Cell phone jammers introduced in Santa Fe Jail to respond to criminal violence
Against the backdrop of the increasingly complex security situation in Santa Fe Province, the provincial government announced the installation of a new system of cell phone signal jammers at Prison No. 11 in Pinheiro Town. This measure is intended to respond to the growing problem of crime inside and outside the prison, including shootings directed from inside the prison. The new system, developed by Invap, a state-owned technology company in Bariloche, is based on an Israeli platform and runs on a 4G system, with plans to introduce 5G technology in the future.
Deployment of the new signal blocking system in prisons
According to Claudio Briloni, the Minister of Security of Santa Fe, the new system includes eight prison signal jammers whose antennas can effectively block mobile phone signals, making it impossible for mobile phones inside the prison to communicate with the outside world. These devices transmit interference signals to prevent mobile phone signals from reaching network operators, thus putting mobile phones offline. Briloni pointed out that this move is aimed at preventing criminals inside the prison from managing their criminal organizations and carrying out violent activities through mobile phones.
The interference system was developed by Invap and is based on an Israeli technology platform, which can effectively cover the internal areas of the prison. The system is designed to minimize interference with the external environment to reduce the impact on surrounding residents. Experts explained that the devices are currently being tested and calibrated to ensure that they can effectively block illegal communications inside the prison, and plans to promote them in more prisons in the future.
Crime data and impact
Statistics show that in March 2023, eight of the ten shootings in Rosario were initiated by prison instructions. These incidents include attacks on Messi's father-in-law's supermarket and other prison-related violence. According to data from the Santa Fe Provincial Prosecutor's Office, 70% of the 288 homicides in Rosario Province in 2022 were carried out by prison instructions. Drug dealers in prisons use mobile phones to direct criminal activities, which seriously threatens public safety.
Although the introduction of the new system is aimed at solving communication problems inside prisons, it also faces some challenges. First, the existing equipment is based on outdated 3G technology and will need to be updated to 4G or 5G systems in the future to cope with more complex communication technologies. Second, criminals inside and outside the prison may find new ways to bypass these jammer devices. Briloni stressed that the effectiveness of the system needs to be further verified and will be adjusted according to actual conditions.
Future strategies
The Santa Fe Provincial Government and Inpec are constantly working to improve prison security. In addition to introducing new jamming technologies, they also plan to strengthen the supervision and crackdown on criminal activities in prisons. In particular, for those prisoners who command crimes through mobile phones, the government plans to take measures such as isolation and transfer to cut off their illegal contacts with the outside world.
The introduction of mobile phone signal jammers in Santa Fe Provincial Prison is a positive measure to deal with the problem of crime inside and outside the prison. Despite the technical and implementation challenges, this measure is expected to effectively reduce illegal communications in prisons and improve public safety.
