Prisons Use Trained Dogs to Nose Out Cellphones

As Congress considers whether to allow state prisons to install cellphone jamming devices, New Jersey is grappling with ways to stop inmates from running criminal enterprises from behind bars.

On Tuesday, state Attorney General Anne Milgram announced charges against 35 inmates indicted for cellphone possession, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a US$15,000 fine.

The problem is so bad, in one instance law enforcement officers were able to intercept a conference call among gang members.

"Two inmates in different prisons and a third inmate in a county jail were plotting retaliation against another gang member," Milgram said. "This is not what should be happening when we put criminal behind bars."

Of the 35 inmates indicted on Friday, 25 are reputed gang members, she said.

Jamming the Signal

Under current law, the FCC can only allow federal agencies -- not state or local authorities -- to jam cellphone signals. Phone industry representatives object, saying that jamming signals could interfere with legitimate service and 911 calls.

The legislation in Congress would change the law to allow states to use the jammers, and a vote in the U.S. Senate could come this fall.

However, states aren't waiting. Many have started testing electronic cellphone detection technology and several, like Virginia and New Jersey, have started to use specially trained dogs to sniff out the phones.

New Jersey prison officials also have stepped up use of noninvasive scanner chairs to search inmates returning from work details. The state has taken other measures -- such as removing vending machine from visitor areas so family members can't pass the phones in snack packs -- to stop inmate access to the devices.

In Bibles, Peanut Butter Jars and Other Places

Still, around 400 cellphones have been confiscated during the past year, along with 126 chargers and nine cellphone batteries. Last week alone, officers found two phones, three chargers and a wireless Bluetooth device.

Phones have been found in light fixtures, Bibles and body cavities. Some inmates have tried unsuccessfully to conceal them in peanut butter jars to fool the dogs.

"They pick up the scent quickly," said Sgt. William Crampton.

So far, the corrections department has trained six cellphone sniffing dogs, and has plans to train more.

During a demonstration on Tuesday at the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility, the dogs were able to find the phones in a matter of seconds.

Like other states, New Jersey also is testing the use of cellphone detection technology.

The technology is designed to enable corrections officials to locate and root out contraband cellphones -- a more sophisticated version of what the dogs are doing now.

In the meantime, Milgram said prosecutors will continue pursuing cases against inmates found with phones and look for new ways to halt violence orchestrated by inmates behind prison walls.

© 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
© 2009 ECT News Network. All rights reserved.