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| Committee rejects prison cell phone bill |
| By times-news.com - Matthew Bieniek |
| Published: 03/20/2012 |
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CUMBERLAND, MD — A House of Delegates Committee has derailed a bill that aimed to increase penalties on prisoners found in possession of cell phones. The House Judiciary Committee voted 11-9, with one member excused, to give the bill an unfavorable recommendation. House Bill 587 would have increased penalties for possession or reception of a cell phone or other device for prisoners, as well as for delivering or attempting to deliver a cell phone to a prisoner. Delivering the device to a prisoner would have resulted in a stiff misdemeanor sentence of up to three years on a first offense and become a felony with a non-suspendable five-year sentence on second offense, along with fines. A prisoner caught with a device could have faced a nonsuspendable felony sentence of five years. The sentence would have been consecutive to any sentence the person was already serving. Senate Bill 669 and the companion bill, House Bill 1086, which would take away good-time credit permanently for prisoners caught with a prohibited device remain in committee. Cell phones have been a problem at state prisons, especially in larger cities. “Cell phones are a lucrative form of contraband because, unlike drugs, they have a significant and perpetual resale and rental potential and value,” according to a fiscal and policy note to the bills prepared by the Department of Legislative Services. Read More. |
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