CONVICTS WITH CELL PHONES RAPIDLY GROWING PROBLEM (2)

Dave Freeman sent me the two following articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the use of cell phones by prisoners to organize and co-ordinate an inmate strike, and to notify the news media and family members.

Making it a felony for inmates to possess cell phones is not going to stop many of them from using these devices. Making it a felony for anyone – visitor, lawyer, chaplain, correctional officer, etc. - to smuggle a cell or smart phone into a jail or prison is what’s needed to slow this problem down.

AT LEAST 4 GA. PRISONS ON LOCKDOWN DURING INMATE PROTEST
The protest and the role cell phones and text messaging have had in its organization have drawn national and international media attention

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
December 14, 2010

ATLANTA, Ga. — At least four Georgia prisons were locked down Monday for the fifth day as inmates continued a work stoppage they organized using cell phones bought from guards, an inmate advocate said.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Peggy Chapman said there had been no "major incidents or issues" reported at the four prisons on lockdown or at any of the state's other 26 facilities.

But advocates and inmates' relatives said heat and hot water were turned off at some prisons and there had been some physical confrontations between prisoners and guards.

Corrections officials said the prisons on lockdown are Hays State Prison in Trion, Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Telfair State Prison in Helena and Smith State Prison in Glennville. Advocates said inmates had also shut down all activity, at times, at Augusta, Baldwin, Calhoun, Hancock, Hays, Macon, Rogers, Smith, Telfair, Valdosta and Ware state prisons. The 30 prisons statewide house almost 53,000 men and women.

The protest, which started Thursday, was organized by inmates using contraband cell phones they bought from guards, according to Elaine Brown, a prisoner advocate who has been in contact with some inmates.

Brown said they are protesting the lack of fruits and vegetables in their meals, no pay for their work, poor living conditions and parole decisions.

The protest and the role cell phones and text messaging have had in its organization have drawn national and international media attention.

Although the use of the technology to organize inmates is rare, it is not uncommon for phones to be smuggled into prisons.

California prison officials confiscated a cell phone from convicted mass murderer Charles Mason earlier this month.

In November, an inmate used a cell phone to call Maryland state Sen. Ed DeGrange. Also last month, the mother of an inmate called a Texas prison warden to complain that her son was getting poor cell phone reception inside the institution.

In August, President Barack Obama signed legislation making it illegal for federal inmates to have cell phones. It is a felony offense in Georgia for an inmate to have a cell phone. Officials fear inmates could use them to plan escapes, organize drug deals or harass victims or trial witnesses.

Brown, a former Black Panther whose son is in Macon State Prison in central Georgia, said black, white, Hispanic, Christian and Muslim inmates and prisoners from otherwise opposing gangs had formed unlikely unions after months of organizing via text messaging and word of mouth.

During the lockdown, inmates are confined to their cells.

"The Department's mission of maintaining safe and secure facilities is non-negotiable and will not be jeopardized," Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens said in a written statement. "The Department will ensure appropriate safety measures are in place before the lockdown is lifted."


GA. PRISON LOCKDOWNS LIFTED AS INMATES END PROTEST
‘We needed to come off lockdown so we can go to the law library and start the paperwork for a lawsuit’ says one inmate

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
December 16, 2010

ATLANTA — Inmates ended their nonviolent protests and started reporting to work assignments Wednesday, ending weeklong prison lockdowns at four state facilities.

A September tobacco ban throughout the prison system was one of several grievances that led to the work stoppage, which began last Thursday.

Prison officials wouldn't say why they ended the lockdowns, but an inmate at Smith State Prison in Glenville said in a phone interview that prisoners had agreed to return to work.

"We've ended the protest," said Mike, a convicted armed robber and protest leader who wouldn't supply his last name for fear of prison official retaliation. "We needed to come off lockdown so we can go to the law library and start the paperwork for a lawsuit."

For six days, inmates at several prisons refused to leave their cells, protesting the lack of pay for maintaining and running prison operations and cleaning other government properties; state law forbids inmate payments except for a limited program. The prisoners had a long list of grievances: the quality of food and lack of fruits and vegetables, quality of medical care, availability of education and job training programs, parole decisions and overall conditions.

Inmates called The Atlanta Journal-Constitution several times, using contraband cell phones or three-way calling features supplied through friends or relatives.

After learning of the inmate protests, wardens implemented lockdowns at Hays, Smith, Telfair and Macon state prisons. Prisoners were confined to their cells and not allowed to make collect phone calls or have visitors.

Another protest organizer said prisoners were still pursuing their concerns and said if the Department of Corrections ignores their requests, the next protest will be violent.

The prison system, which holds almost 53,000 inmates, declined to comment on the threat.