A representative from Tennessee is advocating for a ban on the use of illegal cell phones by inmates, citing concerns that these devices facilitate the planning of attacks, the management of drug rings, and the coordination of criminal activities.

In the forthcoming congressional session, Representative David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) is set to introduce a bill aimed at authorizing the deployment of cell phone jamming technology in state correctional facilities.

While cell phone jammer are able to interfere with cell phone signals, their deployment has been outlawed in state prisons as a result of the 1934 federal Communications Act, which was established long before the invention of cell phones.

During the introduction of similar legislation last year, Rep. Kustoff informed fellow members of Congress, "This technology will serve to protect inmates, correctional officers, and the broader public." He added, "State attorneys general throughout the nation have recognized that contraband cell phones in prisons represent one of the most critical public safety challenges currently faced by prison administrators."

Experts in the correctional field assert that inmates throughout the country have leveraged contraband cell phones to perpetrate serious crimes while serving their sentences. As an illustration, Kustoff noted that in Tennessee, an inmate used a cell phone to arrange a drug deal, which involved mailing a bag of meth to his girlfriend.

During a meeting on Wednesday, State Senator Jackson conveyed to lawmakers and Tennessee Department of Corrections Director Frank Strada that Representative Kustoff is seeking to determine the interest in the bill from the state's prison leadership. Strada affirmed his strong endorsement of the proposal.

According to Strada, "The act of jamming a cell phone will ultimately transform it into a non-functional device, similar to a brick, within a prison setting. I believe I reflect the sentiments of many correctional officers, whether state, federal, or local, who consider jamming to be an invaluable tool in our prisons."

Over time, state lawmakers have implemented legislation to address the issue of prohibited cell phones in correctional institutions. A significant bill was presented in 2021 by former Senator Paul Ross (R-Kingston) and former Representative Brandon Ogles (R-Franklin), which sought to designate the possession of a cell phone by an inmate as a Class E felony.

Representative Kustoff is set to introduce legislation concerning cell phone jamming in the forthcoming congressional session. He has communicated to state lawmakers that other Tennessee congressional representatives have expressed their support for the bill. Kustoff has a history of backing similar initiatives, the latest of which was proposed last year, but unfortunately, it did not advance out of committee.