Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is spearheading a bipartisan coalition of 30 state attorneys general urging Congress to pass legislation that would empower states to combat the growing threat of contraband cell phones in prisons.
The coalition is backing H.R. 2350 and S. 1137, bills introduced by Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), which would allow state correctional facilities to deploy targeted cell phone jamming technology. Current federal law prohibits the use of such technology, leaving prisons vulnerable to inmates using smuggled devices to commit crimes from behind bars.
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“Contraband cell phones pose a serious risk to public safety when criminals reach beyond prison walls and continue terrorizing our communities,” said Skrmetti in a statement. “This legislation finally gives states the tools they need to stop this illegal and dangerous activity.”
The attorneys general, in a joint letter to Congress, outlined the various ways inmates are exploiting unauthorized phones, including:
- Coordinating drug trafficking networks;
- Orchestrating violent acts both inside and outside prison;
- Running scams that target elderly and vulnerable citizens;
- Threatening witnesses and victims’ families; and
- Planning prison escapes that endanger the public and law enforcement.
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The proposed legislation includes safeguards to ensure emergency communications like 911 services remain unaffected. Proponents argue it strikes a balance between maintaining public safety and preserving essential communication channels.
“This is not a partisan issue—it is a matter of public safety,” the letter emphasizes. It references a 2020 survey of 20 state corrections departments, which reported nearly 26,000 contraband phones discovered in a single year, illustrating the scope of the problem.
In addition to Tennessee, the coalition includes attorneys general from states across the political spectrum, including Georgia, North Carolina, Alaska, Maryland, Texas, Oregon, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The group is calling on Congress to act swiftly and pass the legislation in 2025, describing it as a critical step in preventing incarcerated individuals from continuing criminal operations from within prison walls.
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