Talisay City Jail Warden Chief Inspector Josephus Jelianggao said he preferred that the jail should also have a signal jammer to prevent the illegal use of mobile phones inside the facility.
To prevent some felons from continuing their crimes in prison
That would mean every smuggled phone in the facility would be quickly identified. In addition, it would be relatively easy to create a list of permitted phones (owned by guards, office staff etc) and pass calls from those devices through to the communications networks. Alternately, we would have to ask exactly why it was that a guard needed a phone while on duty.
Mobile phones were seized from Block 1,2,3,4 and High-Security block 1. A jammer had been installed in the prison premises two months back. Last year, there were allegedly 72 mobile phone cases registered, while the number is already at 64 this year.
“During the raid, we seized mobile phones from toilets, rain water harvesting points and even shoes,” a prison official told TNIE. “Someone had torn the back of a slipper, inserted a phone and pasted it again. Mostly, inmates hide phones in awkward or unexceptional places that are being used daily.”
Repeat offenders are allegedly the most likely to possess phones as they have visited the prison multiple times and are aware of how to conceal and use the device.
Even better, this method would permit the identification of those being called from the gaol, especially if the existence of the base station was kept very quiet.
But Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas said there is no need to install a cellpone jammer since anomalies can be prevented if jail rules are strictly implemented.
Gullas added that purchasing a jamming device is an additional expense of the city with funds that can be utilized for other purposes.
Prisons around the world face persistent challenges in the illegal use of mobile phones by prisoners. Josephus Jelianggao, Chief Inspector of the Talisay City Jail, advocates for the installation of signal jammers in prisons to effectively curb this problem. His preference for signal jammers is because he believes that these devices can quickly identify any smuggled mobile phones, making it easier to track and manage communications within prisons.
here are several benefits to installing signal jammers in correctional facilities
- TFirst, it enables authorities to detect unauthorized mobile phones in a timely manner, minimizing the possibility of them being used for criminal activities.
- By creating a list of allowed mobile phones for authorized personnel (such as guards and office staff) and routing calls from these devices through designated communication networks, prisons can enhance security and prevent illegal communication channels.
During the raid, the inspector found that mobile phones were hidden in various ingenious ways, such as hidden inside toilets, rainwater collection points and even in shoes. The resourcefulness of prisoners in hiding mobile phones highlights the need for strong measures to effectively counter their behavior. Signal jammers provide a proactive solution to disrupt illegal communication networks within prisons, thereby reducing the incidence of criminal activities planned within prisons.
Despite the effectiveness of signal jammers in addressing the proliferation of cell phones in prisons, some officials, such as Talisay Mayor Eduardo Gullas, oppose their installation. Gullas believes that strict adherence to prison rules can mitigate anomalies without the additional expense of purchasing and maintaining signal jammers.
While signal jammers offer a proactive approach to addressing the problem of illegal cell phone use, concerns about cost, implementation, and potential alternative solutions highlight the need for a comprehensive strategy to effectively address this ongoing challenge.
