COLUMBUS, Georgia (WRBL) — Two weeks ago, a local attorney was arrested and charged with smuggling contraband — including cell phones — into the Muscogee County jail.
Cell phones in jails and correctional facilities are a big problem in Georgia — and the chief attorney general is trying to address it.
Attorney General Chris Carr has seen the problem firsthand and knows that cell phones cause huge problems when in the hands of inmates.
And he’s working with attorneys general across the country to do something about it.
“If we’re going to address the problem of crime within the correctional system, the federal government needs to change the law so we can block cell phones,” Carr said. “Our private sector partners need to work with us so we can jam cell phones.”
Carr and more than 20 state attorneys general across the country are calling for a change to federal law that allows them to jam cell phone signals in correctional facilities. A bill was introduced to the US Senate late last month by Tom Cotton (R) of Arkansas.
“Because, again, you have violent crimes that can be directed from within a prison,” Carr said. “They have scams that can be steered. But again, no one is going to want to smuggle in a cell phone if the cell phone doesn’t work.”
Last year, the Georgia Department of Corrections performed 126 full shakedowns. During these searches, they found more than 8,000 cell phones.
The problem applies very close to home here in Columbus.
On March 30, attorney Alan Jones was arrested after an undercover operation at the Muscogee County Jail. He is accused of attempting to smuggle contraband, including several mobile phones, to an inmate charged with murder in prison.
District Attorney Stacey Jackson is aware of what Carr is working on. He wants that opportunity extended to facilities like the Muscogee County Jail.
“Well, one thing we have to do is keep cell phones from getting into the county jail,” Jackson said. “That’s problem #1. But if in this case, the ability to block those cellphones would definitely prevent the people from continuing with their current activities, it would also pose less risk to the officers and also affect the ability of the person.” Try to disrupt our efforts to try the case.”
