South Carolina’s 34th and 35th State Grand Juries have released a new report drawing attention to the persistent problem of organized crime operating within the state’s prisons. This criminal activity is largely facilitated by the widespread use of contraband cellphones by inmates.
The severity of the issue was recently underscored by a State Grand Jury trial in Pickens County, where two inmates received life without parole sentences for narcotics trafficking. This case highlights both the danger posed by these in-prison criminal networks and the State Grand Jury’s commitment to combating them.
Attorney General Alan Wilson emphasized that incarceration alone doesn’t ensure public safety if inmates can continue to orchestrate criminal enterprises from behind bars. He stated that inmates with contraband cellphones are not merely continuing their past crimes, but are often escalating their criminal activities. Wilson is advocating for Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant states the authority to jam these illegal communications, a technology already in use in federal prisons, to effectively dismantle these criminal networks.
The dangers extend beyond the public, directly impacting prison staff and other inmates. Illegal contraband cellphones enable convicted criminals to continue preying on innocent victims and commit new crimes from within correctional facilities. The situation presents a significant threat to the safety of correctional officers, the inmate population, and communities throughout South Carolina.
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