Mobile phones in prison

In most jurisdictions, prison inmates are forbidden from possessing mobile phones due to their ability to communicate with the outside world and other security issues. Mobile phones are one of the most smuggled items into prisons. They provide inmates the ability to make and receive unauthorized phone calls, send email and text messages, use social media, and follow news pertaining to their case, among other forbidden uses. ^{[1] [2]}

Reasons cell phones are prohibited

Security concerns are often cited for why cellphones are prohibited in prisons.^{[ citation needed ]}

Cellphones in prisons have been used to organize work stoppages for prison labor between prisons. ^[3] Forced penal labor in the United States is a common practice.^{[ citation needed ]}

In the United States, prison phone calls represent one of the few ways that prisoners can connect with family and loved ones in the outside world. However, these calls can be prohibitively expensive, a situation which has sparked controversy in light of the fact that they represent a source of profit for private prisons. ^[4] Some have argued that this profit motive plays a key role in cell phone bans in prisons. ^[5]

Methods of smuggling

Most mobile phones are smuggled in by prison staff, who often do not have to go through security as rigorously as visitors. Security of staff is often less intense because this would be time-consuming on the part of the staff, and unionized prison employees are paid for this time, which increases the overall cost of operations. ^[6] Additionally, prison staff are often reluctant to search their co-workers thoroughly to avoid workplace tension and morale issues.

More rarely, mobile phones are smuggled in by visitors, who must undergo tougher security checks, by inmates who are granted temporary leaves of absence, or by outsiders who establish contact with inmates alongside the prison fence and/or deliver them using drones.

Once inside prison walls, the devices end up in the hands of inmates who purchase them with cash, which is also contraband in most prisons. Black market prices vary by prison and can be up to US$1000. ^[1]

Certain models of mobile phones are particularly popular among prisoners due to their compact size, ease of concealment, and minimal metal components that help them evade detection. Phones such as the Zanco Tiny T1, Beat the Boss Mini Phone, and Nokia 105 are among the most frequently smuggled devices in UK prisons. ^[7]

Uses by prisoners

While some prisoners use their mobile devices simply for harmless communication or web browsing, others use them for criminal activity. These may include gang control, taunting witnesses, planning escapes from custody, or arranging other serious crimes. ^[8]

Prisoners may also use smartphones to gather intelligence on prison staff and coordinate clandestine activity within the facility. ^[1]

Not all inmates use mobile phones for harmful purposes. Many inmates use them to hold conversations with family and friends. ^[9]

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, prisoners are prohibited from possessing mobile phones, and all authorised telephone communications must be made through approved prison systems. The cost of such calls has been a recurring concern among prisoners and their families, particularly where contact with children or vulnerable relatives is important for rehabilitation and wellbeing.

Research from the Prison Reform Trust notes that “some prisons allow a short daily call free of charge, while others require payment after the first few minutes,” highlighting inconsistency across establishments. The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice has reported that “to call a landline from prison costs around 7 pence per minute at peak times, and calls to a mobile phone may cost around 13 pence per minute,” which can place a financial strain on families. According to Inside Time, prison payphone charges were halved in 2018, yet campaigners have continued to describe call costs as disproportionately high compared to public rates.

To mitigate these costs, a number of independent UK services have emerged that provide local-rate or freephone numbers for families of prisoners, enabling calls to be received at standard landline rates while remaining compliant with prison telephony rules. Charitable and informational websites such as Unseen Victims list several of these services, such as Cheap Prison Calls and Phone Savvy, which provide local-rate number options for families wishing to maintain contact within the existing regulatory framework.

Combating mobile phones in prisons

Laws have been passed in various jurisdictions, placing penalties on inmates who possess mobile devices as well as staff who smuggle them in. Inmate penalties range from loss of privileges and behavior credits to additional sentencing. Staff penalties range from disciplinary action to job loss to criminal charges. ^[10]

Some places are using an experimental technology of managed communications that blocks the communications of inmates while continuing to allow that of others. ^[6]

In 2017, American company Securus Technologies announced an investment of more than $40 million in "Wireless Containment Solutions," a system that creates a local cellular network inside a prison requiring all phones on the network to be screened and approved. ^{[11] [12]}

References

1. "Smuggled cellphones a growing problem in California Prisons". CBS. October 17, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
2. Kevin Johnson (November 20, 2008). "Smuggled cellphones flourish in prisons". USA Today. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
3. Severson, Kim; Brown, Robbie (2011). "Cellphones, Though Banned, Thrive in U.S. Prisons". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
4. "Prison Phone Company Wins Halt to Inmate Calling Price Caps". Ars Technica. November 2016. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
5. Mooney, Michael J. (2011-01-10). "Cell Phones in Prison: A Former Inmate Explains the Real Deal". New Times Broward-Palm Beach. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
6. Michael Montgomery (May 11, 2012). "Prison Cell Phones: The High-Tech Plan To Stop The Use Of Cell Phones By Inmates". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
7. "The Most Smuggled Phones in UK Prisons and Why It's a Problem". RefurbStore. 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
8. "Which states have the most smuggled prison cellphones?". NBC News. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
9. McNichol, Tom (2009-05-26). "Guess Who's Calling? Prison Cell-Phone Use a Growing Problem". TIME. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
10. Suzanne Choney. "Lawmaker seeks penalties for prison cell phone smuggling". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
11. "Securus Technologies Invests More than $40 Million to Block Illegal Prison Calls". San Quentin News. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
12. "Securus Technologies Announces the Activation of Additional Wireless Containment Solution Installation" (Press release). PR Newswire. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2018-01-27.