Bilirakis Bill to Crack Down on Crime By Eliminating Inmate Cell Phone Use

Washington, DC:  Earlier today, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) re-filed the Eliminate Non-approved Devices and Contraband Electronics Limiting Links to Society (END CELLS) Act.  Congressman Bilirakis was prompted to take action after countless reports of rising rates of prisoners using contraband cellphones to facilitate crime in communities throughout the country despite being locked behind bars.  The END CELLS Act will provide additional penalties on prisoners who are found to illegally possess cellphones while incarcerated and on those who have smuggled or attempted to smuggle wireless devices into prisons.   Specifically, the legislation will amend the federal Communications Act to make it unlawful for anyone to provide or attempt to provide a federal, state or local prisoner with a wireless communications device and further make it unlawful for a prisoner to possess such a device while incarcerated.  Additionally, the measure creates criminal and civil penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation.  

“Americans deserve the confidence of knowing that once a criminal has been locked away, that the perpetrator cannot continue to victimize others from behind bars,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis.  “We have seen prisoners use illegal devices to facilitate escape attempts, coordinate murders, and endanger children to sexual predators. Enough is enough!We can lower the incidence of criminal acts taking place from behind bars by cracking down on those who smuggle electronic devices into prisons and on those who are found in possession of these illegal devices.”    

"One of the most fundamental rules in securing a facility is controlling an inmate’s ability to plan an escape or contraband introduction with someone on the outside,” said Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis. “It is also important, when trying to dismantle a criminal enterprise, to limit the ability of those incarcerated leaders to run the organization from prison. Therefore, if we want to give our prison administrators the tools they need to prevent escapes, reduce contraband, and hold criminals accountable, we must send a very clear message that prisoner accessible cell phones will not be tolerated.  It is simply a common sense measure from Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who is known for his common sense approach to these criticality important public safety issues.”

"My primary focus is keeping our community safe,” said Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.  “I fully support, and thank Congressman Bilirakis for his leadership in, any efforts to reduce victimization in our community and to hold those who commit crime in our community accountable for their actions, which includes not being able to commit any further offenses while they are incarcerated."

“As President of the American Jail Association (AJA), which represents the dedicated men and women working in our nation’s local jails, I applaud Congressman Bilirakis for his bold action to address a serious threat to public and facility safety. Contraband cell phones undermine security, compromise investigations, and endanger communities. Jail professionals work hard to prevent escapes and disrupt criminal enterprises, and this legislation gives us stronger tools to stop criminal activity behind bars,” noted Shaun Klucznik, President of AJA.

Kelly Cole, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs of CTIA remarked, “CTIA applauds Representative Gus Bilirakis for reintroducing the END CELLS Act, which expressly makes it illegal for a prisoner to possess a cellphone, setting new penalties for violations. The unauthorized use of cellphones by the incarcerated is a serious issue, and the wireless industry is committed to working with policymakers, corrections officials and other stakeholders to advance solutions that keep cellphones out of prisons, while also protecting lawful communications.”