Texas prison officials plan to test cell-phone jammers



By LISA SANDBERG Austin Bureau
Nov. 26, 2008,


AUSTIN — Texas prison officials, worried about smuggled cell phones 
inside their correctional units, plan to demonstrate cell-phone 
jamming technology next month even though current federal law forbids 
states from using such methods.
Texas prison officials say they have invited Florida-based 
communications company CellAntenna Corp. to tests its jamming 
technology on Dec. 18 at the Travis County Jail.
The demo idea was put forth by state Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, 
chairman of the House Corrections Committee, after the Florida 
company successfully tested its jamming technology Friday at a 
maximum-security prison in South Carolina.
"We think it's in the best interest of Texas citizens to make sure 
inmates don't have access to cell phones," Madden said today.
Prison officials around the country are increasingly worried about 
contraband cell phones in their midst. In Texas, 10 death-row inmates 
last month were discovered to have placed nearly 2,800 calls from an 
illegal cell phone.
The recipient of several threatening calls was none other than state 
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the powerful chairman of the Senate 
Criminal Justice Committee.
Gov. Rick Perry ordered an immediate systemwide lockdown. A massive 
search at all 112 units over the next three weeks turned up some 289 
cell phones and cell-phone parts, including 18 on death row.
Phones and phone parts haven't just been found under mattresses. One 
death-row offender was found with a cell phone in his rectum.
Prison officials here and elsewhere say they're ready to clamp down, 
but are stymied by a 73-year-old federal law barring states from 
using jamming technology.
Madden said he isn't advocating violating the federal law, but 
believes there is momentum in Congress to overturn the ban next year.
He also is interested in other technology that is not banned, such as 
gadgets that detect cell phones when they're in use.
Meanwhile, South Carolina prison officials say they're encouraged by 
how well the jamming technology worked when tested at one of their 
prisons on Friday.
Spokesman Josh Gelinas said the jamming device blocked signals only 
in the visitation room, proving that the technology could be limited 
in scope so as not to interfere with public signals.

lsandberg@express-news.net

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6133907.html