This editorial appeared in The Fresno Bee.
Cell phones here. Cell phones there. Cell phones everywhere. Including in state prisons, and that's a huge problem for a corrections system that doesn't need anymore challenges.
Contraband cell phones smuggled into California prisons by visitors and corrupt prison guards allow inmates to get around prison monitoring. We are stunned that the prison security system can't stop cell phones from getting to inmates.
Cell phones can be used to take pictures, gain Internet access and coordinate criminal enterprises in and out of prison.
At a recent unannounced search of staff at Avenal State Prison, authorities found a crack pipe, nine pocketknives, two pairs of scissors, a pair of pliers, various electronic devices – and 13 cell phones. These were staff members holding this contraband, and it seems quite obvious inmates would have ultimately ended up with the stuff in return for some favor or fee.
Last year, authorities found 2,800 cell phones in state prisons, and that's become big business.
To read the complete editorial, visit The Fresno Bee.