Combatting Contraband Cell Phone Use in Oklahoma Prisons

The purpose of the FY 2020 Safeguarding Correctional Facilities and Public Safety by Addressing Contraband Cellphones Program is to assist state and local governments, including federally recognized Indian tribes that serve a law enforcement function, protect against contraband cellphone use in correctional facilities. The site-based awards provide funding to operationalize effective and secure managed access systems in correctional settings to prevent, detect, seize, and stop the presence and use of contraband cellphones by detainees and inmates.

The recipient will be expected to test, implement, and document changes to policy, practice, and tactics as they relate to preventing, detecting, seizing, and stopping the presence and use of contraband cellphones by detainees and inmates.
The funding will support the development and implementation of managed-access systems, including strategies, training of correctional staff, developing operational orders, and establishing policies to seize and end the use of cellphone contraband. Applicants are encouraged to focus on: 1) Identifying micro-jamming systems that halt inmates’ calls without disrupting services in the surrounding area, including those used by first responders; 2) Ensuring state, local, and tribal governments are in compliance with the Federal Communications Commission and other laws governing the interception of electronic communications, including the rules that criminalize actions aimed at disabling aircraft, and 3) Providing technological solutions to detect and disrupt drones.

The objectives of this award are to test, implement, and measure managed access systems, as well as share strategies to reduce the presence and use of contraband cellphones in correctional facilities.

The award recipient will use award funds to to implement the Combatting Contraband Cellphone Use in Oklahoma Prisons Program for the purpose of reducing contraband cellphone use within two facilities that produce 15.8 percent of contraband cellphone seizures: North Fork Correctional Center and Mack Alford Correctional Center. The grantee will implement portable cellular and radio frequency-based detection with location and alerting systems; cellphone-detecting dogs; portable contraband detection systems; and hand-held contraband cellphone detection devices on a random yet regular basis.

CA/NCF