State seeking to halt inmate cell-phone use

As Congress considers whether to allow state prisons to install cell-phone jamming devices, New Jersey is grappling with ways to stop inmates from running criminal enterprises from behind bars.

Yesterday, state Attorney General Anne Milgram announced charges against 35 inmates indicted on charges of cell-phone possession, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $15,000.

The problem is so bad that in once instance law enforcement officers allegedly were able to intercept a conference call among gang members.

"Two inmates in different prisons and a third inmate in a county jail were plotting retaliation against another gang member," Milgram said. "This is not what should be happening when we put criminals behind bars."

Of the 35 inmates indicted on Friday, 25 are reputed gang members, she said.

Under current law, the Federal Communications Commission can allow only federal agencies - not state or local authorities - to jam cell-phone signals. Phone industry representatives object, saying that jamming signals could interfere with legitimate service and 911 calls.

The legislation in Congress would change the law to allow states to use jammers. A Senate vote could take place this fall.

But states aren't waiting. Many have started testing electronic cell-phone-detection technology, and several, including New Jersey and Virginia, have started to use specially trained dogs to sniff out the phones.

New Jersey prison officials also have stepped up use of noninvasive scanner chairs to search inmates returning from work details.

The state has taken other measures - such as removing vending machines from visitor areas so family members can't pass the phones in snack packs - to stop inmate access to the devices.

Still, about 400 cell phones have been confiscated during the last year, along with 126 chargers and nine cell-phone batteries.

Last week alone, officers found two phones, three chargers, and a wireless Bluetooth device.

Phones have been found in light fixtures, Bibles, and body cavities.

Some inmates have tried unsuccessfully to conceal them in peanut butter jars to fool the dogs.

"They pick up the scent quickly," Sgt. William Crampton said.

So far, the Corrections Department has trained six cell-phone-sniffing dogs and plans to train more.

During a demonstration at the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility, the dogs were able to find the phones within seconds.

Like other states, New Jersey also is testing the use of cell-phone-detection technology.

The technology is designed to enable corrections officials to locate and root out contraband cell phones - a more sophisticated version of what the dogs are doing now.