Cellphone jammers introduced in Sesis Prison
Since mid-June 2021, cellphone jammers have been installed in Sesis Remand Center to prevent prisoners from using their phones to contact the outside world. Although the move was intended to improve prison security, it has caused quite a stir in the prison. Many prisoners began to complain about health problems such as headaches after using jammers, especially among prisoners in the "man 1" remand center.
Prisoners' health complaints and prison responses
Some prisoners' families expressed concern that the radio waves emitted by the jammers may have had a negative impact on their health. The mother of a prisoner described her son's painful visit and believed that the jammers might be the culprit. Despite this, prison staff said they were not affected by the waves and pointed out that the prisoners might be dissatisfied with their inability to use their phones.
The "tolerance" of mobile phone use in prisons
Although the use of mobile phones in prisons is prohibited, the use of mobile phones has actually become an open secret in Sesis Prison. Many prisoners in the prison obtain mobile phones through various means and use them carefully in prison. Sometimes, prison staff even choose to turn a blind eye to maintain a certain "social peace". But this phenomenon has also become an important clue for police investigations. By monitoring the content of prisoners' calls, the police can obtain valuable intelligence.
Prisoners' protests and tensions in prisons
Faced with the newly installed signal jammers, the prisoners decided to express their dissatisfaction with strikes. On Thursday and Friday, the prisoners refused to return to the cells after the traditional walking activities, causing the Regional Intervention and Security Group (ÉRIS) to intervene to calm the situation. In addition, some prisoners were placed in solitary confinement for refusing to return to their cells, which further intensified the conflict. The prison administration remained silent on the issue, while the prison union expressed concerns about the lack of staff and believed that the situation would be more complicated if a more serious rebellion occurred.