Attorney General Chris Carr has taken steps to challenge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over its refusal to permit state and local law enforcement agencies to jam contraband cellphone signals in prisons and jails. Carr filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the FCC, seeking correspondence related to his previous letter dated June 4, 2024, which urged the FCC to allow cell phone jamming technology in correctional facilities. The request also seeks documentation on the FCC's denial of this request and information about the use of such devices at certain federal prisons.
Carr expressed frustration with what he describes as an outdated policy that hampers efforts to curb crime facilitated by contraband cellphones within prison walls. "Law enforcement is struggling to combat contraband cellphones due to an outdated policy that the federal government refuses to address or reconsider in any way," Carr stated. He emphasized that blocking cellphone signals could prevent violent crimes orchestrated from inside prisons, thereby enhancing public safety. "If the Biden administration won’t work with us, they should get out of the way and allow our officers to do their jobs effectively."
The FCC currently bans cell phone jammers for both state and local governments. This prohibition remains despite concerns that contraband phones are used in prisons nationwide for planning violent attacks and other criminal activities, posing risks to officers, visitors, inmates, and the public.
Several incidents highlight these risks: an incarcerated leader of the "Yves Saint Laurent Squad" gang used a contraband phone for a murder order resulting in an elderly Georgia veteran's death; a North Carolina gang leader ordered a prosecutor’s father's kidnapping; California prison gangs trafficked drugs and ordered murders using such phones.
In his June letter, Carr pointed out that current FCC policy is based on outdated legislation. He argued: “Nothing in the language of 47 U.S.C § 333 prohibits the FCC from revising its position to allow state agencies to use cell phone jamming devices in prisons." He noted that federal penitentiaries have recognized this technology's potential value and already employ it at several locations.
In January 2023, Carr joined 21 attorneys general urging Congress to pass legislation enabling states to implement cellphone jamming systems in correctional facilities.
Additionally, Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit collaborates with the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) on investigating and prosecuting inmates involved in gang activities or smuggling contraband into GDC facilities.
A copy of Carr's FOIA request is available online.