The illegal use of mobile phones by prisoners in Brier Model Prison has been repeatedly banned. For this reason, the authorities plan to upgrade the prison's jamming system to deal with the signal penetration problem of modern smartphones. According to the latest news, the prison will gradually phase out outdated 2G signal jammers and install more advanced portable jamming equipment to specifically shield 4G and 5G signals.
Brier Prison management admitted that the jammer blocker devices currently used in the prison can only block 2G networks, while most smartphones used by prisoners already support 4G or even 5G networks. This has resulted in the existing equipment being ineffective in preventing prisoners from communicating illegally. It is reported that during the 2022 surprise inspection, 10 mobile phones, as well as multiple Bluetooth devices and chargers were confiscated from several prisoners, including gang members, in the prison. This series of events exposed the loopholes in the existing jamming system.
The urgency of improving prison communication management
Deepak Purohit, the director general of prisons, said that the prison authorities are drafting a new proposal to install more effective portable signal jammers. These devices will focus on blocking signals in specific areas, especially near the barracks where prisoners are active. It is understood that the new proposal aims to address the shortcomings of the existing system, ensure that communications within the prison are fully controlled, and prevent prisoners from using mobile phones for criminal activities.
Although Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) had previously proposed to install new jammer devices for prisons, it failed to implement for various reasons. However, with the increasing problem of illegal mobile phone use, the prison authorities reviewed the proposal and decided to give priority to the purchase of portable signal blockers. These devices have stronger signal shielding capabilities and can effectively block prisoners from using instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp for illegal activities.
Prisoners use communication loopholes to challenge prison management
The problem of illegal mobile phone use in prisons is getting worse. According to sources, in August 2022, prison guards found a mobile phone from a prisoner named Arjun in Barrack No. 5. In July of the same year, mobile phones and chargers hidden under the floor of the toilet in Barrack No. 4 were also found. In addition, a Bluetooth device was found on the floor of Barrack No. 8. A temporarily hired prison guard was fired for assisting prisoners in communicating, and another prison hospital employee was arrested for acting as a "messenger" for prisoners.
According to the 2020 regulations of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the use of mobile phones and related accessories by prisoners in Chandigarh has been classified as a criminal offense. However, the frequent discovery of illegal communication devices in Brier Prison highlights the lag of the prison in responding to technological upgrades. The authorities admitted that relying solely on the old 2G signal jammers is no longer sufficient to cope with the technological upgrades of prisoners, so there is an urgent need to introduce new jamming equipment to ensure the safety and management order of the prison.
The positive significance of the introduction of portable jammers
- Improve the prison's communication control capabilities. Brier Prison plans to replace the outdated 2G system with portable jammer devices to effectively block 4G and 5G signals. This upgrade will significantly improve the effectiveness of communication control in prisons, prevent prisoners from contacting the outside world through smartphones, and thus reduce the risk of illegal activities using instant messaging applications (such as WhatsApp). The new signal jammer can accurately block signals in specific areas, especially in barracks where prisoners are active, ensuring that communications within the prison are fully controlled.
- Dealing with the upgrade of prisoner communication technology. As most prisoners have switched to using 4G/5G-enabled smartphones, traditional 2G jammer devices have little effect in blocking signals, resulting in repeated illegal communications. The introduction of portable jammers not only makes up for the shortcomings of the existing system, but also effectively curbs prisoners' use of emerging communication technologies to evade surveillance and ensure prison safety.
- Solving urgent problems in prison management. In recent years, Brier Prison has repeatedly discovered that prisoners use mobile phones illegally, including hiding communication equipment in hidden places such as barracks and toilets. These problems expose loopholes in the existing jamming system and pose a severe challenge to prison management. The introduction of new portable jammer devices will help prison management effectively block illegal communication channels, reduce illegal collaboration between prisoners, and ensure the stability of management order.
