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New Epidemic: Contraband Cell Phones in Prison Cells
Loaded on Feb. 15, 2011
by Mark Wilson
published in Prison Legal News
February, 2011, page 40
For decades, prison officials across the U.S. have lined their pockets with multi-million dollar kickbacks from telephone companies that are awarded lucrative prisoner phone service contracts. In doing so, they unwittingly created an “epidemic” that they are now desperately scrambling – and largely failing – to control. Namely, the excessive …
Filed under:
Misconduct/Corruption,
Guard Misconduct,
Telephone Access,
Cell Phone Access.
Locations:
California,
Texas,
United States of America.
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More from this issue:
- Mass Torture in America: Notes from the Supermax Prisons, by Lance Tapley
- From the Editor
- Study: CIA Doctors ‘Gave Green Light to Torture’, by Muriel Kane
- Florida Woman Settles Lawsuit Against Sheriff’s Officers for $67,500 After Arrest While in Premature Labor
- Illinois Supermax Placement Procedures Unconstitutional, by David Reutter
- Is Operation Streamline a Billion Dollar Give-away to the Private Prison Industry?, by Bob Libal
- Habeas Hints: The Year in Review, by Kent A. Russell
- California: State May Be Liable for Delaying Medical Care to Prisoner’s Infant Child
- Blind Texas Prisoner Dies after Confrontation with Guards
- New U.S. Marshals Director Confirmed Despite Conflict of Interest with Private Prison Companies
- 1,295 Prisoners Scam Government for $9.1 Million
- Fifth Circuit Holds Texas Parole Revocation Witness Denial Violated Due Process
- Physicians for Human Rights: CIA Performed Illegal Medical Experiments While Torturing Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
- Seventh Circuit Holds That A Prisoner’s Verbal Complaints About Racist Guards May Be Protected Speech
- Mississippi DOC Closes Unit 32
- The Habeas Citebook: lneffective Assistance of Counsel, by Brandon Sample, Prison Legal News Publishing, 2010, pp.212 $49.95, by Mumia Abu-Jamal
- Florida Guard’s Conviction for Falsifying Use-of-Force Report Affirmed, by David Reutter
- Denial of Qualified Immunity Reversed in Michigan Prison Wage Suit
- Ninth Circuit Upholds Arizona Teenage Detainee Suicide Claim Dismissal
- $450,000 Award in New York Prisoner’s Negligence Claim
- Washington State Sheriff’s Classification of Sex Offender Violates Separation of Powers
- Kenyan Prisoners Allowed to Vote in Constitutional Referendum
- Eleventh Circuit Affirms Injunction in Florida DOC Mental Health Conditions Pepper Spray Case, by David Reutter
- 9th Circuit: Prisoner Need Not Succumb to Threats in Order to Prevail on First Amendment Retaliation Claim, by Michael Brodheim
- Georgia: Flurry of Judicial Resignations Highlights Secrecy Behind Investigations, by David Reutter
- Homeland Security Inspector General’s Report Finds Additional Controls Needed to Ensure Prisoners’ Access to Phones at ICE Facilities
- Report: New Jersey DOC Should Upgrade Prisoner Reentry Programs, by Derek Gilna
- Texas Pays for Geriatric Prisoners, Rarely Grants Medical Parole, by Matthew Clarke
- $42,000 Verdict in Iowa Jail Excessive Force Case
- Federal Prisoner’s Death at FCI Pekin Triggers FBI Investigation, by Derek Gilna
- Disability Rights Vermont Report Faults Staff for Disabled Prisoner’s Death
- Onerous Ohio Sex Offender Restrictions Drive Some Underground, by Matthew Clarke
- California Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit Settled for $7.95 Million
- New Epidemic: Contraband Cell Phones in Prison Cells, by Mark Wilson
- Abuse and Assaults Continue at Pennsylvania Jail, by David Reutter
- Feds Indict Two in Florida Prison Canteen Kickback Scheme
- Fourth Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment on RLUIPA Haircut Claim, but Case Dismissed on Remand
- Head of Ohio Juvenile Facility Fired Following Complaints of Sexual Harassment
- Virginia Prisoner Kills Cellmate, Requests Death Sentence, by Mark Wilson
- Floodlines: Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena Six, by Jordan Flaherty, Haymarket Books, 2010; $16.00, 292 pages, by Lewis Wallace
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- News In Brief:
More from Mark Wilson:
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- Eighth Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity to Minnesota Jail Guard Accused of Grabbing and Squeezing Detainee’s Penis, Feb. 1, 2024
- Former Oregon Prison Nurse Gets 30 Years for Raping Prisoners, Dec. 1, 2023
- After Ninth Circuit Refuses to Compel Arbitration, National Class Certified in HRDC’s Challenge to Jail and Prison Debit Card Fees, Oct. 15, 2023
- Seventh Circuit Revives Illinois Prisoner’s Claim Over Knee Surgery Delayed 29 Months, Oct. 15, 2023
- Fourth Circuit Reinstates North Carolina Prisoner’s Suit, Finding Grievance Procedure Availability an Open Question, Oct. 15, 2023
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- Oregon Will Hold Release Hearings for 73 Prisoners Sentenced to LWOP as Juveniles, Sept. 15, 2023
- Senators Slam “Egregious” Prisoner Sexual Abuse by BOP Employees, Sept. 15, 2023
- Minnesota Supreme Court Denies Qualified Immunity for Delayed Transfer of Sex Offenders, Sept. 15, 2023
More from these topics:
- Idaho DOC Director Denies Verified Report of Rampant Sexual Abuse of Women Prisoners by Staff, May 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Retaliatory Segregation, Prison Rape Elimination Act.
- Prisoners in Norfolk, Virginia Left on Extended Lockdown, May 1, 2026. Staffing, Lockdowns, Telephone Access, Extended Family Visiting, Failure to Protect (Staff).
- “Like the Walking Dead”: Smuggled Drugs Fuel Chaos Inside Ohio Prisons, May 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Guard Misconduct, Drug Overdose, Security Systems, Drugs - Determination of.
- Watchdog Finds Barely 1 in 10 Complaints Against California Prison Staff Handled Adequately, May 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Evidence, Staff Training, Statutes of Limitation and Laches.
- Records Show Culture of Impunity Among Kentucky Prison Guards, May 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Snitch Jacketing, Whistleblowing, Evidence - Admissibility.
- Idaho Struggles to Respond to Devasting Report of Widespread Prisoner Sex Abuse, April 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Prison Rape Elimination Act, State Legislation, Public Records Act.
- Two Texas Women Charged for Using Plastic Crows in Smuggling Scheme, April 1, 2026. Cell Phone Access, Conspiracies, Attempts, Solicitations, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Methamphetamine, Simple Possession/Personal Use versus Distribution.
- More Than 40k 311 Calls From Rikers Go Into a Black Hole Every Year, April 1, 2026. Failure to Treat, Totality of Conditions, Telephone Access, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Leaked Video Footage Shows California Prison Guards Engaged in Retaliatory Assault, March 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Prison Rape Elimination Act.
- U.S. Sentencing Commission Report Breaks Down Federal Contraband Sentences, March 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Mechanical Searches/Scanners, Statistics/Trends, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Bribery/Extortion/Theft.

