Nevada Criminalizes Cell Phones in State Prisons
On May 10, 2007, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons signed into law AB-106, a bill making it a felony for prisoners to possess a cell phone in prison or for a person to furnish a prisoner with a cell phone. Anyone charged with one of those offenses faces up to four years incarceration in a state prison. A person who brings a cell phone into a prison, but doesn’t give it to a prisoner could face misdemeanor charges.
The possession of cell phones in Nevada state prison was already prohibited by prison rules. The bill was considered necessary because a cell phone had been used by a prisoner to set up a 2005 escape. Nevada prisons have prisoner land lines which are monitored and recorded and which charge the call recipient outrageous rates to boot.
Prison officials state that signs will be posted inside and outside of state prisons to remind visitors and staff of the penalties for bringing a cell phone into a prison.
Source: Las Vegas Sun