Illegal cell phones a problem for prisons

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Prison officials say that institutions throughout the United States are struggling to keep their inmates from gaining access to banned cell phones.

While prisoners are typically not allowed access to cell phones while incarcerated, American Correctional Association spokesman Eric Schultz confirmed a growing number of inmates now have access to such technology, USA Today said Friday.

The prison violations are particularly troubling since inmates are suspected of using the telephones to threaten victims or conduct illegal acts, prison officials say.

Friends or relatives of inmates are the main suspects in the smuggling of the cell phones into the prison sites.

Officials in Florida reported 336 phones being seized from inmates last year alone, prompting the passage of a new state law making phone possession by an inmate a felony.

USA Today said Texas prison officials have reported more than 700 seized inmate cell phones so far this year, while cell phone seizures in California in 2008 have already exceeded 1,400.