Cotton, Kustoff Introduce Bill to Keep Cellphones Out of Jails

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Caroline TablerorPatrick McCann(202) 224-2353March 26, 2025
Cotton, Kustoff Introduce Bill to Keep Cellphones Out of Jails
Washington, D.C.— Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025, legislation which would prevent inmates from using contraband cellphone use in prison facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cellphone jamming systems. Congressman David Kustoff (Tennessee-08) is leading companion legislation in the House.
Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Capito (R-West Virginia), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), and James Risch (R-Idaho) are cosponsoring the legislation.
“For far too long, contraband cellphones have been a major security threat in our prisons, allowing criminals to coordinate crimes from behind bars. This legislation is a common-sense step to cut off their ability to threaten witnesses, organize drug trafficking, and endanger law-abiding citizens from within prison walls,”said Senator Cotton.
“Criminals are using contraband cellphones to commit crimes while in prison. The extent of coordinated criminal activity carried out by inmates is a serious threat to public safety,”said Congressman Kustoff.“As a former United States Attorney, I have seen first-hand the dangerous effects of contraband cellphone use to both law enforcement officers and our communities. It should be impossible for prisoners to organize gang activity, traffic drugs, and coordinate any other wrongdoing from behind bars. The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act is commonsense legislation that will crack down on cellphones in prisons and protect inmates, guards, and the public at large.”
Text of the legislation may be foundhere.
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