might be from staff.

 

[RangerConlin]

So as a paramedic who works in an area with several prisons, I can say that EMS can and does wander around inside the prison and cell blocks with all our equipment, though we are never without an escort. EMS making phone calls from the patient is a non issue, because we're not allowed to take our phones out of the ambulance, and no guards or visitors are allowed to have cell phones, so the only people that would have them are people that aren't supposed to have them.