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Arkansas Attorney General Griffin and Federal Leaders Unite Against Contraband Cellphones in Prisons

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Senator Tom Cotton, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr joined forces to address the alarming issue of contraband cellphones in prisons, which have been used by inmates to plan further criminal activity, including assault, murder, and aiding criminal enterprises. The group announced that the FCC will vote this month on a proposal that would allow prisons to combat the use of contraband cellphones by implementing jamming solutions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Thousands of contraband cellphones have been confiscated from prisons across the country, with inmates using them to plan further crimes.
  • The proposal to allow prisons to use jamming solutions to combat contraband cellphones has been met with support from Attorney General Griffin, Senator Cotton, and Governor Sanders.
  • Chairman Carr has stated that the FCC will vote on the proposal this month, marking the first time the agency has allowed prisons to use jamming solutions to combat contraband cellphones.
  • The Varner Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections has collected a significant number of contraband cellphones, highlighting the extent of the problem.
  • The proposal aims to empower law enforcement to give prisons additional solutions to combat contraband cellphones, including jamming solutions.
  • The group is committed to stopping violent crime and protecting public safety, with the proposal being seen as a key step in addressing this issue.
  • Senator Cotton has introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 to codify the proposal and ensure its implementation at the federal level.
  • Governor Sanders has stated that public safety is government's first priority, and the evidence clearly shows that contraband cellphones pose a direct threat to Arkansans' security.

Statistics:

  • Thousands of contraband cellphones have been confiscated from prisons across the country.
  • The proposal to allow prisons to use jamming solutions to combat contraband cellphones is expected to be voted on by the FCC this month.
  • The Varner Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections has collected over 1,000 contraband cellphones since 2020.

Sources:

  • Statement of Attorney General Tim Griffin
  • Statement of Chairman Brendan Carr
  • Statement of Senator Tom Cotton
  • Statement of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
  • "Arkansas Attorney General's Office" (no publication date)

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