This communication originates from the office of Attorney General Chris Carr.

Attorney General Chris Carr is advocating for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to swiftly permit the implementation of cell phone jammers in state prisons and local jails. At present, the FCC enforces a prohibition on the use of cell phone jammers, which affects state and local governments as well. Nevertheless, contraband cell phones are being exploited in prisons and jails throughout the country to coordinate violent incidents and other illicit activities, posing a serious safety concern for correctional officers, visitors, inmates, and the broader community.

According to Carr, the most straightforward approach to shield the public from the risks associated with contraband cell phones is to authorize the use of cell phone jamming technology in prisons and jails. Nevertheless, he pointed out that the FCC continues to impede these efforts. He argued that this outdated policy restricts vital law enforcement capabilities, creates perilous situations for correctional staff, and enables the proliferation of criminal networks within and beyond prison walls. He reiterated their commitment to addressing violent crime wherever it arises, calling on the federal government to dismantle this considerable barrier to public safety.

In Georgia, a total of 8,074 contraband cell phones were confiscated in 2023, with 5,482 more taken in 2024 thus far. A recent incident involved an imprisoned leader of the notorious "Yves Saint Laurent Squad," who used a contraband cell phone to orchestrate the stabbing of an 88-year-old veteran from Georgia. Additionally, a gang leader from North Carolina was able to arrange the kidnapping of a prosecutor's father using a cell phone while incarcerated. In California, prison gangs are known to utilize contraband cell phones to coordinate murders and drug trafficking activities within the prison system.

“There are hundreds of examples across the country of how contraband cell phones in the hands of inmates have been used as lethal weapons and enabled them to continue their criminal activities. We are outraged that these individuals are continuing these activities and endangering the public,” said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. “As attempts to infiltrate our prisons with contraband cell phones continue to evolve, access to jamming technology is critical to our ability to combat these attempts. We thank Attorney General Carr for his support of our ongoing commitment to public safety and safe prison operations.”

In his letter, Carr pointed out that the policy of the FCC is founded on a law that was enacted in the early 1990s, a period before prison inmates began to employ contraband mobile phones for the purpose of planning and executing illegal and perilous activities.

Additionally, Carr pointed out that there is nothing in 47 USC § 333 that restricts the FCC from altering its position to allow state agencies to implement cell phone signal jammers in prisons. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons has recognized the possible advantages of using cell phone jammers and has been granted permission to operate them in several federal correctional institutions, with at least one located in Georgia.