Jammers are very complex electronic devices

The Government of the National Capital Territory has announced its intention to assess the feasibility of employing technology that could disrupt mobile phone signals at the Alexander McConnocke Centre in Canberra. The quantity of mobile phones classified as contraband in the country is steadily increasing. A new GPS jammer was recently installed at the Supermax 2 high-security unit in Goulburn, which detains extremists and terrorists. If the initial testing is successful, the individual will face a two-year trial in a New South Wales correctional facility.

The latest systems incorporate a variety of antennas that disrupt the frequencies used by mobile phone signals, thus making the devices unusable. According to a spokesperson from the Community Justice and Safety Agency, the results of the trial conducted in Goulburn may influence the future application of this technology in the ACT. "The implementation of cellular jamming at the Alexander McConnocke Centre was a complicated endeavor," he noted. "It is important to highlight that this technology has been previously trialed in Australia, and so far, it has not been successful. Furthermore, the resulting solution is notably costly."

The Alexander McConnocke Centre provides a variety of mobile phones. In a 2017 article, The Canberra Times disclosed that prisoners had been apprehended with thumb-sized mobile phones. These portable bluetooth jammer are small enough to be hidden in body cavities, and their minimal metal content renders them less detectable by metal detectors. A spokesperson for the ACT Justice and Security Authority noted that the human rights laws in the ACT would not prevent Canberra Prison from implementing mobile phone jamming technology, as mobile phones are considered prohibited items. "Currently, detainees are in contact with their friends and family through phone and email facilitated by the [Alexander McCannock Centre]," he explained.

ACT Law Enforcement Inspector Neil McAllister emphasized that the territorial governments should hold off on any initiatives until Galben has dealt with the saboteurs. A crucial factor to assess when considering the introduction of jamming technology in Canberra is its effect on individuals surrounding the prison, including those driving along the Monaro Freeway who might need to reach emergency services.

Using jamming devices in prisons

OKLAHOMA CITY - A large quantity of unauthorized mobile phones has found its way into the possession of inmates, facilitated by criminal activities. On Monday, prison officials expressed their inability to utilize one of the most effective solutions for this problem: phone jamming technology. Officials from Oklahoma and South Carolina testified before an Oklahoma Senate committee, affirming the technology's effectiveness. Nevertheless, federal law restricts government agencies from employing this technology, and the cellphone industry has been opposed to its use.

In the past year, Oklahoma confiscated more than 5,200 smuggled cell phones from prisoners. Mike Carpenter, who serves as the security director for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, stated that although this figure is down by roughly 7,500 from the previous year, the problem persists at a serious level. Carpenter explained that a recent altercation between rival gangs at an Oklahoma prison escalated rapidly last month, following incidents involving contraband cell phones at multiple other facilities. This escalation resulted in one inmate being killed and over a dozen sustaining injuries.

When questioned about the efficacy of cell phone traffic jamming, Mr. Carpenter confidently replied, "Absolutely." Gerard Keegan, representing the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, pointed out that the cellphone industry predominantly relies on blocking signals from legitimate users. He opposed the implementation of portable cell phone jammers in prisons. Keegan advocated for a "managed access" system that leverages technology to detect signals from contraband phones in correctional settings, asserting that disabling those specific calls is achievable. He also expressed support for further research into cellphone jamming technology.

A federal law that would authorize states to implement jamming devices is currently pending in both the House and Senate. Earlier this year, Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma expressed a straightforward proposal to the U.S. Senate: "To defend our guards, safeguard our families, and curb criminal activities in prisons, we can block cell phone signals in federal correctional facilities." Federal prison officials have tested micro jammers and report that if these devices function properly at a distance of around 20 feet, they can effectively disable phone signals within prison cells.