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| Lawmakers Push to Criminalize Prison Cell Phone Smuggling |
| By cdcr.ca.gov |
| Published: 04/14/2009 |
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WHO: Senator John Benoit (R - Bermuda Dunes), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary Matthew Cate, and other Legislators WHAT: Hold press conference to introduce Senate Bill 434 (Benoit) which would create criminal penalties for anyone engaged in smuggling cell phones into state prisons. WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:00 AM WHERE: State Capitol, Room 1190 - Sacramento, CA WEBCAST: This event will be able to be viewed via live web stream online at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/ BACKGROUND: Discoveries of contraband cell phones in California prisons doubled in 2008 from the year before to 2,800. Cell phones smuggled into prisons can be used by inmates to circumvent supervision of conversations, and to orchestrate criminal activity, plan escapes, and be a menace outside of prison walls. While it is currently a rules violation for an inmate to possess a cell phone, there are no criminal penalties for inmates, their associates, visitors, or staff who might be engaged in cell phone smuggling. SB 424 would institute criminal penalties designed to act as a deterrent to prison cell phone smuggling. NOTE TO MEDIA: At the press conference, CDCR will be showing a video that highlights the problem, and be providing media with DVD B-roll and photographs. In addition, local prisons will be on-call to facilitate media interested in touring or interviewing staff on site about the issue. [News media members wishing to tour a prison must have a valid California Driver's License. Blue jeans and blue chambray shirts are not permitted to be worn on prison grounds]. |
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If a visitor brings in a cell phone for an inmate then the visitor should be liable for any consequences of their actions. If a corrections employee brings in a cell phone they too should be liable for their actions and should lose their job. This is no joke. G