Senator Lankford Supports State Order on Contraband Cell Phones

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on his support for Governor Kevin Stitt’s (R-OK) state executive order following the use of contraband cell phones following the recent outbreak of prison riots that left one inmate dead and several injured. Lankford continues to push for a change in federal law that will allow states to use jamming technology to block internal signals and prevent the use of contraband cell phones in prisons.

“I commend Governor Stitt for taking quick action to combat the rampant uptick of the use of contraband cell phones in Oklahoma state prisons,” said Lankford. “The recent riots in our state prisons show stronger solutions are needed to solve this issue. His executive order helps our state effectively coordinate resources and take steps to prevent related criminal activity.  

“I have worked for years to change federal law to allow more options for cell phone jamming and related technologies for state prisons, to increase the safety of guards, inmates, and visitors. Cell phone companies and their national association need to work with the Department of Corrections to test jamming options and other potential solutions that can assist prison safety.”

Lankford spoke from the Senate floor on May 1, 2019, on the issue of contraband cell phone use in prisons. In 2018, Oklahoma state prisons confiscated 7,518 cell phones from inmates. Lankford used examples from Oklahoma to show how this issue is impacting the state.

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