Attorney General Todd Rokita has joined a bipartisan group of 30 attorneys general to push for legislative changes that would allow the use of phone jamming technology in state and local correctional facilities. The coalition is urging Congress to lift federal restrictions on such devices, citing the dangers posed by contraband cell phones inside prisons.
“Hoosiers deserve to feel safe, and that means stopping criminals from running their operations from inside prison walls,” said Attorney General Rokita. “Contraband phones aren’t just a nuisance. They’re weapons, and we’re fighting to disarm inmates.”
Officials say incarcerated individuals have used unauthorized phones to coordinate criminal activities including drug trafficking, gang violence, and orchestrating attacks against law enforcement and civilians. In Indiana, the Department of Correction confiscates hundreds of illegal phones annually, with many more remaining undetected.
The attorneys general argue that current federal laws preventing the deployment of jamming technology make it harder for states to address these security threats. According to a 2020 survey conducted among 20 state corrections departments, nearly 26,000 contraband cell phones were found in one year across those states. This figure highlights the widespread nature of the issue.
The coalition’s letter sent to Congress outlines how blocking illicit phone signals could help protect correctional staff, visitors, and public safety by cutting off inmates’ ability to communicate outside prison walls for criminal purposes.
