WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act to prevent inmates from using contraband cellphones in correctional facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming systems.

“Idaho has seen firsthand the grave danger contraband cellphones pose to the public, correctional officers, and inmates,” said Risch. “The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act keeps our communities safe by allowing correctional facilities to block illicit cell signals.”

“While in prison, criminals should not be able to communicate with the outside world and continue the criminal actions that landed them there in the first place,” said Crapo. “We must pass this commonsense fix to cut off their ability to further their crimes behind bars and protect the citizens of our communities.”

“For far too long, contraband cellphones have been a major security threat in our prisons, allowing criminals to coordinate crimes from behind bars. This legislation is a common-sense step to cut off their ability to threaten witnesses, organize drug trafficking, and endanger law-abiding citizens from within prison walls,” said Cotton.

Risch, Crapo, and Cotton are joined by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) in introducing the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act.

The use of contraband cellphones is widespread in both federal and state prison facilities. Inmates have used contraband cellphones to conduct illegal activities, including ordering hits on individuals outside of the prison walls, running illegal drug operations, conducting illegal business deals, facilitating sex trafficking, and organizing escapes which endanger correctional employees, other inmates, and members of the public.

In March 2024, a contraband cell phone was used in Idaho to coordinate the escape of a reputed gang member. During the escape, three Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) officers were ambushed and two were shot. The IDOC confiscated multiple phones in the weeks prior to the incident. A later investigation confirmed the contraband cellphone was used to plan the escape.